Main
Page | Log In | LogOut | Register
My Profile | Active Users | Search

CorvetteforumC3
CorvettesSilicon
Brake Fluid and Bleeding Methods

bigvette1
Senior
Member

345
posts [100%]
Schaumburg IL

Silicon Brake Fluid
and Bleeding Methods

5:19
AM 6/14/2002

Thought I would pass on the discusson I had
yesterday at Bloomington Gold with the people from Muskegan
Brake. I mentioned that silicon brake fluid seems to somehow
end up with a "softer peddle" than Dot 3. They said that is a
common complaint. However, their studies and working on cars
has shown several things:

- You have to get all the old fluid out, it does not
mix.
- Don't shake the fluid bottle up before using it. It
aerates the fluid with tiny bubbles, you pour it in the MC and
they come back together to form a big one.
- You can not
used the "honey pump er' up" 3 times and hold method. Press
the peddle very slowly 2-3 times and open the bleeder. Pumping
fast brakes up the large air bubbles in the lines into small
ones, the peddle feels ok, but then the bubbles come back
together and - soft peddle.
- After doing a bleeder screw -
burp it. Close it then open slightly and close again. This
purges the last air out of the top of the caliper.
- If you
use a power bleeder, use a low air pressure or it aerates the
fluid.
- Make sure before you start you have known good
hydralics.

Honestly, I had terrible problems (probably aerated the
fluid) when I installed silicon and finally flushed it out and
put Dot 3 back in. Is silicon worth the trouble - you be the
judge. Hope this info helps someone.

vettfixr
Senior
Member

1835 posts [100%]
Sewell NJ

Re: Silicon Brake
Fluid and Bleeding Methods (bigvette1)

5:32
AM 6/14/2002

I had the same problems when I installed
silicon fluid in my 74. What I ended up doing after trying
everything else was to fill the reservoir and let it sit for a
few hours. Then bleed the brakes by the pump up method once or
twice and repeat the process. Took a few days before it felt
right but it was the only way I could get a good pedal. Was it
worth it to put in silicon fluid? Looking back I probably
would have been OK going to a good DOT 4 fluid
instead.
_______

Knowledge gained and not shared,
is knowledge lost.

vettfixr
74 L-48 T-Top
More Enhancements
than Pamela Anderson Lee
5 Coats DuPont Diamond Black
Acrylic Lacquer
5 Coats DuPont 380-S clear Acrylic
Lacquer
Sewell,NJ
Vettfixr's Home Page

Black Sheep Squadron

Tom454
Senior
Member

2005 posts [100%]
Raleigh North
Carolina

Re: Silicon Brake
Fluid and Bleeding Methods (vettfixr)

6:04
AM 6/14/2002

I have a 66 ragtop with DOT 5.
Been in there
since about 1983.
Just did some work on it... the fluid is
as clean as it was the day I put it in.
I re-used it.

The pedal is hard as a rock... no softness
whatsoever.
The brakes on my 66 with DOT 5 are firmer than
my 70 Vette with DOT 3.
The 66 has single reservoir,
non-power brakes.
The 70 has dual reservoir, power
brakes.
Both systems are in perfect condition, properly
maintained.

I am converting all of my (non-ABS) cars to DOT 5 because
it works so well.
Absolutely no problems with DOT 5.

I start the bleeding process by slowly, gently, pumping the
pedal to get the flow started, and finish up with gravity
bleeding.

I consider the performance of DOT 5 in my 66 a valid test
of time.
Eliminated all of the "witch-hunt" mentality, at
least for me.
Bad experiences with DOT 5 are usually linked
to improper or inadequate service procedures &
trechniques. Analogy- Kind of like screwing up your Q-Jet carb
so bad it doesn't run, then dropping on a brand new Holley,
and then saying that Q-Jets are junk. Technique is very
important.
High altitude driving and/or heavy racing like
auto-crossing may have different results with DOT 5, but I
cannot personally verify that.

