| From the horse\'s mouth: Brembo Systems & DOT5 Fluid
Guys
This question has plagued me for some time, and in particular, recently, so I decided to do some digging. Here's what I found:
Yoyodyne Post
Skidlids found a post from the old DSC Message Board (November 2001) that referenced a Yoyodyne URL (no longer active) saying that DOT5 fluid was incompatible with Brembo systems as it caused seal swelling and seizure.
Call to John Hackett
Spoke to JH himself, and whilst on the telephone, he called Brembo in the UK for me. JH passed on the message that DOT5 fluid was fine.
Call to Brembo Italy
Perplexed by this discrepancy, I tried to contact Brembo in Italy.
From what I learned by watching an Open University programme on Italian in at 2:30am sometime 1978, I gleaned that Brembo were on holiday until some later point in August.
Call to Yoyodyne
I spoke to Yoyodyne in the US. They confirmed that they believed the information stated in 2001 was correct, and stood by it. They referenced Brembo California as the source.
Call to Brembo California
Spoke to Raphael, who is in technical services for motorcycles. Here goes:
1. All Brembo braking systems fitted to Ducati motorcycles up to (not including) the latest 4-pad systems are INCOMPATIBLE with DOT5 fluid.
2. The new generation of braking systems fitted to Ducati motorcycles INCLUDING the latest 4-pad systems are compatible with DOT3, DOT4 or DOT5 fluids.
3. DOT4 provides poorer performance that DOT5 in all areas (except paint corrosion, of course) so Brembo always recommend DOT4 over DOT5 for performance, particularly in racetrack applications
4. DOT5 fluid tends to be much more difficult to bleed than DOT4, as micro-bubbles form more easily in the former
5. If you have the braking systems outlined in 2 above, and have DOT5 fluid installed, then it is OK to flush the system fully with DOT4 and use that
I hope this is as much use to you as it was to me.
Thanks to all who helped in researching this one.  | 
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