[Chuck]

Brakes

Only three points:

1. Carroll Smith would not be happy. We used Teflon tape on the brake line fittings secured to the calipers. But it was necessary so that a secure connection could be made with the right angle fitting pointed in the correct direction. It worked. No leaks.

2. Carroll Smith would not be happy. We used Russell’s anti seize and sealant on all of the threaded AN fittings. (Jegs, part # 67150, $11.99). It worked. No leaks.

3. Brake fluid does not generate as much debate as engine oil, but it is probably not too far behind. At the risk of adding to the debate, our two cents worth follows. We opted to use ATE Typ 200. It is a DOT 4 fluid recommended by BMW and sold by such suppliers as Baviarian Autosport, www.BavAuto.com. ($11.95 for 1 liter, which is just enough for the brakes and clutch. But buy two, just in case). We selected it for several reasons. (1) It is German (we have two BMWs and one Porsche as our daily drivers). (2) It is DOT 4, fully compatible with the more common DOT 3. (It is NOT silicone; that would be DOT 5). (3) It has high dry and wet boiling points. (4) It comes in a metal can, extending the shelf life. (5) Here is the really neat part. It comes in two colors: either ATE 200, which is the color of Corona beer, or ATE Super Blue Racing which is, you guessed it, blue. (It is the same stuff, despite the different names). So when it comes time to change the brake fluid, use the alternate color. When bleeding the lines, you will know you added enough when the color changes. Cool. Carroll Smith would be VERY happy.

By the way, for those that have not been introduced, Carroll Smith is the author of several excellent books including Prepare to Win; Tune to Win; Drive to Win; Engineer to Win; and my personal favorite, Nuts, Bolts, Fasteners and Plumbing Handbook.