![]() Although you may not ever reach these levels of heat when you’re out cycling there is still an increased chance that the brakes will begin to fade. The boiling point of the DOT 5.1 fluid sits at around 260 degrees celsius but when it gets contaminated with water it sinks to a low 180 degrees celsius instead. So to combat this it is important to bleed your brakes around once a year to make sure the system is completely clean and prevent these issues. The biggest disadvantage on the other hand is the fact that it is hygroscopic which means that it can absorb water and as moisture gets into your system it leads to a lower boiling point over time and damages your brakes performance like it’s stopping power. The biggest advantage that the DOT fluid offers is the fact that it is so available for you from bike shops, online retailers and even the automotive industry and is even, for the most part, cheaper than mineral oil. The other DOT fluids are made from glycol which is okay. The DOT 5 isn’t used for mountain bike brakes because the fluid is made from silicon which causes the seals to swell. Most brake fluid brands use DOT 4 or DOT 5.1 because they have higher boiling points. ![]() DOT fluid is actually regulated and is used in the automotive industry so it’s really accessible. The second main type of braking fluid is DOT fluid which is an abbreviation for Department of Transport and there are actually four types of DOT fluids: DOT 3, DOT 4, DOT 5 and DOT5.1. It could be an advantage for the manufacturers because it means that they are allowed to do what they want with what they put into the mineral oil to make it perform the best or be the best quality.Īlways be careful when it is raining or there is any sort of water around the mineral oil if it is exposed because if any water mixes with the mineral oil it will pool at the calliper and decrease the braking performance. There are two ways to look at the fact that it is unregulated though. ![]() The fact that different brands of mineral oil are different means that you should mix them with each other so youäll need to buy it from a proper bike dealership or on an online bike shop whereas with DOT you can get it from anywhere, even automotive industries. Since mineral oils aren’t all the same they aren’t equal, which brings me to the first disadvantage of this brake fluid which is that it’s unregulated. Mineral oil shouldn’t cause any type of irritation to your skin but it is always good to be 100 percent safe. ![]() Another great thing about this type of brake liquid is that it lasts much longer than DOT fluid so you won’t need to worry about changing it often.Įye protection and a good pair of gloves are always recommended when dealing with any types of fluids or liquids when bleeding your brakes. Some types of fluids and liquids can be very damaging to the mountain bikes paint but luckily this type of brake fluid isn’t but if any does spill and get onto anything it’s always good to wipe it off using a rag with isopropyl alcohol. Then when you let go of the brake lever the reverse happens and the fluid goes back into its reservoir. When the pistons move like this the brake pads move as well because they’re secured against one another, so when the brake lever is pulled the piston moves, which moves the brake pads, which then clamp down on the disc rotor. When this is happening it is actually building up a force which moves the pistons from their bores (the space in which they’re placed in the calliper). When you pull on your brake lever you are essentially depressing a piston which is inside the lever and this piston sends the fluid to the hydraulic hose and then to the brake calliper. If you aren’t certain which one your bike uses then it is important to do some research or ask someone who knows because if you use the wrong fluid then it could cause your brakes to fail prematurely. Mineral oil and DOT fluid are the two types of braking fluid that this system uses on your mountain bike. ![]() When you pull the brake lever on your handle bars, the specified fluid in this hydraulic system causes the pads to close onto the disc rotor, which then brings you and your bike to a safe stop. If your mountain bike uses the hydraulic disc braking system then there is a specific liquid that it requires to actually do its job. ![]()
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