No, not 12, that's my average number of days, not schools. I change mine before each and every school, so about 4 to 5 times between April and October. It's a standing thing here in Upstate, if someone wants to see how clean brake fluid should be they ask to see under my hood.

Brake fluid is hygroscopic. Hygroscopy is the ability of a substance to attract water molecules from the surrounding environment through either absorption or adsorption. Brake fluid is rated with both a wet boiling point and a dry boiling point. The dry boiling point is for fresh fluid, wet is for old fluid because it has had a chance to suck moisture out of the environment.

As an example a brake fluid could be rated wet 270 degrees, dry 570 degrees. That means when fresh it will not boil until it gets up to 570 degrees, and if old it can only endure 270 degrees before failure. Keep in mind what happens whan fluid boils - air is introduced. The reason we use liquid for brake systems is liquid for the most part cannot be compressed, air however can. Therefore once a fluid has boiled the brake pedal becomes as soft as a wet sponge and you loose brakes, not a fun prospect on track.

Change your fluids before each school, and seriously consider going to a competition fluid not just the OEM stuff. Your brakes should be your number one concern when it comes to track events and the care you give your car.

And while I'm using the words always and never, never go to a scholl without both spare fluid and pads, I even take spare rotors because I know what can happen... Nobody ever said speed was cheap.

 

All right, I guess I will worry about this in a couple months I am still interested in attending other tech days before then... I would like to learn some more mechanical skills, especially on the S, but anything general is fine too.

After the next 2 weekends I have nothing specific planned to get out of the house.

I did just get an offer from my S600 friend Brian to move all my old S parts and bodies down to his garage and work on them there a couple weekends a month. That may be too good an offer to pass up. It's hard to think about moving that much stuff though so soon after the last move

 

What spare parts and bodies???

 

Thanks Doug. I do bring fluid with me. I do not have spare pads, I hate to even think how much that will cost

I will need to buy fluid anyway for the change - can you point me at a link to find what you are recommending? Keep in mind I still have the stock pads for now. I really can not afford to upgrade until the OEMs are at least 1/2 worn...

 

Old S600 stuff Doug - that was many posts ago I have two S600 bodies and many many many associated parts sitting in Joe's garage which I had to 'abandon' when I moved -- no garage or storage facility. And I am no where near smart enough to work on this type of thing alone - another reason I want to learn more mechanical stuff!

 

As an FYI, as an instructor before I get into a car brake fluid is one of the things I ask about. If the owner cannot give me a specific date when it was changed, that date is no more than 1-month away, and this is the 1st school since then, I won't get into the car. That is a hard and fast rule.

 

I thought you had all that stuff sold?

 

Well then I guess you and I are good for 4/28 No one has ever asked me about that before other than on the tech inspection sheet which I do complete but no one seems to look at that.

 

For me I run competition pads and fluid, so I always have plenty of pads and fluid. Most people can get by with just packing "get me home pads". These are used pads that have just enough life to get you home. When your pads are changed befo0re the next school - DO NOT let the old ones get thrown away, keep them and you have your 1st set of spare pads.

This is what I use - Stainless Steel Brake Co. Brake Fluid
http://www.racerpartswholesale.com/p...3/Brake_Fluid2
I buy 6 to 8 bottles in the spring and that gets me through the whole season

There are plenty of other options out there
http://www.racerpartswholesale.com/c...y/Brake_Fluid2

For me I refuse to buy a big contailer, because as soon as that seal is broken the hygroscopy begins. I use the small bottles so if I don't need everything in the bottle I'm only throwing away a little fluid.

 

Erick, no did not sell. Just left with Joe I would love to start working on this and Brian is one of the few people in the country who could actually help me.

He is the guy who worked on Jay Leno's car - the web site they flash in the video. I would still need some body work help but maybe that will work itself out as well once I start making some other progress.

I just need to find a way to talk to Joe about me getting the parts and stuff....