Eric,
I won't try to expand on what Lloyd and Rob have already said because
they both hit the nail right on the head. However, I would suggest to
you that a good off-the-shelf brake fluid without having to plunk down
the big bucks for Motul, AP, Wilwood, and some of the others is
Castrol LMX. You can pick it up for less than $10/quart at Pep Boys.
Then I would suggest you get in touch with a British car supply house
and buy a Gunson EeziBleed. It's a pressure bleeder that uses air
from a spare tire to force fluid through your system. Costs about
$40. Next, go to a junk yard and pick up a Neon master cylinder lid
that you can modify to work with the EeziBleed. (That means drilling
a hole in it!)
Now you don't have to pay your neighborhood garage to bleed your
brakes for you. You can bleed them anytime they need it in less than
30 minutes all by yourself.
John (Old Fartz & TLS #37) Lieberman
Eric Linnhoff wrote:
>
> Howdy all.
>
> Am I the only one who experiences this? I get a new car and the brake pedal
> is wonderfully firm without the slightest bit of mush to it. Several months
> down the road I notice the pedal has gotten softer so I pay to get them bled
> since the dealer says there's nothing wrong with them and "they're working
> just as designed from the factory". What a crock!!!! (I don't think it's
> just a matter of the pads finally bedding in properly.)
>
> Anyway, once bled the brakes once again have that wonderful new firmer than
> firm feeling (well, as firm as factory production Neon brakes can be) and
> all is right in the world.
>
> Another 3 months down the road the pedal has gone soft again. Pay to have
> them bled and they're wonderfully firm once more.
>
> The brake shop whom I trust implicitly says that there's nothing wrong with
> the brakes and the seals aren't leaking or sucking air in anywhere so what
> gives?
>
> Does brake fluid turn stale? Do tiny bubbles magically appear and render
> the fluid less than perfect? Are there little gremlins lurking in my car
> and trying to drive me nuts? Hmm, that _would_ explain the voices I hear
> when driving........
>
> I do tend to use the brakes harder then most other street drivers. I
> absolutely love to dive deep into the local offramps (at just slightly
> higher than legal speeds ;^) and then jump on the binders hard at the last
> minute. No warped rotors, yet.
>
> Also, any opinions on an excellent brake fluid to use in the Neons? How
> about aftermarket pads that would serve double duty as street pads and
> autocross pads with no high speed track time. I've considered the Carbotech
> Kelated Metallic (Mean Green) pads? Anybody have experience with them on
> dual purpose cars? How long do they tend to last? I'd hate for a set of
> pads that costs over $100 to not last even until the end of the race season.
>
> Thanks for your patience.
>
> See you on course.
>
> Eric Linnhoff in KC
> #69DS TLS #13
> '98 Neon R/T
> <eric10mm@qni.com>
>
> Take a ton of bolt and steel
> A whole lotta sweat, a set of wheels.....On the Speedway.
> The flag is down, pistons pound
> Plenty of engines ripping around......On the Speedway.
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------
> "Speedway" by Elvis Presley
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