Brake fluid change for track????

[Joco28]

Going to be taking my ZL1 to the track next month and in the owner's manual it suggests a brake fluid change among other things should be done beforehand. Only problem is, my local Chevy dealers have never worked on ZL1s, and want me to supply the performance parts necessary for the track. So I am wondering if the Chevy dealer is the right place to go. Where have you guys gone to do the pre-track changes to your ZL1s? Or is it even worth it? Thanks

[b_williams_82]

I think tpower did it a while back! I may be mistaken though! I'd like to see what people say as well!!

[Nightspore68]

I would go to a performance parts store. I doubt GM has any brake fluid for the track.

I haven't tracked my ZL-1 yet, but when I prepared my Porsche for the track, I installed stainless steel brake lines and Super Blue brake fluid, which worked well. I didn't do this in my Lexus IS F and I felt like the fluid may have boiled late into the session (no or marginal brakes!). So you might see if there's a place that sells Super Blue near you.

[Nightspore68]

BTW, I did that work myself (with the help of a friend) at the auto shop our employees association has. It was pretty easy and could be done at home. You need some kind of pump that attaches to the brake reservoir to make the fluid changing job easier. I'm sure someone else will chime in with the name of that device.

[Heaven_is_inferno_orange]

I dont know what DOT GM Recommends in the ZL1 but DOT 5.1 is the higher heat version of DOT 3 & 4 and is what im familiar with seeing in racing applications. DOT 3, 4, & 5.1 are pretty much the same except for a few additives. Just dont get DOT 5.1 confused with DOT 5. DOT 5 cannot be put into a system that wasnt made for it. Your dealer's techs should easily be able to do this for you. You can also do it yourself its a pretty easy procedure.
Do it at home: You need something like a Mityvac Vacuum bleed kit. http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/p-16...bleed-kit.aspx Stick the end of the hose into your resevoir and pump out all the old fluid. Fill resevoir with new fluid to fill line. This will give you new fluid everywhere but your lines.
If you decide you want to try it yourself and flush the brake lines and need to know how to do it just shoot me a PM. Hope some of this was helpful.

[Jim968]

I use Moutl RBF 600 in my race car (Porsche 968), and highly recommend it. You can get it here:

http://www.ogracing.com/motul-rbf600-racing-brake-fluid

You can easily do the fluid change yourself with a Motive Power Bleeder:

http://www.ogracing.com/motive-power-bleeder

If you want to try to do it yourself I could post a walk-through of the procedure. Its pretty easy and only takes about an hour.

If you don't want to do it yourself you could just buy the fluid on line and find a race shop to do it for you. Chevy dealer could probably do it, but a race shop would be better.

[OldJedi]

Definitely upgrade to a DOT 4 brake fluid before you track the car. There are lots of types some more expensive than others. You can do it in your garage with a friend doing the old push and hold method but it is far quicker using a pump connected to a compressor and it works better than the push and old method.

[Happy_Dan]

Originally Posted by Jim968

I use Moutl RBF 600 in my race car (Porsche 968), and highly recommend it. You can get it here:

http://www.ogracing.com/motul-rbf600-racing-brake-fluid

You can easily do the fluid change yourself with a Motive Power Bleeder:

http://www.ogracing.com/motive-power-bleeder

If you want to try to do it yourself I could post a walk-through of the procedure. Its pretty easy and only takes about an hour.

If you don't want to do it yourself you could just buy the fluid on line and find a race shop to do it for you. Chevy dealer could probably do it, but a race shop would be better.

+1

[Joco28]

thanks everyone, big help

[Norm Peterson]

Originally Posted by Nightspore68

Super Blue brake fluid, which worked well..

All you guys in Florida need to know that the blue brake fluid is not legal for street use. There's an issue with staining and the blue color is technically outside DOT4 specs. There is an amber version that is otherwise identical and would be legal.

The big advantage of the blue is that when you alternate between it and the amber at each brake fluid flush, you know when you're done.


Norm

[joes407]

illegal in florida? we dont even have state inspection so whos gonna notice?

[firecross91]

I've asked before and haven't gotten a reply. Does the ZL1 need stainless steel brake lines??

[Norm Peterson]

Originally Posted by joes407

illegal in florida? we dont even have state inspection so whos gonna notice?

I'm only the messenger here. But you'd be a sitting duck at a roadside inspection or at a repair shop looking to squeeze a little easy $ out of you.

I suggest that you find out for yourself what the technical reasoning behind Florida's brake fluid regulation is. Before you decide to ignore it.


Norm