<VV> flushing out brake lines for DOT 5

[Larry Forman]

Hi Wayne,
Yes, you can just flush it all out with alcohol.  I did that and you will be fine, PROVIDED you really like DOT5.  I understand that the DOT 5 and DOT 3 is not compatible and you also need to swap out all the rubber parts.

I tried several times to do that and finally settled on Valvoline Syntec, as I recall, SYNTHETIC brake fluid.  This is fully synthetic, but is not DOT 5.  It is fully compatible with DOT 3 and 4 and has high boiling point.  It appears to have all the good qualities of DOT 5, but none of its "particularities".  It seems like the ideal brake fluid for me.

Try as I might, and DID, I always had a spongy brake system, despite TONS of brake bleeding, stainless steel flex lines and Kevlar shoes.  I gave it a beyond reasonable attempt to get it right and then finally switched to this new stuff.

Good luck,

Larry


----- Original Message -----
From: Wayne Broadhead <afvair@networld.com>
Date: Wed, 15 Sep 2004 21:20:12 -0600
To: Virtual Vairs <virtualvairs@skiblack.com>
Subject: <VV> flushing out brake lines for DOT 5

> Hello everyone,
> 
> My son just bought a '65 Corsa and he pulled all the wheels off and 
> noticed that both rear wheel brake cylinders are leaking and both sides 
> shoes are soaked.  Since we are rebuilding the brake cylinders and 
> putting new shoes on, he wants to know if this is a good time to flush 
> out the old DOT 3 brake fluid and put in DOT5.
> 
> Can we just open up the bleeder valves on each corner and bleed thru 
> some solvent or mineral oil, or alchohol....then flush that out and put 
> in the DOT 5?   Would that work?
> 
> What should we flush the system with?
> 
> Thanks alot,
> Wayne Broadhead