1956 brake fluid DOT 3 or DOT 5

woodeye

woodeye

Active Member
Gold Member
Last seen
Joined
Mar 12, 2021
Thunderbird Year
1956
I replaced the brake lines and wheel cylinders on the rear brakes. somebody previously has put in disk brakes. I'm wondering what brake fluid I should use. I want to bleed and refill the entire system
 

This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated. As an eBay Partner, and Amazon Associate I may be compensated if you make a purchase at no cost to you.

woodeye said:
I replaced the brake lines and wheel cylinders on the rear brakes. somebody previously has put in disk brakes. I'm wondering what brake fluid I should use. I want to bleed and refill the entire system
Click to expand...
Has the brake system been totally evacuated? If so I would recommend using DOT 5 silicone brake fluid. I've used Dot 5 in antique for over 30 years. It does not draw moisture or ruin paint like DOT 3. But you can't mix DOT 5 with DOT 3 I still own a 68 Mustang F/B that I converted in 1989. Never any trouble
 
If you sill have brake fluid in the master cylinder take out a small sample . If its purple, it's Dot 5. If not purple, it's probably
Dot 3.
 
I was thinking I should totally evacuate the system. Is there a specific procedure to to doing this? Just open it up and let gravity do the rest? Or use a vacuum pump? Once empty does it need to be flushed?
 
woodeye said:
I was thinking I should totally evacuate the system. Is there a specific procedure to to doing this? Just open it up and let gravity do the rest? Or use a vacuum pump? Once empty does it need to be flushed?
Click to expand...
I think I read recently on this issue that alcohol is an effective flush when changing fluids. Time for an information search. As in the X files, the answer is out there...
 
Ward 57 said:
I think I read recently on this issue that alcohol is an effective flush when changing fluids. Time for an information search. As in the X files, the answer is out there...
Click to expand...
Alcohol is what I used to clean the system. And yes it should be flushed clean.
 
Alcohol may have an adverse affect on rubber parts, maybe.
That being said
I have found that brake wash does a very good job of removing oil based products without breaking them down chemically.
 
Are you referring to brake cleaner in the aerosol can
Thanks jeff
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top