DIY: Cuban Brake Fluid Homebrew


Since the American Embargo of 1960 and the collapse of the Soviet Union, foreign aid for Cuba has been on the decline. This has severely impacted the availability of spare parts and even brake fluid.

So what do you do when brake fluid is not available?  You brew your own! This Cuban concoction of alcohol, sugar and shampoo probably has a boiling point of room temperature, but depending on the shampoo used, it could make for the best smelling case of brake fade ever.

Things in Cuba have gotten better since the restriction on what Americans can send their relatives in Cuba. Often in care packages to Cuba will be clothes packed with a rebuild kit for a 1957 Chevy brake master cylinder.