M38a1 brake fluid type

[Tim Sommers]

Hi I am putting on new brake cylinders on my m38a1. What brake fluid is the correct type? Some places say Dot 3 and most say Dot5

 

[Al Harvey]

Should be DOT 5 unless someone has changed it out to DOT 3. You can test it by taking a sample and putting it in a small bit of DOT 3 and another part in some DOT 5. The fluids won't mix so you can determine which fluid is in your jeep.

 

[NDT]

I restored my M38A1 in 1985 using DOT 5. The brakes have worked to this day without maintenance or adding fluid. Try that with DOT 3.

 

[papabear]

I restored my M38A1 in 1985 using DOT 5. The brakes have worked to this day without maintenance or adding fluid. Try that with DOT 3.

Agreed.

It seems like the brake fluid bandit doesn't steal the DOT 5 as much as the DOT 3. I had DOT 3 in my M38A1 for a couple of years but when we put new wheel cylinders and MC on we flushed the system and went back to DOT 5. That's been about 7 years ago...no issues since.