For a driver,fewer things are more scary than the feeling of failing brakes.When you’re going 145 and the next corner can be negotiated no faster than 47 mph, a driver must know the brakes will work.Brakes fail because of various reasons,it could be the brake pad material completely wearing away, brake calipers breaking off,or the brake fluid boiled.
The Importance of Brake Fluid
The primary function of brake fluid is to transfer the force the driver exerts on the brake pedal to squeeze the brake pads against the rotor. The resulting friction slows the car, if everything works correctly. Thanks to advances in brakes, brake pads and brake fluid, few drivers of passenger vehicle drivers must deal with brake fade or failure. But don’t get complacent: using cheap or aging brake fluid can also be very dangerous.

In many brake fade or failure situations, the brake pads are not the problem but rather it’s the brake fluid. If you’re descending a steep grade with a loaded SUV,braking to a stop on the expressway, or attempting to stop for an unexpected okada rider, the brake discs and pads may reach or exceed 800 degrees Fahrenheit. Brake design keeps much of that heat away from the brake fluid. But if you don’t allow the brakes to cool between applications, lower-quality or old brake fluid can overheat and cause serious problems.

If your fluid is old it’s full of water. As brake fluid ages it attracts water: engineers call it hydroscopic. That moisture boils at 212 degrees and creates pockets of air in your brake lines. Also, bits of rubber from deteriorating seals and other contaminates enter the system. These prevent the brake pads from pressing against the discs as hard as necessary. The moisture, dirt and other contaminates also cause premature failure of internal brake components.

Manufacturers have set boiling-point standards for brake fluids. The most common brake fluids are DOT 3 and DOT 4. Both are usually polyethylene glycol-based. Brand new DOT 3 boils at about 400 degrees. Top quality DOT 4 won’t boil until more than 500 degrees, though the legal minimum is about 450 degrees. That’s more than plenty unless you’re a racing driver or an armed robber on the run .

But add about three percent water—which is what the manufacturer does for testing—and the boiling point drops to less than 285 degrees for DOT 3, while DOT 4 falls at barely over 310 degrees. Performance wise,this is more than acceptable for the average driver even in emergency situations.

If your car came with DOT 3, it’s okay to upgrade to DOT 4, though DOT 3 is just fine for the vast majority of drivers. But if your car came with DOT 4, use only DOT 4 fluid. Both DOT 3 or DOT 4 work fine with most disc or drum brakes and anti-lock braking systems (ABS).

There are a couple of other grades of brake fluid: DOT 5 and DOT 5.1. DOT 5 is silicone based and offers extremely high boiling points. However, DOT 5 doesn’t play well with DOT 3, 4 or 5.1, as well as some original-equipment brake system components and is mostly used by Formula1 and track-racing engines.

Synthetic, non-silicone brake fluids—called DOT 5.1—offer boiling points (500 dry and 356 wet) exceeding DOT 5, and are fully compatible with DOT 3 and DOT 4 fluids.
What this means for the average driver is:

- Top quality brake fluid is good insurance;

- If you open a brake fluid container, put the fluid in the car immediately or as soon as possible

- Clean off the area around the brake fluid reservoir before adding fluid;

- Regularly check the brake fluid level. As brake pads wear, more brake fluid must be added;

- If you notice a “spongy” feeling pedal, you need to check your brakes;

- Rapidly dropping brake fluid level (or brake fluid puddles under your car) signals a serious problem and should be addressed immediately;

- Renewing brake fluid (mechanics call it flushing) every couple of years can extended life of internal brake components and improve emergency stopping performance.

Brake fluid: Few think about it until it’s far too late. Separate yourself from the crowd.
Original Prestone DOT 3 & DOT 4 Brake Fluids available at Autoselect Ltd. Order now! call 08068861755
http://www.autoselectcorp.com
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/autoselectlimited
twitter: @autoselectNG

and how much does it go for?

the DOT 3 goes for 350 while the DOT 4 goes for 450 each

Op, is it normal for break pads to get extremly hot, after a long fast drive??