Listers:
At 06:07 PM 2/8/99 -0500, you wrote:
...
>If you put silicone into a system that had conventional brake fluid in it
>without flushing the system, then the combination of conventional and
>synthetic fluid can and will dissolve seals.
Silicone brake fluid should only be use in a system with all new seals.
The conventional replacement seals were designed with the anticipation of
application glycol based fluids which "swell" to their final size after
installation. If you don't believe this try, dropping a brake seal into a
dish of glycol brake fluid and come back in about 4 hours. Since Silicone
fluids have no "swelling" effect on the rubber components they are often
blamed for increased system leakage. The trick is to soak the seals for
about 20 minutes in Glycol fluid and then throughly dry the seals prior to
installation.
>The only down side to silicone fluid is that it is expensive and sometimes
>hard to find.
The biggest downside to Silicone Brake Fluid is the reputation it has
with racing organizations. Most won't allow you to run with silicone in
the system, so if you plan on an open track adventure or vintage race, be
forwarned. If your going to push the limits that far your going to need
some good Hi temp glycol brake fluid. This isn't cheap either.
>And it doesn't disolve paint like conventional brake fluid does, either!
Yeah! Thats the really nice part.
Tom
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