Brake Fluid

[dursleyman]

Question for the forum,

What are your views on ordinary versus silicone
brake fluid.

What are the pro and cons with both types for ordinary road use.
Any issues with our cars?

Russ

1980 TR7 DHC
Dursley
UK

[http://www.flickr.com/photos/16162151@N05/5921648270/in/photostream]

[gaz]

this is something that came up at billing......
As phil humphries had a leaky clutch master cylinder, and just the fact that clutch fluid wasn't taking the paint off his floor was enough too use it next time for me



It rides again..... and again wehey!!!!!!!
http://mytr7.weebly.com/tr-drivers-club ... -wend.html

[DNK]

Better get it quick as it could be going away

Don
"No More Cars For You"
71 TR6- Perpetual remodel
80 TR7 V8 Kick in the pants

[jclay (RIP 2018)]

Pros and cons,

But in my opinion, don't use the silicone.

Clay

[url="http://web.me.com/jclaythompson/Site/Welcome.html"]My Triumph Site[/url], [url="http://web.me.com/jclaythompson/Technical"]Technical Stuff[/url], [url="https://public.me.com/jclaythompson"]My Public Folder[/url], [url="http://web.me.com/jclaythompson/tr8/Welcome.html"]My TR8 Site[/url]

[reychris]

Pros :-
Doesn't strip your paint if it leaks
Doesn't need changing as often as it doesn't absorb water from the atmosphere so its an advantage for low mileage cars

Cons :-
Softer brake pedal
Can be hard work bleeding the air bubbles out of the hydraulic lines
Its also quite expensive

Chris

[TR Tony]

I have had DOT5 in my 2 litre coupe for 6 years, I like it. The car has superb brakes with a standard master cylinder, vented discs & AP calipers. On the odd time I do drive it hard, I know it will stop!

I don't have any problems with soft pedal, although I too have heard that it is harder to get every last little air bubble out. And I have heard that you need to chage the seals in the system if going to DOT5 from DOT3/4.

I have DOT4 in the TR8 coupe, that also works well!

Don't confuse DOT5 with DOT5.1 - 5.1 is NOT silicone based, only DOT5 is.

Tony

<font size="1">1981 2L FHC Cavalry Blue
1980 3.5L V8 DHC Jaguar Regency Red - sadly sold!
1977 TR8 FHC EFI Factory development car Inca Yellow</font id="size1">

[FI Spyder]

I know of several club members who use it in their classic cars with no cons. One Spitfire has a softer pedal but attributes it possibly to relined master brake cylinder having a void in the fitting of it. The fact that it doesn't take off the paint on it's horizontal mounting surface is reason enough to use it. Don't want to repaint the car every time your master cylinder leaks.[:p]

I chose not to use it because of single rear nipple might cause air expulsion problems but as I never had any problems in that area I will never know. Generally not a good idea to change over unless you overhaul system (change out all rubber), which should be done as a matter of course if you don't know the age of components. Better to be proactive as rubber components don't last forever plus it gives you a good look at cylinder surfaces. Rebuild kits are a fraction of the price new/rebuilt master and slave cylinders.

Most cons are exaggerated alligator in the sewers urban legends although you wouldn't want to use it in racing situations. What's good for the track isn't always good for the road. Then some of us old codgers just like to change out our brake fluids just because we always have.[:p]


TR7 Spider - 1978 Spitfire - 1976 Spitfire - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - Yellow TCT

[wedgewa]

I switched to silicone immediately after buying my 1980 TR7 new and have never looked back. No problems for 31 years. Excellent performance.

On the other hand, when I bought my 2006 Jag, I was told quite firmly that the use of silicone brake fluid would absolutely void my warranty for that car. And my friends on the Jag forums are quite convinced that silicone fluid is evil.

[Stag76]

Why do you get a softer pedal with silicone fluid?

TR7 Convertible
Sprint Motor
MegaSquirt EFI

[willywonka]

Try this site for info on braking systems and their components.

http://www.carbibles.com/brake_bible.html


This section covers brake fluid

Thttp://www.carbibles.com/brake_bible_pg2.htmlry this site for some brake info.



All the Gear, no idea

[FI Spyder]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Stag76</i>

Why do you get a softer pedal with silicone fluid?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

There is some intramolecular gas in the silicone that allows for some compression. I don't know if this would be offset by switching to braided steel lines which have less expansion than regular lines.




TR7 Spider - 1978 Spitfire - 1976 Spitfire - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 1991 Integra - Yellow TCT

[Spectatohead]

When I was reviving my TR8 I switched to silicone in the brakes and clutch hydrolics. I also switched to steel braided hoses at the same time. It did take a lot of effort and time to get all of the air out of the rear brakes but once I did the pedal is nice and firm. I had the same problem with air in the rear on my TR7 in which I used DOT4 in. I'd say that the pedal is about the same.

Jim Clark
'80 TR8
'97 Maxima 5spd