PS- As a professional mechanic, I have done more brake jobs
than I can count... and many of them were Vettes. I'm still
fixing cars that GM Dealers have given up
on.

Barry's70LT1
Senior
Member

431 posts [100%]
Halifax, Nova Scotia,
Canada

Re: Silicon Brake
Fluid and Bleeding Methods (bigvette1)

7:39
AM 6/14/2002

Comments from Muskegan Brake are excellent.

Tom is absolutely correct. I have been using DOT5 for over
10 years.

Additional comment --- I use the gravity method, and use a
small rubber hammer to "lightly" tap all components in the
brake system while bleeding.
MC, lines, calipers. Tapping
will dislodge any small air bubbles that may be stuck
somewhere.
_______

1970 Unrestored: 350/370, M21,
3:70, F41, PB, PW, TT, TI
Original Owner, Original Paint,
13.02 @ 110.30

Bond007
Senior
Member

123
posts [100%]
Iron Mountain,Michigan

Re: Silicon Brake
Fluid and Bleeding Methods (Barry's70LT1)

8:16
AM 6/14/2002

Barry I just posted a little while ago, this
helps, but a friend of mine is letting me use a hand vacuum
pump, is this advisable when using Dot5 with all the air
concerns and should I flush with a solvent or will air do?

Peter
_______

www.corvetteforum.net/c3/bond007/

Numbers Matching
1976 L-82 M21
NCRS Top
Flight 92
Gymkhana
Factory Alum Wheels
A/C All
available options
for that year are on her.

bigvette1
Senior
Member

345
posts [100%]
Schaumburg IL

Re: Silicon Brake
Fluid and Bleeding Methods (bigvette1)

8:51
AM 6/14/2002

A couple of long term test successes for sure.
Two points jump of this disucssion

"I start the bleeding process by slowly, gently, pumping
the pedal to get the flow started, and finish up with gravity
bleeding."

Gravity bleeding and taping with a hammer to relieve the
air bubbles. Silicon can work if your system is maintained and
it is installed properly. Thanks for the insight.

» Return to C3
Corvettes

Forum Jump 50th
Anniversary Events Audio/Electronics Autocrossing
& Roadracing Babes Breathless Performance C1 &
C2 Corvettes C1 & C2 Parts
C1s & C2s for Sale/Wanted C3 Corvettes C3 Parts
for Sale/Wanted C3s for
Sale/Wanted C4 Forced
Induction/Nitrous C4 General
Discussion C4 Parts for
Sale/Wanted C4 Tech/Performance
C4s for Sale/Wanted C5
Forced Induction/Nitrous C5 General
Discussion C5 Parts for
Sale/Wanted C5 Tech/Performance
C5s for Sale/Wanted C6
General Discussion Car Care
Products Corvette Accessories
Corvettes of Houston Cruise Control Auto Die Casts
& Collectibles Drag Racing
ECM/PCM Tuning Engine
Mods Exit 28 Motorsports
F-Body General Discussion Factory Correct Resto Great
Lakes Help Forum Ken's Newsletters Kill
Stories LAPD Moderator's Corner Mountain -
Prairie National Events Northeast Off Topic
Other Cars Other
Country Events Pacific Politics & Controversy Regional Coordinator's Forum Southeast Southwest
T Byrne Motorsports Testing West Coast
Corvettes Wheels & Tires
Xtreme Motorsports Z06
Discussion Zip Products Section
ZR1 Discussion

Powered by zeroforum 2.0.4 b1.
©2001 zeroforum.com.

C5
FAQ
CF
C5 Registry
CF C4
Registry
Performance
Reg
Neighbor
Locator
Corvette
Events
Event
Galleries
CF Name
Tags
Product
Reviews
Tech Tips

Home
Pages
Corvette
Portal
Corvette
Clubs
Vanity
Plates
Race
Sites/Tracks
Vendor Sites

Forum FAQ

Moderator
Bios
Advertising

Wuname

Corvette Fever