Best Hydraulic fluid?

anytear691
anytear691 Posts: 84
edited June 2008 in MTB buying advice
whats best VALUE fluid I can get for my juicy 5's.

Is this any good on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/brake-fluid-1ltr- ... dZViewItem

or is there a magic ingredient for cycling that this cheap stuff doesnt contain? Cheers, Sam
"Convoy?!, Micheal your spending you time with someone who uses a collective term for a single vehicle!"

Comments

  • BlackSpur
    BlackSpur Posts: 4,228
    You can't use just any stuff and you certainly can't use the stuff posted in your link. There are different types of bike brake fluid and I THINK Avid use DOT 4, but I'm not sure.
    "Melancholy is incompatible with bicycling." ~James E. Starrs
  • anytear691
    anytear691 Posts: 84
    hi mate thanks for reply, my brakes use 5.1 or 4, the stuff that is on that link is 5.1.
    "Convoy?!, Micheal your spending you time with someone who uses a collective term for a single vehicle!"
  • BlackSpur
    BlackSpur Posts: 4,228
    Really? Can't see it in the description.
    "Melancholy is incompatible with bicycling." ~James E. Starrs
  • anytear691
    anytear691 Posts: 84
    buy it for my car!
    "Convoy?!, Micheal your spending you time with someone who uses a collective term for a single vehicle!"
  • CraigXXL
    CraigXXL Posts: 1,852
    So long as your brakes aren't made for Mineral oil only you can use synthetic like in the link. Problem with buying such a big bottle is once opened the liquid will start to absorb moisture from any air caught in the bottle which will deteriorate the fluid over time. Always match the rating to manufacturers recommendations to avoid any warranty problems.
    GT Force 1.0

    Evil Sovereign
  • ratty2k
    ratty2k Posts: 3,872
    Make sure you use either 5.1 or 4, brake fluid is brake fluid- well unless you go silicone based which you cant.
    My biggest issue is, while the avid stuff may be dearer for less, how much are you going to use? They have a shelf life as the fluid absorbs water/ moisture from the air (hygroscopic, hydroscopic?) hence the need to change it in your car every so often...
    But the resevoirs are tiny on a MTB rgardless of the brake and by the time you think "oh i'll do my brakes again" the fluid thats been sat in your shed/ garage/ kitchen! etc is no good.... and then you have to chuck it out (responsibly, not down the drains etc!) I'd just either go to the LBS and let them do it for around a tenner, or bite the bullet and buy the Avid stuff as you really dont need lots.
    My Pics !


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  • Sikora
    Sikora Posts: 519
    Your local Motorworld or Halfords should be able to supply you with a 250ml bottle of DOT 5.1 pretty cheap
  • rob cole
    rob cole Posts: 706
    DOT 5.1....get it from a moto supplier, about £4 for a big bottle

    5.1 has better temperature resistance than DOT 4, but there's not much in it unless doing long alpine runs
    check out my riding - www.robcole.co.uk Banshee Factory Team rider, Da Kine UK Team rider, www.freeborn.co.uk www.eshershore.com
  • anytear691
    anytear691 Posts: 84
    thanks guys I'll just buy expensive finish line stuff for my brakes then, bike brakes are so sensitive compared to cars I dont want the performance to suffer!
    "Convoy?!, Micheal your spending you time with someone who uses a collective term for a single vehicle!"
  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,673
    Why? any suitable one will do.

    what are the brakes?
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown

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