[DeTomaso] article on silicone brake fluid

[Pantdino]

Like Hot Rod said, silicon fluid is great for show cars and non
erformance cars like underpowered British cars. Ironically this guy
oncluded that mountain roads is one place where he would use silicone
luid when in reality it is the last place you would use it.

I basically agree with you, but I think it's worth reading anyway.

I have heard before that the military uses silicone fluid.

Any military folks on the list that can substantiate that?

Jim
-----Original Message-----
From: gow2 at rc-tech.net
To: Pantdino <pantdino at aol.com>
Cc: detomaso at realbig.com
Sent: Fri, Apr 1, 2011 2:05 pm
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] article on silicone brake fluid


There was a Hot Rod article which summed it up a little better a year or
o back. The guy with the Triumph is missing some important points.
Since DOT5 does not absorb oil, the moisture ins suspension falls out of
uspension. That is not a good thing but a bad thing. Non-silicone fluid
an absorb a couple ounces of water before braking is effected. Braking is
ffected when moisture in the caliper evaporated displacing fluid. When
ou press on the brakes, water vapor renders brakes useless.
With silicon fluid, while the boiling point is higher, as little as one
rop of water in suspension can settle in the calipers and fail a braking
ystem. That is the benefit if the absorption of moisture. Since most
rake systems are largely sealed, much o the moisture is traced to
oisture in suspension.
Hill climbers are some of the first performance cars to use Silicone
luid. They did so because of the high boiling point. They soon learned
hat the only way they can use silicone fluid; as is standard for anyone
acing with silicon fluid is to change the fluid before EVERY race.
It is funny they compare the need to replace hygroscopic brake fluid every
 years which is the norm. Then they reference brake failures from some
ne who has never changed their fluid!
Like Hot Rod said, silicon fluid is great for show cars and non
erformance cars like underpowered British cars. Ironically this guy
oncluded that mountain roads is one place where he would use silicone
luid when in reality it is the last place you would use it.
G

>

 This is the most thorough information I have seen on silicone brake fluid.

 http://www.buckeyetriumphs.org/technical/Brakes/Fluid/Fluid.htm

 FYI

 Jim O


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