Silicone brake fluid
 

When building my 36 all info pointed to using dot 5 brake fluid so now after 8 yrs i blew a rear cylender and wonder if i made a wrong turn ...Is silicone as good as i was told?? Trouble now it is in there and it would be almost impossible to change it right?? I did change it to a hydraulic system from the old mechanical..

Re: Silicone brake fluid
 

I doubt that the fluid caused the cylinder to blow. Many, including myself have used the DOT 5 fluid for over 20 years with no issues. Most of the complaints come from it being harder to bleed, resulting in a soft pedal.

Re: Silicone brake fluid
 

This might be interesting! DD


https://www.bing.com/th/id/OGC.4b2ae...azZigEqCMU4%3d

Re: Silicone brake fluid
 

Yup?
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/pictu...ictureid=42235

Re: Silicone brake fluid
 

I have been using DOT5 (Silicone) in several vehicles (Vintage) for several years, No problems. I doubt your problem is DOT5 related,

Re: Silicone brake fluid
 

I had DOT 5 in a Corvette. After I got it bled properly, it was great. I had so much trouble getting it bled, I never used it again.

I did purchase an electronic brake fluid tester that shows the percentage of moisture in DOT 3 and 4. I test all of my vehicles annually and it appears that given the conditions under which they are used, the fluid will last at least 20 years before the moisture content will reach the critical level.

Re: Silicone brake fluid
 

Gee, I've been using DOT 5 for 20 years. Zero problems. How could ANY brake fluid cause a cylinder to "blow". Does that mean the rubber end cap came off the cylinder?

Re: Silicone brake fluid
 

Replace the faulty parts, Retain the Dot 5.

Re: Silicone brake fluid
 

I've been running dot 5 for years also. The only issue I've had is pressure brake switches don't last, even those rated for dot 5, so I put lever switches in. They come on sooner anyway. Ironically, I just lost a right rear wheel cylinder last weekend. Putting a motor in one of my other cars at the moment, when I don't feel like working on that I'll pull the drum one night after work and swap that wheel cylinder.

Re: Silicone brake fluid
 

I ran DOT5 in an off topic car since 1986 with no problems.

Re: Silicone brake fluid
 

Automotive Stud, Use a Harley Davidson switch. Pick one up at a dealer.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Hydraul...36f16e2186552a

Re: Silicone brake fluid
 

I replaced all five brake cylinders in my F1 pickup in January 2000.
Have not added or changed it yet.
I must change it soon. Twenty years is too long to not change it.
I have never had a problem with any car that I have put DOT 5 in.
However, I never change a cra over to Dot 5 unless I first change all 5 cylinders.
That stuff will leak like nothing you ever used before.
I never NEVER overhaul a cylinder that has been leaking. Never.
I will lightly hone and put new seals in a cylinder that shows no sign of leaking or weeping.
New cylinders are very inexpensive, especially on the cars we are discussing on this forum.

Changing back to Dot 3 or 4 is not that difficult. If you leave a little dot 5 in the system it won’t hurt a thing.
I’ve changed at least twenty old Fords over to DOT 5 and never had a problem with any of them. When they tell you it is too hard to bleed systems with dot 5 it’s time to stop listening to that guy.
I’ve replaced all brake lines and cylinders and used one pint to bleed the system and leave the master cylinder full. More than once.
But, I put a 1950 lever type stop light switch under the brake pedal of every car and truck that I use dot 5 in. They are for GMC and Chevy cars and trucks from around ‘50 or earlier to maybe ‘54 or later.
They come in both right and left sides the lever is on. I have never found a parts store that didn’t have one or both.
Aaron Griffey
Hayward, CA

Re: Silicone brake fluid
 

if you are converting to dot 5 make sure all your lines & fittings are super tight. dot 5 can find a leak where there was none before.

Re: Silicone brake fluid
 

The military has also been using DOT5 in their vehicles with hydraulic brakes for about 20 years at least.

Re: Silicone brake fluid
 

I understand dot 5 is hard on rubber

Re: Silicone brake fluid
 

Never heard that one before. Where did that info come from? I've used Dot 5 for years and never heard anyone say it was hard on rubber.

Re: Silicone brake fluid
 

To me, a good reason to use dot 5 (silicone) brake fluid is that it doesn't damage paint. The bad thing is that it is expensive.

Re: Silicone brake fluid
 

In the almost sixty years that I've been messin' with these old, used cars, I have NEVER used Dot 5 fluid, and I've managed to be just careful-enough so as not to have damaged any paint with my Dot 3 fluids. POOR reason to use Dot 5! DD

Re: Silicone brake fluid
 

I've only been messing with old cars since 1968, so you know more about it than me for sure.
To ME, it's a good reason.

Re: Silicone brake fluid
 

There are a lot of good reasons to use DOT 5.
The fact that it won’t eat through the paint is just one of them.
I did a brake job on a nearly new 144 Volvo after the owner had filled the master right up to the top.
Sometime as I went around compressing the calipers and installing new pads the brake fluid squirted out the vent hole onto the left front fender.
By the time I saw it the fluid had eaten through the paint right down to the primer.
A co$tly error.
DOT5 is not that costly.
People that have cars with a $600 water pump or. $7,000 fuel tank because the fuel pump is sealed in it or $1,000 tires don’t complain about the price of DOT5.