Did you use DOT5 or DOT5.1? I'm hoping 5.1.....



If you flushed through DOT4 with DOT5 you will have started a fairly aggressive reaction between the fluids in your brake system that leads to corrosion and the creation of solids in your lines and calipers. Unless filled with DOT5 from new, it's NOT recommended that you perform a swap.

DOT5.1 is compatible with DOT4 - however most decent DOT4 fluids have boiling points as high as, if not higher, than the min. spec for DOT5.1

A bit of googling found the following:

Quote:

"Silicone Brake Fluids
In years past, all brake fluids were glycol. Then D.O.T. 5, a silicone fluid having a higher temperature rating, emerged, initially to meet the higher boiling point requirements of racing use. (Race car brake systems include oil-cooler-like heat exchangers and ceramic pads.) Silicone fluid was able to withstand the most heat of any brake fluid, so it earned a reputation as a racing brake fluid. However, silicone brake fluid has properties very different from glycol fluid, and has its own pros and cons. On the advantage side, silicone fluid will not harm paint or plastic, and does not aggressively attract additional moisture as glycol fluid does. On the disadvantage side however, silicone fluid aerates easily. Harley-Davison, one of the sole current OEM users of silicone fluid, warns buyers to let the fluid sit at least an hour before using it. The trip home in the saddlebag is enough to aerate silicone brake fluid until it looks like a freshly poured soft drink. Silicone fluid is also slightly more compressible than glycol fluid, does not change color to tip the user to its moisture content, and worst of all, neither accepts or disperses moisture, making systems using it more corrosion prone, and requiring much more frequent fluid changes. Silicone brake fluid also lacks glycol fluid's naturally occuring lubricity, making it incompatible with the mechanical valving in some antilock braking systems"

 

54 Freelander modded for mud
2008 D3 SE
2010 90 XS SW
1978 88 Series 3 undergoing surgery with a new owner
2007 90 County Truck Cab - gone
2006 D3 SE - gone
2004 Freelander Sport - gay
1999 Disco V8 ES rotted to bits

4RF RDS wrote:

2000 MY Td5 with ABS and TC. I just replaced the two front brake calipers as the original ones each had a seized piston. Bled the system with new DOT 5. Started at rear far side, rear near side then front far side and finally front near side. Bled through a litre and a half of new fluid (that should have purged all the old DOT 4 that was in there. i reconnected the battery after bleeding and still cannot get a firm pedal (did all this twice).

Any advice is welcome. (I have done this many times just never on a Wabco ABS equipped Defender). Am I missing something? Or do I just keep on bleeding it?

Let me know. Cheers