front pads and fluid change

[celticdog]

Hi guys got new galfer pads so fitting this weekend.  I've a couple of quick questions for the foccer font of all knowledge! Is it worth me changing from dot 4 to dot 5.1? I use the bike for commuting any thoughts? Also, how much fluid will I need- would a 500ml bottle do or will I need a full litre? Cheers . . . Fellas 

[darrsi]

Blatantly says only use Dot 4 on the master cylinder cap, and the brakes are pretty awesome enough using that, so I don't see why you'd need to try anything else?
It's not exactly expensive stuff, just get a litre so you can bleed the brakes properly, always better to have too much than not enough.

[celticdog]

Blatantly says only use Dot 4 on the master cylinder cap, and the brakes are pretty awesome enough using that, so I don't see why you'd need to try anything else?
It's not exactly expensive stuff, just get a litre so you can bleed the brakes properly, always better to have too much than not enough.

Yes dot 4, just wondering if anyone has tried the dot 5.1 mod and how've they got on with it?

[BBROWN1664]

5.1 is more for racing. A lot more absorbent to water etc so needs changing more often.

In reality, it is no different from DOT4 in use on road bikes.

[darrsi]

Blatantly says only use Dot 4 on the master cylinder cap, and the brakes are pretty awesome enough using that, so I don't see why you'd need to try anything else?
It's not exactly expensive stuff, just get a litre so you can bleed the brakes properly, always better to have too much than not enough.

Yes dot 4, just wondering if anyone has tried the dot 5.1 mod and how've they got on with it?

Someone has tried it 'cos I read it on here somewhere in the last few days, but not sure who it was?

Found him 

http://foc-u.co.uk/index.php/topic,20089.0.html

[darrsi]

http://foc-u.co.uk/index.php/topic,58.msg172.html#msg172

[triker]

Dot 4 500ml enough when I did mine...

[kgjersda]

Blatantly says only use Dot 4 on the master cylinder cap, and the brakes are pretty awesome enough using that, so I don't see why you'd need to try anything else?
It's not exactly expensive stuff, just get a litre so you can bleed the brakes properly, always better to have too much than not enough.

Yes dot 4, just wondering if anyone has tried the dot 5.1 mod and how've they got on with it?

Someone has tried it 'cos I read it on here somewhere in the last few days, but not sure who it was?

Found him 

http://foc-u.co.uk/index.php/topic,20089.0.html

The guy from the other thread here
The brakes are working 100%, no problems with DOT 5.1 so far (800km). I'd like a little more bite from the brakes, but thats probably just worn out pads.

I had no real reason to use 5.1 over DOT 4. Just wanted to try it out.

[celticdog]

The guy from the other thread here
The brakes are working 100%, no problems with DOT 5.1 so far (800km). I'd like a little more bite from the brakes, but thats probably just worn out pads.

I had no real reason to use 5.1 over DOT 4. Just wanted to try it out.

Glad to hear it works ok. In the end I chickened out and went for dot 4 
But I'm going to use it on the rear when I next change the pads 

[darrsi]

The guy from the other thread here
The brakes are working 100%, no problems with DOT 5.1 so far (800km). I'd like a little more bite from the brakes, but thats probably just worn out pads.

I had no real reason to use 5.1 over DOT 4. Just wanted to try it out.

Glad to hear it works ok. In the end I chickened out and went for dot 4 
But I'm going to use it on the rear when I next change the pads 

Do you really want 'more bite' on the rear?
I can understand trying it out at the front, but personally i wouldn't bother using it on the rear just for every day riding.

[celticdog]

Do you really want 'more bite' on the rear?
I can understand trying it out at the front, but personally i wouldn't bother using it on the rear just for every day riding.

I'm strictly old school when it comes to braking darrsi, 80% front 20% rear rising to 50/50% in extremely wet road conditions 

[JoeRock]

The guy from the other thread here
The brakes are working 100%, no problems with DOT 5.1 so far (800km). I'd like a little more bite from the brakes, but thats probably just worn out pads.

I had no real reason to use 5.1 over DOT 4. Just wanted to try it out.

Glad to hear it works ok. In the end I chickened out and went for dot 4 
But I'm going to use it on the rear when I next change the pads 

Do you really want 'more bite' on the rear?
I can understand trying it out at the front, but personally i wouldn't bother using it on the rear just for every day riding.

Brake fluid will make sod all difference to the bite (comparing 5.1 to 4, I don't mean comparing old to new fluid). Main difference is 5.1 has a higher boiling point, hence why its used on race bikes - you'll never get near the temperatures needed to boil fluid on the road unless you have a serious issue with your braking system. Downside is as pointed out its considerably more hygroscopic so will need bleeding more frequently, which is a bit pointless on a road bike too!

[darrsi]

The guy from the other thread here
The brakes are working 100%, no problems with DOT 5.1 so far (800km). I'd like a little more bite from the brakes, but thats probably just worn out pads.

I had no real reason to use 5.1 over DOT 4. Just wanted to try it out.

Glad to hear it works ok. In the end I chickened out and went for dot 4 
But I'm going to use it on the rear when I next change the pads 

Do you really want 'more bite' on the rear?
I can understand trying it out at the front, but personally i wouldn't bother using it on the rear just for every day riding.

Brake fluid will make sod all difference to the bite (comparing 5.1 to 4, I don't mean comparing old to new fluid). Main difference is 5.1 has a higher boiling point, hence why its used on race bikes - you'll never get near the temperatures needed to boil fluid on the road unless you have a serious issue with your braking system. Downside is as pointed out its considerably more hygroscopic so will need bleeding more frequently, which is a bit pointless on a road bike too!

Sounds like unnecessary hard work to me, for no real gain at all.