Finish LineDOT 5.1 Brake Fluid(Return to Product Page)

After a few years on hydraulic disc brakes, I'm settling in to not bleeding, but replacing the fluid about once a year. It takes no more effort, costs only a few dollars, and guarantees you a problem free year. This fluid is a few dollars less than the SRAM branded one, and as far as I can tell performs exactly the same. The bottle has enough to replace both brake lines' fluid, with enough to spare for a bleed in case you goof up (as I did, introducing air unintentionally). If you think you'll get a bargain by getting automotive DOT 5.1, beware that once opened, the product is only good for a year anyways, as it absorbs water from the air. Be sure you have the right fluid - some systems (Shimano for one) use mineral oil and the two fluids are not mutually compatible.

Good product. Meets the requirements for SRAM hydraulic brakes.

Better price than SRAM branded fluid.

After a few weeks with squishy hydraulics, I finally bit the bullet and bled the brake system. As it turns out, the old fluid had deteriorated, being quite discolored, so i ended up doing a replace and bleed instead. This Dot 5.1 fluid seems a little paler than the SRAM branded bottle I had previously used, but I could be mistake. At any rate, it's a little less expensive. A word to the wise - if you are tempted to buy a larger container at the auto parts store, realize that once open, the stuff is not usable beyond a year, as it absorbs water from the air. So unless you either bleed your brakes very frequently, or have a fleet of bikes that use Dot 5.1, it makes more sense to stick with this small bottle. I replaced the fluid front and rear on my SRAM brakes, and there appears to be enough left for one wheel's bleed should i need it.