Brake fluid

[John McNarry]

Have any of you considered or have an opinion on using the new silicone based DOT5, the purple stuff, on a completely restored brake system?

Thanks

[rob love]

There were some compatibility problems with the early SBF, so as long as your not using stuff from the 80s, you should be OK. We had gallons and gallons kicking around in the military, and most was still from the early batches and should have been disposed of.
The only problem you may run into (I see your from Manitoba as well) is that the silicone brake fluid won't absorb any water into it (unlike dot3 which will absorb something like 7% water) and as such, the water can collect at a low spot in a line and freeze up in our climate. I guess the real solution to that problem is to be careful about getting water into the brake system; perhaps a bit of a modification to the master cylinder vent cap.

[Vic Eaton]

HELLO JOHN
We put silicon in one of our C30s about eight years ago and it has stood now for some years but was towed out a few weeks ago and to our suprise the brakes were fine and almost brought our GMC 6+6 TO A HALT while being towed so seems good to us although thats the only one of four vehicles that we have it in we also fitted teflon brake pipes that dont expand under pressure like rubber.
vic eaton uk.

[John McNarry]

We tried it in several of our museum vehicles, www.Airmuseum.ca

and it does not seem to cause problems yet.
There isn't any lose of fluid, from the loss of residual pressure and wheel cylinder leaks.

My concern is as Rob Love mentioned that it is not hygroscopic and moistur may become a problem.

Thanks

[martineaton]

Hi All,

My C30 wireless was restored 17 years ago and as my Dad Vic said it nearly stoped my GMC when we towed it down the road recently. It had been dry stored for 8 years, So the brakes have held up really well.