Banjo bolt washer - Copper or Dowty?

[Bobton125]

As title says, what's better to use?

I'm getting some weeping of brake fluid from my banjo fitting which looks to have copper washers which are very squashed.

What do you think is better to replace them with as i've heard banjo bolts can be a pain for this - a copper crush washer or a dowty seal?


The guys at pirtek gave me some dowty seals but have said the rubber seal is only for centralising it and not for sealing which is new to me? Also not sure how well the rubber seal will hold up to brake fluid

[The Hofff]

Dowty washers are almost always nitrile or Viton rubber which are not compatible with brake fluid

Replace the copper washers for new.... or if you are feeling really cheap your can heat them using a gas torch until a mild cherry red then let them cool to re-anneal them.

Edited by The Hofff on Tuesday 2nd March 14:13

[Bobton125]

The Hofff said:

Dowty washers are almost always nitrile or Viton rubber which are not compatible with brake fluid

Replace the copper washers for new.... or if you are feeling really cheap your can heat them using a gas torch until a mild cherry red then let them cool to re-anneal them.

Edited by The Hofff on Tuesday 2nd March 14:13

i thought that might be the case with dowty washers, thanks for confirming


the gas torch trick haha brilliant, i won't cheap out that much though

[The Hofff]

The Dowty's would work to get you out of a pickle but only as a very short term solution.