dot 4 or 5, need quick answer!
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Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 129
Likes: 1
From: Florissant
A response to the whole cap thing. Was watching a video of an 08 road glide getting its brake fluid changed and the caps he pulled off were black. If my PO swapped his stock ones with the fancy chrome ones that are now on it and didn't think to make sure what was written on them now all of a sudden I or the dealer is putting the wrong fluid in. At this point I would swear by the water test. Will buy a bottle of D5 this weekend and will comfirm for sure that is what is in the front reservoir. Why he wouldn't have had the rear fluid changed when the front bar work was done concerns me. You can def tell the rear fluid is dirtier/older than the front.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,296
Likes: 3
From: Cheltenham, UK
A response to the whole cap thing. Was watching a video of an 08 road glide getting its brake fluid changed and the caps he pulled off were black. If my PO swapped his stock ones with the fancy chrome ones that are now on it and didn't think to make sure what was written on them now all of a sudden I or the dealer is putting the wrong fluid in. At this point I would swear by the water test. Will buy a bottle of D5 this weekend and will comfirm for sure that is what is in the front reservoir. Why he wouldn't have had the rear fluid changed when the front bar work was done concerns me. You can def tell the rear fluid is dirtier/older than the front.
I am amazed how blasé some people are about brakes, yet will investigate and spend hours and dollars on performance. When it comes to performance, for me brake performance trumps all.
Modern paints are really very good now, did you scratch through to bare metal before doing the test as this will accelerate the bubbling
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Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 129
Likes: 1
From: Florissant
Didn't scratch the paint but didn't look at today, will check after work and see what it looks like. But it still concerns me that after calling 3 dif dealers that pretty much all said that they just go by the cap. Now 90 percent of the time that would be OK but would they have enough sense to realize that those weren't stock caps on mine and that year bike was supposed to have D4? Prob not.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,296
Likes: 3
From: Cheltenham, UK
I am not sure how long that gelling process takes
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,296
Likes: 3
From: Cheltenham, UK
Didn't scratch the paint but didn't look at today, will check after work and see what it looks like. But it still concerns me that after calling 3 dif dealers that pretty much all said that they just go by the cap. Now 90 percent of the time that would be OK but would they have enough sense to realize that those weren't stock caps on mine and that year bike was supposed to have D4? Prob not.
At least ask the question "how can I be sure?"
Check if front and back were same fluids
Call and discuss the self same options you have identified above
At least you are not in a rush here and have the opportunity to consider all options and investigate properly
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Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 129
Likes: 1
From: Florissant
Can't post pic here on mobile but checked the paint in the cabinet, the D4 from the bottle def bubbled, where I put the fluid from front brake did have a scratch and it did nothing and the fluid from the rear brake bubbled the same as the known bottle of D4. Yay, a conclusion!