C-2 Brake Fluid

[Keith M.]

Has anyone used silicone brake fluid in C-2 brakes? Pros and cons?

[Kevin M.]

Re: C-2 Brake Fluid

Search the archives first, this has been beat around lot of times, with the vote split 50/50. I use silicone in my 67.

Kevin

[Rainer S.]

Re: C-2 Brake Fluid

I just charged my new system up with synthetic Dot 3 brake fluid.
I thought, from all I have read about the way to go, is synthetic.
Lets see what the experts will say.

Rainer

[Duke W.]

Re: C-2 Brake Fluid

You got sucked in to marketing hype. All brake fluids are "synthetic" because they are not derived from conventional crude oil distillation and cracking, but through a complex petrochemical process.

All DOT 3 and DOT 4 brake fluids are "synthetic" whether it says so on the label or not. DOT 5 is also "synthetic", but it is not compatible with DOT 3/4 and should never be mixed with DOT 3 or 4. DOT 3 and 4 are compatible with each other, and DOT 3 is the cheapest and poorest in terms or wet and dry boiling point.

There is no legal or technical definition of "synthetic" for any automotive fluid, including motor oil. It is purely a marketing term and is subject to broad interpretation and abuse.

Duke

[Keith M.]

Re: C-2 Brake Fluid

Thanks guys. I will take a look and see what I can find in the archives.

Keith

[Rainer S.]

Re: C-2 Brake Fluid

I guess I should have re-read the posts, which discussed the difference between Glycol and Silicone brake fluids. I filled my system with "Synthetic", which I believed to be the "other" brake fluid, namely Silicone.
Thanks to Duke, I now know better.
I guess I will have to stay with standard Glycol (Synthetic...). I will not flush the system to use the Silicone fluid, its too late for that.
One advantage is, I will not blame the "other" brake fluid for my bleeding problems. I still have a soft pedal, and will have to do some more bleeding, before I am done with my brakes.

Rainer

[Joe L.]

Re: C-2 Brake Fluid

Rainer-----

The best way to identify the fluid is by the DOT number. If it's DOT 3 or 4, then it's a glycol-based fluid. If it's DOT 5, then it's silicone-based.

One caveat: I believe that there's another brake fluid called DOT 5.1. This is a glycol-based fluid, not silicone.

[Larry L.]

Re: C-2 Brake Fluid

I had the calipers in my 66 sleeved in SS by SS Brakes - I must have been there 7th customer in 1972. Up until that time I had to rebuild my brakes almost every year. I put Silicon in my car in 1972 after rebuilding everything, new hoses etc. I still have the car 38 years later ant it works perfectly.
I took apart the calipers in 1992 -twenty years later and they were perfect. No crud, corosion, no water, Re assembled them and have not touched them since.
When I put the SS brakes on the car in 1972 it has 12 K miles, in 2007 it has 41K miles. Brakes are hard and firm. I check them to makesure all is well each spring and do a few quick stops to make sure there are no surpises.
I would never use anything else in my car. 38 yeas of experience makes you a believer.
One of the problem with some sleeved calipers is that they weep between the main casting and SS sleeve. There are several designs, make sure that the SS sleeve goes clear to the bottom of the bore. So before you buy demand to see a sample.

[Joe L.]

Re: C-2 Brake Fluid

Larry-----

Yes, without the "bottom-of-the-bore" sleeves, the hydraulic pressure can actually press the sleeves OUTWARD. Even with the "bottom-of-the-bore" sleeves this can happen, but it's usually not a problem if the sleeves are installed correctly.