Griff Posted January 26, 2006 Share Posted January 26, 2006 I'm sure I can get more out of my brake setup which at the moment has standard discs, Willwood 4-pot fronts, Sierra rears and Mintex 1144 all round plus a bia valve. I've invested in an uprated master cylinder and will be changing the fluid. Checking the archives it seems the pad choices are:- Mintex 1144 (know where I am with these and they've never let me down) Pagid RS14 (expensive but seem to be popular) Ferrodo DS 3000 (a few advocates) EBC Green Stuff (surprisingly negative views, also ECB suggested their Yellowstuff at the Autosport show - seems an odd choice?) Please vote now! Also wondering if I really need exotic pads on the back too or are standard pads OK with a bit of bias valve fiddling? Next query - I've 2 litres of Castrol Response dot 4 synthetic fluid which has been on my shelf for a year (unopened). It's never been used as I wasn't sure of the wisdom of synthetics and whether this called for complete seal changes? I've never had problems before and don't want them now. Should I switch or stick with my present (non-synthetic?) fluid? Cheers, Mike (Griff) It's not pink, it's medium red violet...! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CageyH Posted January 26, 2006 Share Posted January 26, 2006 Speak to John Freith of Performance Braking on 01600 713117. He will point you in the right direction... How about RS15's on the front and RS14's on the back? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Plato Posted January 26, 2006 Share Posted January 26, 2006 15s front 14s rear with SRF fluid or if you have std calipers 15's front std rear with SRF C7 TOP Powered by Hellier Performance 😬 South Wales AO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griff Posted January 26, 2006 Author Share Posted January 26, 2006 Two for Pagids so far - will call John Frieth later - thanks! The Castrol fluid I have is a "Super dot 4" synthetic but it's not SRF which I assume is a dot 5 fluid (?). The stuff I was bought from Merlin Motorsport (who also sell SRF) but I recall they advised not to use a dot 5 in case there were dot 4 residues in the system. I then got worried about the Super dot 4 as its a synthetic and I'm again not sure of the wisdom in case there are any mineral fluid residues. I want to avoid changing every pipe, hose & seal in the system if I can help it! Or am I confused between synthetic and silicon fluids? I also read lots or warnings about fast moisture absorption in SRF and that it should be changed more frequently than conventional fluids. Won't this negate the benefits of high performance fluid? I've changed fluid twice in the three years I've had the car but wonder if this classes as "frequent" enough? It's not pink, it's medium red violet...! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Support Team Shaun_E Posted January 26, 2006 Support Team Share Posted January 26, 2006 AFAIK, DOT 4 and DOT 5.1 can be mixed as these are normal brake fluids. DOT 5.0 is silicone based and should never be mixed with 4 or 5.1. I am pretty sure that silicone is not recommended for high performance brake systems. Brake fluid should be changed every 2 years at the mimimum on a 7 along with the flexible pipes. If you use one of the high performance brake fluids they probably need to be changed more regularly. Yellow SL #32 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason liddell Posted January 26, 2006 Share Posted January 26, 2006 Another for RS15s front, RS14s rear ...but then that probably means we all spoke to John Freith! VERY helpful chap Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Wong1697456877 Posted January 26, 2006 Share Posted January 26, 2006 RS14's, SRF and remortgage a little to pay for it. It's worth it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgrigsby Posted January 26, 2006 Share Posted January 26, 2006 RS14's and AP600 fluid a lot cheaper than SRF but seems to work fine for me Rob G www.SpeedySeven.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stijn LUYCK 1 Posted January 26, 2006 Share Posted January 26, 2006 RS14, RS15 and SRF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griff Posted January 26, 2006 Author Share Posted January 26, 2006 John Freith - really helpful guy and dispels the myths! Not as much choice of pads for the Willwood 4-pots but looks like Pagids are the route - he's just checking availability of compounds. As for fluids he actually recommended sticking with a regular dot 4 or super dot 4 fluid as the dot 5 doesn't lubricate the pistons as well. Other benefits he felt were pretty marginal. It's not pink, it's medium red violet...! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlesElliott Posted January 26, 2006 Share Posted January 26, 2006 SRF is DOT 4. Charles --- My SuperGraduates 2005 diary My Caterham Academy 2004 build and race diary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F355GTS Posted January 26, 2006 Share Posted January 26, 2006 Odd I replied ot this thread earlier but it's missing RS15's all round and SRF, not tried them yet ask me on 5ht Feb Previously I've tried Mintex 1144, 1177 and DS3000. 3000's work well but are quite aggressive and where quite quickly. 1144's are a nice alround pad but lack bite, 1177's have bite but need a lot of heat and can cool too much on a reasonable straight (least they do with my namby driving ) Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myles Posted January 26, 2006 Share Posted January 26, 2006 RS15s in HiSpec Ultralite 4 fronts. Noisy as hell. Halfrauds 5.1 until now as I had a hell of a lot of problems* and kept having to bleed them. *everything from being supplied with just-too-short brake hoses upto and including replacing the MC. I've just received a set of exchange rear clappers - and the front of the car is piled up in my boot at the mo - so I might switch straight to SRF. Project Scope-Creep is live... Alcester Racing 7's Equipe - 🙆🏻™ Alcester-Racing-Sevens.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevefoster Posted January 27, 2006 Share Posted January 27, 2006 Here's my vote. Ferodo race pads FRP218R (AP caliper CP2340D43) Pagid Standard Sierra rear caliper RS 14 AP600 fluid - change it regularly Hants (north) / Berkshire club here Area meeting pics here My Racing here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griff Posted January 27, 2006 Author Share Posted January 27, 2006 Right - there's not much choice for the Willwood Dynalite 4-pots which I have, only a fast road spec compound but not any RS14 or RS15. John Freith said an almost equivalent option and best available is the Ferodo DS3000 which is also half the price - not much more than 1144s and far better performance. Will give these a go and ponder further on the brake fluids. Seems the super dot 4 stuff I already should be more than adequate. Thanks for all the feedback! Mike (Griff) It's not pink, it's medium red violet...! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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