MB Brake fluid & the track

[zrusny]

Trackies: I was wondering how many of you out there have used the MB dot 4 spec brake fluid in your car and taken it to a track event. By track event, I mean a high-speed road course like Summit Point, Road Atlanta, VIR, etc. According to MBDOC, the stuff is rated at 180C wet boiling which is good. Anybody go over 140 MPH, and boil the fluid or experience brake fade with the factory setup? Reason I'm askin is with my ZR-1, PF brake pads (13.1" rotors) and Dot 4 brake fluid I experienced serious boiling & brake fade. (maybe that's because I was approaching speeds in excess of 150 MPH on the main straight). This was corrected on my next run with a set of Carbotech pads and Motul600 brake fluid. Anyway, I realize that the brake system in the MB E55 is actually engineered and probably better than the ZR-1...I'd like to make a go of it with the factory setup, but my brain keeps screaming Motul600. Comments?
Gary

[Lou Nielsen]

I use Ate Blue / Gold fluid in a 500E and experience no boiling problems. This is the same as the MB spec fluid from Ate. The most important thing is to flush fluid before and after the event. The most important spec is the dry boiling point with fresh fluid. The wet BP spec is for old unchanged fluid that has had a chance to pick up water. Also, really inspect your brakes carefully. Add coooling ducts. Still I get only 1 track day (120-150 miles on a set of pads) and rebuild my calipers every year. I find that the wear and heat damage to seals / dust boots is worse on the shorter tracks (no long straights to help cooling) than the really high speed tracks. At Road America I can get 145+ on all three staights. Corners are about 65, 30, and 45 at the end of the straights. I have found the stock Benz pads to be superior and cheaper than Hawke and PF compounds. The engineers at Pagid said that the stock pad material for the SL600 brake pad is similar to their enduro compound. I have found the stock rotors cryo treated and gas slotted to be the best performance / cost option to date.

[mbdoc]

MB fluid is good for 1 outing at speed, a slightly better fluid is ATE type 200. It has 200C wet boiling temp & 280c dry(just changed). The ATE super blue is the same fluid as the type 200 but has blue color. Many times the rubber hoses on the FRONT can give up & cause a "soft" pedal as well. If you are running these speeds then step up to steel braided lines on the front!!