EBC sub contract the blending of its brake fluid to a UK based sister Company who is specialised in OE supply of quality brake fluids and are considered a suitable quality partner.EBC offer four grades of brake fluids for the market basically separated into two families, very different in their chemistry, Glycol fluids and Silicone Fluids.

Glycol fluid  – Most modern cars and Motorcycles use a Glycol fluid in their system. Care should be taken to read your owners manual before buying or mixing brake fluids, adding the wrong fluid to your vehicle brake system can cause many problems and even degrade the seals in you brake hydraulics. The specification and toxicity info (COSHH and OSHHA) info on our brake fluids can be found by clicking here: EBC offer a Dot 3 grade brake fluid, a high spec glycol fluid for general use, a higher grade Dot 4 glycol and finally a race grade high temperature glycol known as BF307. The only difference between Dot 3 and Dot 4 brake fluids is their purity, Dot 4 simply has less water in it than Dot 3. Do not confuse the rather crazy option some manufacturers have exhibited to produce a Dot 5 Glycol with the popular market Silicone Dot 5 fluid. As crazy as it sounds we now have two Dot 5 fluids out there one Glycol and one silicone which if mixed will cause disaster either way.

Material Data Safety Sheets:

Glycol fluids have a nasty characteristic of being “Hygroscopic” in that they attract and absorb water. This means that over the years the fluid in your vehicle system will degrade by the absorption of water. It is not uncommon to find glycol fluids containing up to 13 or 14% water which of course corrodes internal steel parts in your brake system and will promote early brake fade under heavy brake use. It also means that glycol fluids should be used only form a sealed container which once opened starts the degradation process immediately.

For this reason EBC Brakes to not sell “Gallon drums” of brake fluid which have a definite shelf life and prefer to sell only in small bottles so that the fluids can remain sealed until used and to minimise waste.

Glycol fluid is also highly corrosive and even contact with paintwork by damp fingers after working with fluids can cause severe paint damage, cleaning hands is essential when working with glycol and make sure you don’t touch paintwork when doing so.

Silicone Fluids are commonly classed as Dot 5 and we remind you again these cannot be mixed with glycol fluids. Many US Built custom big twin motorcycles use silicone brake fluid, their systems are designed for it. Silicone is wildly expensive but has the advantage that it is not hygroscopic (does not degrade by absorbing water) and does not damage paintwork. It therefore has a place in the brake fluid choice line up but again, make sure your system will handle it by referring to the owner’s manual.

Glycol fluid is also highly corrosive and even contact with paintwork by damp fingers after working with fluids can cause severe paint damage, cleaning hands is essential when working with glycol and make sure you don’t touch paintwork when doing so.

Silicone Fluids are commonly classed as Dot 5 and we remind you again these cannot be mixed with glycol fluids. Many US Built custom big twin motorcycles use silicone brake fluid, their systems are designed for it. Silicone is wildly expensive but has the advantage that it is not hygroscopic (does not degrade by absorbing water) and does not damage paintwork. It therefore has a place in the brake fluid choice line up but again, make sure your system will handle it by referring to the owner’s manual.