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Effects of brake fluid on 304 stainless.

Started by Pip, November 04, 2011, 12:08:32 PM

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Pip

November 04, 2011, 12:08:32 PM
I'm having a replacement brake caliper piston machined from 304 s/s bar stock for my little '76 CB250, as the stock one is chromed carbon steel and has been eaten by years of brake fluid. My question is, will the 304 have enough corrosion resistance to handle brake fluid for years to come? I got a 1.5inch diameter by 7 inch long chunk for free, and need to make sure it can handle this before I get it machined. I would have preferred 316, but 304 is what I got.

Am I good?
"You can fight a lot of enemies and survive, but not your biology."

Wouldn't fat air be easier to disappear into?

ducpainter

#1
November 04, 2011, 12:20:13 PM
I'm no metallurgist, or rocket scientist, but if chromed steel was good...

I think the stainless will be too.
"Once you accept that a child on the autistic spectrum experiences the world in
 a completely different way than you, you will be open to understand how that
 perspective
    is even more amazing than yours."
    To realize the value of nine  months:
    Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.
"Don't piss off old people The older we get, the less 'Life in Prison' is a deterrent."


Langanobob

#2
November 04, 2011, 12:26:10 PM
Brake fluid won't attack 304.  It also won't attack the chrome plated steel in your original piston and what attacked it was water in the brake fluid.  The 304 should hold up well, even with some water contamination but may suffer some slight corrosion with time and water contamination...we all need to occasionally flush our brake and hydraulic clutch systems and replace the old fluid with new.  I'm as guilty of anyone of neglecting brake fluid changes.

Bob

Pip

#3
November 04, 2011, 12:40:26 PM
Thank you both. I'm gonna go ahead and have it machined then. I'll be changing brake fluid alot more often than the PO did, I can assure you.  [thumbsup]
"You can fight a lot of enemies and survive, but not your biology."

Wouldn't fat air be easier to disappear into?

corey

#4
November 04, 2011, 01:23:35 PM
chrome's the key. sturdy stuff.
304 stainless. 3 parts chrome, 0 parts moly, 4 parts nickel... plus the steel of course.
When all the land lays in ruin... And burnination has forsaken the countryside... Only one guy will remain... My money's on...

ducpainter

#5
November 04, 2011, 01:54:38 PM
Quote from: corey on November 04, 2011, 01:23:35 PM
chrome's the key. sturdy stuff.
304 stainless. 3 parts chrome, 0 parts moly, 4 parts nickel... plus the steel of course.
...and nickel is pretty corrosion resistant too.

maybe that's why they call it stainless? ;D
"Once you accept that a child on the autistic spectrum experiences the world in
 a completely different way than you, you will be open to understand how that
 perspective
    is even more amazing than yours."
    To realize the value of nine  months:
    Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.
"Don't piss off old people The older we get, the less 'Life in Prison' is a deterrent."


Pip

#6
November 04, 2011, 01:56:44 PM
 [cheeky]

Now I'll be digging into metallurgy, to keep from anymore embarrassing newb posts.  ;D
"You can fight a lot of enemies and survive, but not your biology."

Wouldn't fat air be easier to disappear into?

zarn02

#7
November 04, 2011, 07:54:31 PM
Quote from: The Zombie Pip on November 04, 2011, 01:56:44 PM
Now I'll be digging into metallurgy, to keep from anymore embarrassing newb posts.  ;D

The DMF: Inspiring Educational Excellence
"If it weren't for our gallows humor, we'd have nothing to hang our hopes on."

Speeddog

#8
November 04, 2011, 07:58:23 PM
304 is a beyotch to machine, let us know what the shop says.
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~~~ "We've rearranged the deck chairs, refilled the champagne glasses, and the band sounds great. This is fine." - Alberto Puig ~~~

Langanobob

#9
November 05, 2011, 07:06:23 AM
Quote from: Speeddog on November 04, 2011, 07:58:23 PM
304 is a beyotch to machine, let us know what the shop says.

Speeddog has a good point.  Here's a link to one of many places where you can buy 303 SS, very similar corrosion resistant properties to 304, but I think it has better machining properties:

http://www.speedymetals.com

Not free but relatively cheap for the small amount you need.

teddy037.3

#10
November 05, 2011, 09:59:15 AM
Quote from: Speeddog on November 04, 2011, 07:58:23 PM
304 is a beyotch to machine, let us know what the shop says.

at least it's not inconel

ducpainter

#11
November 05, 2011, 10:12:33 AM
Quote from: teddy037.3 on November 05, 2011, 09:59:15 AM
at least it's not inconel
There you go Pip...

send it to T-dogg... ;D
"Once you accept that a child on the autistic spectrum experiences the world in
 a completely different way than you, you will be open to understand how that
 perspective
    is even more amazing than yours."
    To realize the value of nine  months:
    Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.
"Don't piss off old people The older we get, the less 'Life in Prison' is a deterrent."


teddy037.3

#12
November 05, 2011, 10:42:07 AM
Quote from: ducpainter on November 05, 2011, 10:12:33 AM
There you go Pip...

send it to T-dogg... ;D

pimping me out now, are we?  [cheeky]

ducpainter

#13
November 05, 2011, 10:45:14 AM
Quote from: teddy037.3 on November 05, 2011, 10:42:07 AM
pimping me out now, are we?  [cheeky]
Not really...

you just didn't seem scared of a little stainless. ;)
"Once you accept that a child on the autistic spectrum experiences the world in
 a completely different way than you, you will be open to understand how that
 perspective
    is even more amazing than yours."
    To realize the value of nine  months:
    Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.
"Don't piss off old people The older we get, the less 'Life in Prison' is a deterrent."


teddy037.3

#14
November 05, 2011, 10:53:18 AM
Quote from: ducpainter on November 05, 2011, 10:45:14 AM
Not really...

you just didn't seem scared of a little stainless. ;)

well, yeah... but I'd just use my seniority to tell one of the lathe guys to make it for me  [evil]

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