[Spridgets] Re What fluid for clutch Master cylinder

[Dean Hedin]

Go ahead, thrown more gas on the fire.

Well, you bring up a good question Kurt.

When did silicone brake fluid first appear on the automotive scene?
I had no idea that it went back as far as the 70's.  It must have been
pretty expensive back then (it still is exspensive). 

I am sure it saw its first use in military aircraft (and probably much
earlier).  But I am curious to know who first mass marketed it for
automotive use.

I'll bet the story went something like this...
Some racer dude is complaining to his air force buddy about his hard braking
causing his fluid to boil.  His military buddy says "I think I know
something that can fix that..."


-----Original Message-----
From: spridgets-bounces at autox.team.net
[mailto:spridgets-bounces at autox.team.net] On Behalf Of Kurt Appley
Sent: Friday, October 14, 2011 9:11 AM
To: spridgets at autox.team.net
Subject: [Spridgets] Re What fluid for clutch Master cylinder

Well I'm trying my darnedest to stay out of the on going ethanol debate but
since I can't seem to avoid controversy I have to comment on Dot 5 fluid. I
bought a 72 MGB and rebuilt it in the mid 70's. Bought it cheap with dings
everywhere. The brakes were already giving the tell tale signs we are all
familiar with so I completely redid them with the then new Dot 5 silicone
fluid.

A friend now owns that car and the brakes still work as they should and have
never even been bled since my work in the 70's.

I now own some cars that I have converted to Dot 5 and some cars running Dot
4. I'm trying to live with Dot 4 since I like the brake feel better. Dot 4
has a thinner viscosity that I think I prefer and recently rebuilt dual
master cylinders don't seem to seal as easily though with use they seem to
be reducing the amount they seep. I have been wadding up a paper towel in
front of the cylinders to catch the seep and that has worked just fine. BTW
I believe that Dot 5 has a higher boiling point than Dot 4 if I recall
correctly.

Kurt.
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