Ooops - Advice please

[Nevin]

I am going mountain biking tomorrow, but my back disc brake pads were rubbing so I thought I would take them apart to have a look. Not having done it before, I just unscrewed things until I could get at them. This has worked fine and they seem better now, however in doing so I managed to dump the hydraulic fluid/mineral oil/whatever.

Now obviously I can't get to the bike shop before I leave tomorrow morning, so any suggestions as to what Shimano actually mean by mineral oil? Is it something liek 3-in-1 or does it need to be something more specific. Any suggestions as to stuff I may have lying around the house which I can use, e.g olive oil? At a bit of a loss here, so any help greatly received.

And yes, I accept I am an idiot for taking them apart in the first place without knowing what I was doing.

[RUF RCT]

I think you're stuffed.
You could possibly try your local 24hr petrol station for dot 4 (or above) brake fluid.

Scrub that. You are definitely stuffed
www.trials-forum.co.uk/forum/index.php?s=f1b4b51689452458783645691c7a20de&showtopic=26900&pid=331612&st=0&#entry331612

Edited by RUF RCT on Saturday 11th November 19:57

[Nevin]

But if I don't care about the warranty, would dot 4 do it? I can wait until the bike shop opens at 10, but its a royal pain in the arse

[burnt]

I'm good pals with the lbs owner and some of the stories that he tells me, you would be amazed. Some of the kids can't be arsed or afford mineral oil so use anything they can find, including Olive Oil!!!! Whats even more suprising is that is doesn't work too bad!

As I say take this with a pinch of salt (some nice white bread and a glass of wine!!). And before you start shooting me down, I'm just passing the story on, but those kids can sure be crazy.

[Nevin]

Meh. Looks like the Edinburgh Bike Coop at 10am for me then. Don't want to muck about with unknowns.

[8]

Nevin said:

I am going mountain biking tomorrow...

Have you been to glentress?

I was there for the third time today and had a great time. First time I've been mountain biking in wet weather, so it was interesting.

[beyond rational]

Its mineral oil, in theory something like Castrol Gtx would work as a replacement, just avoid synthetics or your seals will be disovled. No idea what viscosity it should be though.

[Locoblade]

Shimano mineral brake oil is far thinner than car engine oil, its viscosity is more like regular brake fluid or 3-in-1 but I wouldnt use anything like that either as brake fluid will obviously attack the seals, and 3-in-1 is bound to have lots of additives etc in it to aid lubrication and inhibit rust etc which may screw up the seals too.

[Rednut05]

You can used distilled water. Just don't let it freeze.

[beyond rational]

err..or boil!

[Nevin]

8 said:

Nevin said:

I am going mountain biking tomorrow...

Have you been to glentress?

I was there for the third time today and had a great time. First time I've been mountain biking in wet weather, so it was interesting.

Yes, dozens of times and its great. We go down every Tuesday evening in the summer but avoid the weekends because it is usually rammed.

Got some Shimano Mineral Oil in the end and brakes are now fine.