Front master cylinder questions

MrAtom · July 21st, 2015, 12:31 AM

I broke my front brake's master cylinder in a crash. I bought a replacement in eBay from a 1990's parts bike. My bike is a 2003. It says to only use dot4 fluid on the 2003 master cylinder. But the 1990 master cylinder says to use dot3. At these parts incompatible? Can post pics if it'll help.

Ghostt · July 21st, 2015, 02:11 AM

The difference between the DOT (Department of Transportaion) ratings of brake fluid are the boiling point ranges that they achieve both dry (no water absorbed) and wet (about 3-4% water content). For DOT 3 the dry boiling point is at least 401 and the wet 284 degrees. DOT 4 raises the bar to 446 and 311 respectively. Those are the DOT ratings mind you , and there are high performance brake fluids that exceed those ratings.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brake_fluid

I personally use Motul DOT 5.1 Brake Fluid , which has a higher boiling point, and it's compatible with DOT 3 & 4

100% synthetic
Mixes with DOT 3, 4, and 5.1 (not Dot 5)
Boiling points: Dry 509 degrees F, Wet 365 degrees F

Motul DOT 5.1 Brake Fluid - 1/2 L. 8070HC / 100951 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005UGKDRY..._YNGRvb6J721CM

DOT 5 which is a silicone based product is not compatible with any of the above.

You'll be fine running DOT4

Motofool · July 21st, 2015, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrAtom

I broke my front brake's master cylinder in a crash. I bought a replacement in eBay from a 1990's parts bike. My bike is a 2003. It says to only use dot4 fluid on the 2003 master cylinder. But the 1990 master cylinder says to use dot3. At these parts incompatible? Can post pics if it'll help.

Use DOT 4 if you can, as your particular disc/caliper/pads may generate more heat than the pre-gen system.

Both fluids are mixable and compatible.

MrAtom · July 21st, 2015, 02:19 PM

Thanks for the good info! Always appreciated!

choneofakind · July 21st, 2015, 03:02 PM

Google. It's a great tool for commonly asked simple questions. If you're wondering it, there's a really really high chance someone else has already discussed it on the internet.

just sayin.

MrAtom · July 22nd, 2015, 03:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by choneofakind

Google. It's a great tool for commonly asked simple questions. If you're wondering it, there's a really really high chance someone else has already discussed it on the internet.

just sayin.

I did Google it. This is a highly specific question. Google didn't help. I came here. What makes you think I didn't?

choneofakind · July 22nd, 2015, 03:19 PM

Really? "DOT3 vs DOT4" is not a highly specific Google query.

EDIT: this is literally the first result for the above query:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DOT_4

No offense here, but dude...

Ghostt · July 22nd, 2015, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by choneofakind

Really? "DOT3 vs DOT4" is not a highly specific Google query.

Maybe his NET NANNY was on

July 21st, 2015, 12:31 AM	#1
MrAtom . Name: . Location: . Join Date: Aug 2014 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: A lot. MOTM - July '15	Front master cylinder questions I broke my front brake's master cylinder in a crash. I bought a replacement in eBay from a 1990's parts bike. My bike is a 2003. It says to only use dot4 fluid on the 2003 master cylinder. But the 1990 master cylinder says to use dot3. At these parts incompatible? Can post pics if it'll help.

July 21st, 2015, 02:11 AM	#2
Ghostt in your machine Name: Scott Location: Summer Shade, Ky. Join Date: Oct 2014 Motorcycle(s): 98 Ninja 250/F12 aka ZX-2R "SERENITY", 91 Ninja 500/A5 aka ZX-5R "Phoenix", 84 Honda GL1200A "SIREN" Posts: A lot. Blog Entries: 25 MOTM - Jun '17, May '16, Mar '15	The difference between the DOT (Department of Transportaion) ratings of brake fluid are the boiling point ranges that they achieve both dry (no water absorbed) and wet (about 3-4% water content). For DOT 3 the dry boiling point is at least 401 and the wet 284 degrees. DOT 4 raises the bar to 446 and 311 respectively. Those are the DOT ratings mind you , and there are high performance brake fluids that exceed those ratings. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brake_fluid I personally use Motul DOT 5.1 Brake Fluid , which has a higher boiling point, and it's compatible with DOT 3 & 4 100% synthetic Mixes with DOT 3, 4, and 5.1 (not Dot 5) Boiling points: Dry 509 degrees F, Wet 365 degrees F Motul DOT 5.1 Brake Fluid - 1/2 L. 8070HC / 100951 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005UGKDRY..._YNGRvb6J721CM DOT 5 which is a silicone based product is not compatible with any of the above. You'll be fine running DOT4 __________________________________________________ *violente et ignorantia* ZX-2R BLOG *Twitter and Instagram = Ghostt_Scott* *I'm not here to change your mind, just to inform.*
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

July 22nd, 2015, 03:19 PM	#7
choneofakind ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: . Location: . Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: Too much. MOTM - Feb '13, Feb '14	Really? "DOT3 vs DOT4" is not a highly specific Google query. EDIT: this is literally the first result for the above query: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DOT_4 No offense here, but dude...
	1 out of 1 members found this post helpful.

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July 21st, 2015, 02:19 PM	#4
MrAtom . Name: . Location: . Join Date: Aug 2014 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: A lot. MOTM - July '15	Thanks for the good info! Always appreciated!

July 21st, 2015, 03:02 PM	#5
choneofakind ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: . Location: . Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: Too much. MOTM - Feb '13, Feb '14	Google. It's a great tool for commonly asked simple questions. If you're wondering it, there's a really really high chance someone else has already discussed it on the internet. just sayin.