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There is a lot of misinformation out there, so here is some information I have put together about brake fluid as it applies to your Corvette!

Brake Fluid Ratings, with BP (Boiling Point Standard) in degrees Fahrenheit:

DOT 2 - Forget about it, it is obsolete.
DOT 3 - Glycol based, Dry 401, Wet 284
DOT 4 - Glycol based, Dry 446, Wet 311
DOT 5 - Silicone Based, Dry 500, Wet 356

Dry refers to virgin fluid; wet to fluid that has been in use for a while.

For owners of 63-82 Corvettes, we can eliminate DOT 5 silicone fluid. First of all, it is non hydroscopic, meaning it doesn't mix with moisture. But in the course of normal driving, moisture is going to get into your brake system and cause havoc. By not mixing with the brake fluid, this trapped and highly compressible moisture becomes highly corrosive. Corrosion is one of the reasons every brake caliper on 65-82 Corvettes has either already been sleeved, or probably should be.

Unless you flush and bleed your fluid a couple of times a year, silicone fluid is not the answer. Even dry virgin silicone fluid is more compressible than glycol fluid, so it doesn't work for me, even right out of the box. You can't mix Dot 5 fluid with even a trace of glycol fluid, whereas you don't have to worry about compatibility when switching between glycol-based fluids.

So now we are down to deciding between DOT 3 and DOT 4 fluid. The key number is the wet boiling point, as that is where your car lives. Dry boiling point is only relevant for road racecars, as their fluid is normally changed before every event. The higher the wet boiling point, the longer the fluid will perform well in your car. DOT 3 fluid should be flushed and replaced every year. DOT 4 fluid might give you an extra year. Our Type 200 fluid has a wet boiling point of 396 degrees, the highest of any glycol-based fluid I considered. I concur with the manufacturer's recommendation of a three-year interval between changes.

One last consideration on brake fluid is packaging. The smaller the container the better, and a steel can is much better than a plastic bottle. Moisture penetrates plastic containers, so it is 'wet' by the time you open it.

 

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Duntov Motor Company is the exclusive licensee for the continued production of the authentic original Corvette Grand Sport.  Duntov Motor Company is the exclusive licensee for the manufacturing and distribution of the updated street version of this famous car. We service what we sell. We also restore and service 1963-1982 Corvette race, street and performance cars using original and replacement parts including front and rear suspension, brake calipers, brake rotors, brake pads, both J-56 and stock brake caliper pistons, and Corvette stainless steel parking brake parts. We offer the finest original U.S. built Corvette spindles and GM stub axles, along with remanufactured Corvette differentials for both street and race cars. We build both new and rebuilt Corvette trailing arm assemblies for 1965-1982 Corvettes, and offer Corvette street and racing springs and both steel and composite leaf springs in a wide selection of spring rates. Check out our Corvette parts section for shocks, sway bars, upper and lower A-arms, Corvette ball joints, tie rod ends, pitman arms, idler arms, shocks and U-joints.

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