Given how aggressive brake fluid is personally I would not entertain using it on my speakers. It dissolves almost anything it comes into contact with including car paint.
At least the rubber renue stuff I suggested is specifically designed to restore rubber albeit usually for those rubber roller you find inside photocopiers.
Haven't used it on driver surrounds but it did work very well on the rubber seals on my car windows and without damaging the paint job.
At least the rubber renue stuff I suggested is specifically designed to restore rubber albeit usually for those rubber roller you find inside photocopiers.
Haven't used it on driver surrounds but it did work very well on the rubber seals on my car windows and without damaging the paint job.
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Are you sure about DOT 4 brake fluid? DOT 3 and 4 will strip paint. Maybe you should consider DOT 5 (silicone) brake fluid.
Guy's, the videos that I have seen calls for DOT 3 or 4. The difference is the boiling point. Dot 5 is a silicon base. I have tried the silicon spray, it is difficult to see a big difference, with the brake fluid as well. But put the woofer in the sun for 10-15 seconds and the surrounds are completely soft. Seems I have to put my speakers outside and wait for the sun.😀 I'm still waiting to see if I can source new surrounds. If I do get them they will be pricey and I just hope they will behave better. The surrounds on this woofer is much thicker than other speakers that I have got. I'm not sure they are original as I have bought the speakers second hand.
As I said: „You should be carefull with the application“
I would try treating the visible area of a sourround from the front to see if it improves.
If you try & put it on the back it is very likely to run down onto the glue joints.
That's why several light coats with wipe offs from the front are recommended.
I would avoid long exposures. I wouldn't go for 3 hours first. Wear gloves. DOT4 is hygroscopic, sucks moister out and irritates skin.
I went back and checked my email exchange with Derek to confirm he said DOT4 worked fine for him. I also found the exact bottle from 2016 that I have used and stashed away. It's DOT4.
Dot 4 is comaptible with rubber: Brake Fluid DOT 3, 4, 5 And 5.1 FAQ
You can find other folks on other boards sharing the brake fluid experience with rubber surrounds. Same on diyaudio:
https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/multi-way/345864-brake-fluid-rubber-surrounds.html#post5989681
If in doubt or in for some other options, I would recommend contacting Derek himself:
Contact Us - Derek Hughes Audio Services
For comparison how stiff is an aged surround vs normal,
here's two takes from an 8" driver:
surround aged.mp4 - Google Drive
Surround normal.mp4 - Google Drive
Weight all the suggestions and proceed carefully.
I would try treating the visible area of a sourround from the front to see if it improves.
If you try & put it on the back it is very likely to run down onto the glue joints.
That's why several light coats with wipe offs from the front are recommended.I would avoid long exposures. I wouldn't go for 3 hours first. Wear gloves. DOT4 is hygroscopic, sucks moister out and irritates skin.
I went back and checked my email exchange with Derek to confirm he said DOT4 worked fine for him. I also found the exact bottle from 2016 that I have used and stashed away. It's DOT4.
Dot 4 is comaptible with rubber: Brake Fluid DOT 3, 4, 5 And 5.1 FAQ
You can find other folks on other boards sharing the brake fluid experience with rubber surrounds. Same on diyaudio:
https://www.diyaudio.com/forums/multi-way/345864-brake-fluid-rubber-surrounds.html#post5989681
If in doubt or in for some other options, I would recommend contacting Derek himself:
Contact Us - Derek Hughes Audio Services
For comparison how stiff is an aged surround vs normal,
here's two takes from an 8" driver:
surround aged.mp4 - Google Drive
Surround normal.mp4 - Google Drive
Weight all the suggestions and proceed carefully.
Much appreciated, the surrounds are not what they used to be. When pressing them like in the fist clip they return to normal without weird shapes but not immediately like a good surround. What I do know is these speakers comes from the coast, and I'm at least a 1000km from there. So the salty weather could also have attributed to the problem. 🙂
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Evening all,
I have tried my best, the surrounds keep on getting stiff as soon the temperature goes down. I have spoken to Derek and he gave me the same instructions with the brake fluid. They still do not sell surrounds separately, only the complete driver and that is not viable at all. One cannot scrap the speakers as they look good and can still sound good. I'll try to get a type of surround on ebay , rubber or foam that I might use. I feel that the guy that I bought them from has known about this problem and sold them when it is summer down here, I cannot prove it but we will meet again.What goes around comes around..Thanks for all the advice and help !😉
Regards
Jan
I have tried my best, the surrounds keep on getting stiff as soon the temperature goes down. I have spoken to Derek and he gave me the same instructions with the brake fluid. They still do not sell surrounds separately, only the complete driver and that is not viable at all. One cannot scrap the speakers as they look good and can still sound good. I'll try to get a type of surround on ebay , rubber or foam that I might use. I feel that the guy that I bought them from has known about this problem and sold them when it is summer down here, I cannot prove it but we will meet again.What goes around comes around..Thanks for all the advice and help !😉
Regards
Jan
You should generally replace like with like, i.e. replace with rubber surrounds, not foam.
Surrounds are measured by four diameters. You could contact a supplier like the one linked below for advice.
All Models RUBBER Surround Kits Archives * Queensland Speaker Repairs
Surround replacement guide
Surrounds are measured by four diameters. You could contact a supplier like the one linked below for advice.
All Models RUBBER Surround Kits Archives * Queensland Speaker Repairs
Surround replacement guide
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