BrokeAss

I visited a Porsche performance specialist the other day to check out their shop, customer cars and facilities to see if it's the kind of place I want to spend thousands of dollars in!

I spent two hours there and spoke with one of the shop owners. I went through my list of service items that I want to have performed next. One of those items is a brake fluid flush. At present, I've got plain old brake fluid in the car now. I wanted to have the system flushed and replaced with Super Blue.

The shop owner says that he's no longer recommending Super Blue to "weekend-warriors" like myself. He's a big fan of <a href="http://www.racerpartswholesale.com/srf1.htm" target="_blank">Castrol SRF Racing brake fluid</a>. Until that moment, I had never heard of the stuff. It seems like a bit of overkill to me, but then again if I REALLY need my brakes to save my life I might be glad I spent the extra money.

Any serious gearheads out there using this exotic stuff?

RSAErick

I think that if I was a shop owner, I might recommend an $85 brake fluid over a $10 fluid too!

Regardless of that fact, I have heard good things about the SRF also. However, at such an astronomical price I would expect it to be good. In fact, I would probably use it if I was either rich, or drove a full-blown race car.

However, I have NEVER had the Super Blue give me a soft pedal on the racetrack. Maybe I'm actually a wuss, but I'd prefer to just think of myself as poor.

Anyway, if the Super Blue hasn't given you a soft pedal yet, I'd personally stick with it. Do yourself a huge favor, though, and keep it flushed... you're probably bleeding frequently anyway if you're rapidly going through brake pads on the track. If you aren't going through brake pads, then the Super Blue is more than adequate for you.

Good luck!
Erick

Bill Gregory

Terry,

ATE is no longer bringing it's "Super Blue" into the country (although there seems to be good stocks of it), so use their "Typ 200" which is DOT legal and the same thing as "Super Blue" without the dye.

Castrol SRF costs around $65/Liter vs $7-$12/Liter for ATE. The benefit of the SRF is that it has a very high boiling point, which is important in racing. ATE has a higher than average boiling point, but not as high as SRF. For street usage, you're going to flush your brakes every one or two years, and frankly SRF would be a waste of money. ATE Typ 200 is worth it for street usage, and for track usage, especially since with track usage you're bleeding the brakes much more often than every year or two.

Kevin Ross

Terry

Nice Avatar, btw!!

I use SRF. I tend to do track days every month, and I did notice brake fade with the standard fluid. Porsche recommended SRF, and while it is very expensive, I have found it fantastic. It doesn't make a lot of difference to normal everyday driving, but when it gets warmed up on the track it is sensational.

Take Care!
<img border="0" alt="[bigbye]" title="" src="graemlins/xyxwave.gif" />

JW in Texas

Terry,
I love the SRF. I had the brake fluid boiling experience in my C2 early last year. No Fun! I had flushed/bled about a week before the event. I lost them after a fast pass on a guy going into a tight right hander. I went to brake & the pedal went to the floor. I grabbed the e-brake & managed to stay on track. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" /> I decided that it was time for big reds so I called Charlie Wright @ Wrightwood Racing for some advice. He was against the big reds. He said more unsprung weight, cash & you don't need them. His advice was first get some air to the center of the rotors & then either flush/bleed the night before each event or go to SRF. I bought the OG Racing cooling kit & ran it to some bumper ducts where the fog lights used to be & started running SRF. Haven't had a problem since & because I would have been flushing several times a year with the blue, the cost really isn't that bad on the SRF. I also noticed on the first flush on the Supercup that it has an SRF sticker on the reservoir & looks like that's all it's ever had in it. My 50 cts worth. <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" />

Jeff Curtis

I think in most cases that SRF IS overkill...but it's still a highly-regarded and proven product.

I know Club Racers that use SRF and ones that still use Super Blue ATE. The ones that use SRF are happy, so are the ATE guys.

Personally, I did almost 30 track events last year and POUND THE HELL out of my brakes...have never had a boiling issue...a brake pad replacement issue YES, but never a soft pedal. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

Terry, if you track the hell out of your car, by all means...consider it. If you're just an occasional "weekend warrior", forget it.

Also, get one of the several "economical" versions of a pressure brake bleeder and perform this procedure yourself...I bleed my brakes before EVERY event - SRF would cost mucho dinero in that case...I only bleed them for precautionary measures, or I just need something to do.

Some would argue that if I used SRF...I wouldn't have to do that, but then that would put a dent in my routine and I would probably no longer have to stress getting all of my maintenance done prior to the next event...at one point I had 6 weekends in a row lined up! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Eek!]" src="eek.gif" />

Okay...I think I may have just convinced myself, my GOD - I hate it when I do that! <img border="0" alt="[hiha]" title="" src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" />

Manny Alban

I've been using the SRF for three years and have been very happy. I've switched to Big Reds a few months ago, so the SRF might not be necessary anymore, but I'll still use it. Here's how I justify the price.

Entry fee to a DE or Club Race: $150-$400
Set of front brake pads: $160-$250
Set of 18" Michelin Cups: $1100.
1 Can of SRF Fluid:$70
Not getting a soft pedal and passing your friends under braking near the end of the race/session: Priceless!

BrokeAss

Thanks for all the feedback guys!

GREEK-TURBO-RACER

Terry, I TOTALLY agree with Manny.

SRF is the best. Just do it one time. Remember, time spent is also money spent.

Theo

JW in Texas

SRF & flush twice a year. Simple as that.
Jay

Jeff Curtis

Keep it up guys...I'm ALMOST convinced. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="wink.gif" />

Manny, sometimes you just make WAY too much sense.