Phil H
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,448
Club RR Member Number: 133
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Changing to silicon brake fluidPhil H
@philhoward
Club Retro Rides Member 133
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Has that method been used on a car with ABS? I ask as I am aware that they can be a pig to bleed without the right diagnostic software to effectively "run" the pump, thus making it bleed for you . Condensation can still get into the reservoir through temperature changes. No different to that building up in the engine cam cover or on the outside/inside of the windscreen. I'm also in the camp that a decent conventional fluid will be fine. If you can afford it, Castol SRF is a very hardy fluid. Chas - I have to say that I have never done a brake fluid change on a motor with a ABS brake system - all my stuff is very old school systems - anything with a ABS system I would send to the man who services / MOT's the moderns The point with DOT 5 silicone brake fluid is that even if water did get into the brake reservoir it would float on top of the silicone fluid - Unlike DOT 4 where the water mixes with the fluid and becomes hydroscopic Sadly not true, Chris - DOT5 is lighter than water so the water sinks. Another negative is that whilst it doesn’t absorb water, it does absorb air - in fact can self-aerate! Going back to ABS, I found this: Air in your brakes isn’t a good thing in my book.. IIRC it’s also slightly compressible but given it’s usually used during a system rebuild (new hoses etc) I guess it’s not perceivable?
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,258
Club RR Member Number: 170
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Condensation can still get into the reservoir through temperature changes. No different to that building up in the engine cam cover or on the outside/inside of the windscreen.. Sorry but it’s very different - condensation occurs where you have a temperature differential, such as a chunk of metal under a rocker box versus outside temp or the inside of the car v outside. The free air space inside a brake reservoir isn’t going to condense much! Agreed! It is the differential that will cause it. It will still condense to some degree however, no matter how small. Whether it will have an effect is another matter. It's interesting that Citroen say to change the LHM fluid in 2CVs every few years .
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madmog
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 1,160
Club RR Member Number: 46
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Mar 29, 2020 22:24:11 GMT
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I've gone over to silicon on a few things but always changed out all the rubber seals and cleaned the metal parts thoroughly.
Pluses - won't rot your paint if you spill it. Won't go off
Minus's Expensive Never as hard a feel as the mineral stuff.
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Didn’t expect this thread to get so involved! I’m now struggling with parts supply, when I order a complete master cylinder that’s what I expect to get, not with bits missing, so that’s got to go back and I’ll try again, not easy when I can’t leave the house!
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I thought about changing to DOT 5 when I did a full, and I mean full, brake system overhaul. Apart from hard lines and calipers (which were perfect), everything else was refurbished with new parts, seals, etc., so completely empty of old fluid. I was slightly put off by the handbook stating that brake fluid should be DOT 4. The other thing I found against changing, is that whilst DOT4 is difficult enough to get hold of here, DOT 5 is nigh on impossible. I finally found reasonable quantities of DOT 4 at reasonable prices on Lazada (think Philippines Amazon) who offer delivery and COD, so it became a no-brainer. Obviously the '38 has ABS and rear wheel traction control, and given that I'm quite happy with the brakes, I'm not sure this thread has persuaded me to change. It has made for interesting reading though, and a 6 wheel Range Rover, so worthwhile just for that!
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Last Edit: Apr 2, 2020 5:58:39 GMT by georgeb
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,258
Club RR Member Number: 170
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I thought about changing to DOT 5 when I did a full, and I mean full, brake system overhaul. Apart from hard lines and calipers (which were perfect), everything else was refurbished with new parts, seals, etc., so completely empty of old fluid. I was slightly put off by the handbook stating that brake fluid should be DOT 4. The other thing I found against changing, is that whilst DOT4 is difficult enough to get hold of here, DOT 5 is nigh on impossible. I finally found reasonable quantities of DOT 4 at reasonable prices on Lazada (think Philippines Amazon) who offer delivery and COD, so it became a no-brainer. Obviously the '38 has ABS and rear wheel traction control, and given that I'm quite happy with the brakes, I'm not sure this thread has persuaded me to change. It has made for interesting reading though, and a 6 wheel Range Rover, so worthwhile just for that! On X350, like Mk3 Mondeos, the manuals specify Super DOT 4 fluid, which Ford and JLR do sell. However, the manual goes on further to say to only use a certain brand of oil. Viscosity is cited as one reason for the pump to work at its optimum.
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