Substitute for brake fluid
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Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Saskatoon SK Canada
Substitute for brake fluid
Can anything be used as a substitute for brake fluid. When I pull the 52 home I'd like to have brakes. I should have the emergency brake but just would also like the brakes too. I don't want to spend $32 for 4 litres of brake fluid if I'm not gonna be using the brakes ever again. Any sugestions?
Logistics Pro
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 4,489
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From: Valley Center, CA
Nathan, it holds four liters? Wow! How about if you only filled it half full just for the one trip? Or is it 4 litres because you have huge brake cylinders on there. Also, be advised that brake fluid is water based, so you cannot add any alternatives that are petrolium based. Just a word to the wise, if you know what I mean. How much would it cost for a tow? $32 would go a long way towards that, I would think. Then you could be at home making all the repairs instead of trying to make it road worthy where it is now. Good luck, John 
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Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Saskatoon SK Canada
Of the trucks I have had they were bone dry. 4 litres would probally just fill the system. It's cheaper to buy more. 1 litre is like $9 but then this is the good dot 3 stuff. It would cost me $70-90 to get it towed, I can't put it on the trailer since it just fit the F-1. I pulled my M-3 home with just the emergency brake but then we didn't have to go through a valley. I wonder if motor oil would work? I don't think that compresses. We got alot of used stuff.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: San Diego CA
Nathan DON'T put moror oil in the brake system. I'd use urine before I'd put oil in it. Oil will cause all the rubber parts to swell up, that could lead to the brakes locking up. Can you tow it with a tow bar maybe. Rich.
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 2,813
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From: Connecticut
I would bite the bullet and get the fluid. No sense risking your life or someone else's because of not wanting to pay. Think of the insurance mess you'd be in if something bad happened, Lawsuits, etc.......
Barry
50 F-1
Barry
50 F-1
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Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Saskatoon SK Canada
Hmmm... Since I've never seen the truck yet so I don't know the condition of the brakes. Barry the worst damage I could do is hitting our truck or running through a ditch into a barb wire fence. The truck is not gonna be pulled through town and most likely the place to hit the fence would be our own property since we own the land in the valley. Also what would a towbar help?
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Postmaster
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Connecticut
With a tow bar you would not need brakes as long as what you are towing it with is capable of handling that truck. In our area, you can't put anyone in the towed vehicle, so no need for the brakes.
Barry
Barry
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Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Saskatoon SK Canada
The answer has been sitting in front of my face the whole time. Tractor Hydralic Fluid. It won't cause rubber to swell, we have a whole barrell of it and it also works as a power steering fluid.
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Can anything be used as a substitute for brake fluid. When I pull the 52 home I'd like to have brakes. I should have the emergency brake but just would also like the brakes too. I don't want to spend $32 for 4 litres of brake fluid if I'm not gonna be using the brakes ever again. Any sugestions?
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Joined: Apr 2021
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Can anything be used as a substitute for brake fluid. When I pull the 52 home I'd like to have brakes. I should have the emergency brake but just would also like the brakes too. I don't want to spend $32 for 4 litres of brake fluid if I'm not gonna be using the brakes ever again. Any sugestions?
