dot 5 fluid ????

I have a completly dry brake system front and rear, no fluid at all. I did a full rebuild on the 3 calipers and both master cylinders. Can I use dot 5 fluid in my system, no need to worry about two different fluids comming into contact.

Thanks

You can, but why would you want to? If you're running the bike on the street the boiling point of DOT 3 or DOT 4 is high enough that you will not reach it. DOT 5 may be of some value in true racing conditions with racing brakes, but personally I would not use it for street applications. Ed

Ed, I have powder coated all the brake parts. Im worried that a spill or leak would damage the finish if I use dot 3 or 4. I have heard that dot 5 dosent damage painted parts.

I've used dot 5 in KZs since it was first released, which is I don't know how long, but dang near 25 yrs now, maybe more. Never a problem with it on my bikes. There are 2 sides to any debate and dot5 is no exception, but it's been good to me personnally. Some say water will separate from the fluid in dot5 and cause problems, some say any remnant of dot3 mixed with dot5 will destroy the entire bike, some say the lines will be all eaten up using dot5. All kinds of stories. I never had a problem.

Also have run dot 5 for years, with no issues.
System was totally cleaned, and new lines and seals etc.
Even had the bike stored for 10 years, most outdoors under a cover, and the brakes worked fine, no siezing problems.

4TheKZ1000 wrote: Ed, I have powder coated all the brake parts. Im worried that a spill or leak would damage the finish if I use dot 3 or 4. I have heard that dot 5 dosent damage painted parts.

This is true. DOT 3 and 4 will wreck paint before you can say "Aw SH/T" :laugh:

Absent any particular concern with differences in heat tolerance or firmness of feel, using non-corrosive Dot 5 instead of corrosive Dot 3, Dot 4 or Dot 5.1, will require more frequent replacement flushes (not a big deal when performed correctly, and without necessitating bleeding).

The silicone-based Dot 5 doesn't absorb moisture like the other types do.
The unabsorbed moisture tends to collect in the master cylinder bore and in the caliper bore behind the caliper piston, which promotes undesirable rust in these areas. Flushing discharges the moisture.

Good Fortune!

Is Dot 3/4 brake fluid harmful to powder-coating?

Good Fortune!

yep, it eats all without respect......

i have also used dot 5 with no ill efects. just bleed off a couple reservoirs worth of fluid every couple of years, as u should with any fluid.

I've used DOT 5 brake fluid on my '73 Z1-900 since 1976. I prefer it to DOT 3 and DOT 4 because of the paint issue. By the way, I just rebuilt my OEM 5/8"-piston front brake master cylinder a couple of months ago for the second time since 1976.

thank guys, dot 5 it is...