brands/types of brake fluid and pads

[Dartman]

Been doing some research on fluids. Had my mind set on Castrol SRF. It is really pricey @ $60. 00 per liter but has excellant dry and wet boiling points (590/518 respectively). But thought it might be over-kill for the application. I don't do any major hauling or race my truck. But I do live in the desert of Las Vegas. After talking with the guy who was selling the Castrol, he suggested ATE Super Blue fluid. From what I have read, a lot of people recomment this fluid. It has pretty good dry and wet boiling points (536/392). Do you have any suggestions for a certain type of fluid for the dodge system?

The other thig is pads. I have wanting to try ceramic pads. Is this type of compound okay to use on these systems? If so, what manufacture would you recommend? I have been looking at Raybestos STS pads. Aside from ceramics, they also have Professional Grade (PGD459QS) and Super Stop (SS0459) which are carbon metallic. Raybestos says the SS series are for light trucks. Also read that Hawk is another good brand. Any suggestions types and pads to use for the front?

Thank you for the help in advance!, Tony



'99 Ram 2500, 5 SPD, 4 X 4, rear ABS

 

[Sojourner]

Tony, I'm using the Motul DOT 5. 1 synthetic brake fluid in both of my trucks, and the carbon/kevlar pads on all four calipers on the '01. So far I've been very pleased with the performance. I can perceive a substantial difference with the carbon/kevlar pads over the Bendix Fleet pads I was using. The carbon/kevlar work better as they heat up - I can feel a discernable increase in braking when using a steady (or even lesser) amount of brake pedal pressure rolling up to a stop such as a traffic signal.



The Motul DOT 5. 1 is a lighter viscosity which circulates faster through the ABS system, if that makes a difference to you. The Motul DOT 5. 1 is $11. 50 per 1/2 liter.



My source was www.egrbrakes.com

 

[y-knot]

I tried to educate myself as much as possible last fall before i selected all the parts to make up my trucks new braking system. There are many manufactures of brake parts available on the market, but there selection narrows down dramatical when looking for HD truck braking parts. My truck really did not need brakes, it was fine and would have lasted another 45-50K miles. But I wanted to improve upon what I had, I did not know how much better i could get, they had always worked fine, I just wanted better. I looked at many sites, and soon found that most name brand brake makers only made truck brakes for the 1500 series trucks, not my 3500 series Dodge. I did found two or three good looking HD rotors. Power slot and Super Stop seemed to be the most popular and available ones. I choose the Raybestos Super Stop rotors, they are the only rotors I found that are extreme duty rated. They have internal vane cooling, come cross drilled and gas slotted, and have high quality castings. For pads I narrowed it down to the Carbon Kevlar pads and shoes from EGR. They are on the expensive side, but are well worth the extra money, they stop great, don't fade and make very little dust. For calipers I went to Raybestos once again and got there re-manufactured units, they have worked great and I would use them again if the need ever arises. In all my searches, one name kept coming up as the best synthetic brake fluid, Hi-temp Motul fluid. So I went with that after I flushed the brake system on my truck. I also went to EGR for the SS braided Kevlar lines, over sized rear wheel cylinders synthetic brake grease and brake hardware kits. The end result was fantastic brakes that stop supper quick and in a straight line each and ever time I need them. The truck, which I have owned since new, stops much better then I could have imagined. Loaded down or towing I have great brakes, and the brake dust is much reduced. I am completely pleased with the way my brake up-grade turned out, I have a better and safer truck because of it. Hope you get the same results.



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[Matt400]

www.egrbrakes.com

I agree on this source for great brake products.



I don't care for the synthetic fluids though as they don't mix well with the OE stuff. You have to get it ALL out of the lines, not just a drain and refill, plus its not compatible with many ABS systems.

I thought the 5. 1 was not full synthetic? Only the 5. 0 is.



Motul RBF 600 Dot 4 is some pretty good stuff with 594 deg. dry and 421 deg. wet boiling points. You can get that from EGR as well.

 

[Matt400]

Thats what it is... . 5. 0 is silicone and it won't mix with even a small residual amount of the non silicone fluids. The Synthetics I understand can work with the non synthetics if some is left in there. I was wrong above about the ABS remark- its silicone that is not good for many ABS systems and not synthetics.



Have to remember that all the fluids except for 5. 0 are designed to absorb moisture and thats a good thing because they displace the moisture that gets in there anyway otherwise they would act like the 5. 0 and allow moisture to settle in one area.