dot 3 over dot 5 brake fluid

[IH2LOSE]

Ok can some one please exspain why we use silocone DOT5 fluid
in out cars? Is it because of the calipers? Because with the majority of the calipers being stainless steel sleeved now what are we still using silacone fluid.I know its safe for paint.but why else do we use it,Is it still necassary or was it just needed before the stainless steel rebuilds.I know the down sides are cost and it arreates easey.

I plan on replacing all my brake lines soon and my two front calipers.I planned on using silacone again(dont realley understand why) But I would use the regular in a minute if I understood why not ?

 

[John Mcgraw]

Larry,
I use it for one reason only. If DOT 5 gets on your paint, it does not remove it! It does not absorb water which is a real plus as well, but if you flush your fluid every couple of years then this is not an issue. You can not use it on cars with ABS brakes as it will cause air entrainment and soft pedal.
Regards, John McGraw

 

[cntrhub]

Here's a quick read for DOT numbers. Stick with the Dot 5. You'll see why after you read this short piece.

http://www.tirekingdom.com/purch/brkfluid.html

 

[IH2LOSE]

Thank you for the information But I am going to change back to dot 3 NON SILACONE style.The benifits I am hearing about do not out weight the disavantages. Unless some one can sway me differently

 

[C.T.]

I use Dot 5 in my '57 and '72 for all the well-known reasons. Very pleased. Corrosion can also occur in the cast portion of calipers, and in the lines and master cylinder.

 

[PTighe]

Thank you for the information But I am going to change back to dot 3 NON SILACONE style.The benifits I am hearing about do not out weight the disavantages. Unless some one can sway me differently

What benefits? I installed a new pair of powder coated trailing arms on the '67 and spilled some DOT 3 glycol and it stained them permanently, yes powder coating. Had to take them out and paint them over. Then I got wise and switched to silicone, never had a problem since. No judge is going to notice anyway.

 

[John Mcgraw]

Amen Patrick!

 

[IH2LOSE]

Well I ended up using the dot 5 at the last minute,because of my new power bleeder.If I was going to have to struggel with a brake bleed the old way I would have switched.So far though the only real benifits have been that it does not hurt paint. So how did it only end up in vettes any other collector car guys I speak to say they wouldnt use it except in a vette TOO exspencive and hard to bleed because it airates with pumping.

By the way I used my mighty vac to pull some clean fluid out of my master cyclender and the mighty vac airates the fluid.the fluid I pressure bled out of the calipers was pure and free of air.I could see it in the bottle I used to bled the brakes,the fluid I vacumed out of the master(because it was overfull from using the power bleeded) Was loaded with small airbubbles as is I shook the bottle it was in

 

[magicv8]

Up one side of the mountains and down the other for 14 years with dot5 - no problems.

Read the article (posted above) again - where it says the water % goes up right away and if the water boils - you have no brake pedal - that happened in my new Tbird with dot3 as I was coming down the mountain in the Canadian Rockies. If you use dot 3, you should carry nitro tablets to handle the angina.