Silicon Brake Fluid

[Guest Ianz]

Hi all

I need some advice as to the Pros/cons of using silicon brake f;uid,

I have fitted a new master cylinder ,wheel cylinders,brake pipes etc

so the car has never seen normal brake fluid.

Would it be logical to go the silicon route????.

 

Cheers Ian

[Jon Bradbury]

Ian,

 

I think it would be logical to go with what the manufacturer of your brake parts says. What does it say in the instructions?

 

Remember, your neck might depend on it one day...

 

JonB

[Guest Battery Bill]

Ianz

Surely "brake fluid" is "brake fluid".

I bet you would never tell the difference between silicon and whatever the other cheap stuff is!

Who has advised you on the silicone route, Michael Shoomaker?

No Chuck the normal stuff in.

B&J

[Guest TerryBarry]

Putting my "Chemist's Hat" on

Silicone brake fluid has one great advantage - it does not absorb water, as the standard poly-glycol ones do.

Absorption of water lowers the boiling point of the fluid and can give rise to "soft pedal" problems on prolonged heavy braking on long alpine descents etc.

If you flush the entire system every two/three years then using the standard fluid should not give you any problems in normal road use

If the entire system has not seen the old type fluid it is probably worthwhile considering using silicone fluid. It just depends on the comparative costs.

HTH

Terry

Another advantage is that it doesn't attack paintwork

[Guest Twoscoops]

I've been thinking along the same route but have come to the following conclusion

 

You can't mixed the normal fluid with silicon, so if you happen to suffer a leak, etc while you out an about then you couldn't just pop to the nearest garage to 'top up' just so you can limp home.

 

In my eyes I think silicon is a bit of an overkill for a RH. in my Cossie I just ran Dot 5 for road and track days and that was sufficent, as Terry says flush the system every so many years and you probably won't notice the difference.

[Guest Ianz]

Thanks for all the replies,I do'nt think I'll bother with the sillicon route,

I've been driving for 27 years now,and I'm still here!!!!!

Also I found this on the web ,which really confirmed the answer to the

original question..........

 

Date: Mon, 16 Mar 1998 03:11:25 GMT

From: eparkinnopsamet (Eric G. Parkin)

Subject: Re: silicon brake fluid

 

On Sun, 15 Mar 1998 19:48:53 -0500, geostarnopsamsshub.net (Geo) wrote:

 

>I'm thinking of putting in silicon brake fluid because it doesn't absorb

>water like glycol fluid. Are there any negatives?

 

If you wish to go the Dot 5 route you're going to have to

completely empty your entire brake system of the current Glycol fluid

as the two types are entirely incompatible. Aside from that, Dot 5

fluid will cause failure to the rubber seals (and orings if any) in

the Calipers designed for Dot 3/4, and will cause Primary and

Secondary grommet failure in Dot 3/4 designed master cylinders. They

are comprised of EPDM rubber. Systems that are factory designed to

use Silicone fluid (I believe Jaguar uses this in certain models)

utilize the proper type of rubber and brake lines to handle said

fluid. Unless you absolutely feel you need to go through all of this,

don't switch, it isn't worth the hassle.

 

 

..... eparkinnopsamet - 1986 VW Motorsports Golf GTR #72 .....

... 1996 SCCA NEDiv Solo I/Hillclimb Rally Class Champion ...

... ESP Motorsport's Page: http://www.op.net/~eparkin/esp ...

 

 

THANKS GUYS

Ian