Brake fluid draws moisture. Moisture is water and water is H2O, ie air
molecules. These accumulate in the fulid and the end result is a steday decline
in brake performance. This why you should never use a opened bottle of brake
fuild for the BEST autocross or racing results. This is ok for normal street
applications. As you might guess the heat cycle action increases condensation,
so when we get our brakes real hot each weekend we hasten this process. That is
why frequent brake bleeding is reccomended.
Rob
Eric Linnhoff wrote:
> Howdy all.
>
> Am I the only one who experiences this? I get a new car and the brake pedal
> is wonderfully firm without the slightest bit of mush to it. Several months
> down the road I notice the pedal has gotten softer so I pay to get them bled
> since the dealer says there's nothing wrong with them and "they're working
> just as designed from the factory". What a crock!!!! (I don't think it's
> just a matter of the pads finally bedding in properly.)
>
> Anyway, once bled the brakes once again have that wonderful new firmer than
> firm feeling (well, as firm as factory production Neon brakes can be) and
> all is right in the world.
>
> Another 3 months down the road the pedal has gone soft again. Pay to have
> them bled and they're wonderfully firm once more.
>
> The brake shop whom I trust implicitly says that there's nothing wrong with
> the brakes and the seals aren't leaking or sucking air in anywhere so what
> gives?
>
> Does brake fluid turn stale? Do tiny bubbles magically appear and render
> the fluid less than perfect? Are there little gremlins lurking in my car
> and trying to drive me nuts? Hmm, that _would_ explain the voices I hear
> when driving........
>
> I do tend to use the brakes harder then most other street drivers. I
> absolutely love to dive deep into the local offramps (at just slightly
> higher than legal speeds ;^) and then jump on the binders hard at the last
> minute. No warped rotors, yet.
>
> Also, any opinions on an excellent brake fluid to use in the Neons? How
> about aftermarket pads that would serve double duty as street pads and
> autocross pads with no high speed track time. I've considered the Carbotech
> Kelated Metallic (Mean Green) pads? Anybody have experience with them on
> dual purpose cars? How long do they tend to last? I'd hate for a set of
> pads that costs over $100 to not last even until the end of the race season.
>
> Thanks for your patience.
>
> See you on course.
>
> Eric Linnhoff in KC
> #69DS TLS #13
> '98 Neon R/T
> <eric10mm@qni.com>
>
> Take a ton of bolt and steel
> A whole lotta sweat, a set of wheels.....On the Speedway.
> The flag is down, pistons pound
> Plenty of engines ripping around......On the Speedway.
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> "Speedway" by Elvis Presley
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