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By texasmark1 - 14 Years Ago
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looking to drain and replace the brake fluid in son's Mercury. thought to be presently loaded with silicone or DOT5...; I want to drain and replace with the regular stuff, not silicone. any suggestions on the best way to do this? whether or not I should swap it out? the stuff in the M/C is a bit thick and mirky looking, so I am thinking it should be replaced... is it a simple drain and refill or are there some significant drain/flush/refill steps to follow?? thanks, Mark
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By charliemccraney - 14 Years Ago
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If it is DOT 5, I wouldn't bother changing it to DOT 3 or 4.
A few threads:
http://www.y-blocksforever.com/forums/Topic55645-3-1.aspx?
http://www.y-blocksforever.com/forums/Topic12667-4-1.aspx?
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By texasmark1 - 14 Years Ago
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Ok, sounds like if I have DOT5 presently loaded, I should probably stay with it... problem is, I bought the car from a less than knowledgeable chap; only way I have of knowing its loaded with DOT5 is a lable attached to the M/C stating so... don't know how long its been on there, who made the change over or anything else definitive... Is there some way I can confirm that its loaded with DOT5?
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By charliemccraney - 14 Years Ago
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DOT 5 won't strip paint - test in an inconspicuous area.
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By texasmark1 - 14 Years Ago
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duh! well my nose was right in front of my face on that question!! consider me humbled!
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By Hoosier Hurricane - 14 Years Ago
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Put some fluid on a flat surface, and put a couple drops of water on the fluid. Silicone won't accept the water, it will bead up like on a freshly waxed hood. Glycol fluid and water will tolerate each other, actually mix if left sitting a while.
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By paul2748 - 14 Years Ago
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Dot 5 is usually purple
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By slumlord444 - 14 Years Ago
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If it is not siclicone, I would switch to it.
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By Ted - 14 Years Ago
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texasmark1 (10/6/2011)
....the stuff in the M/C is a bit thick and mirky looking, so I am thinking it should be replaced...From the description of the fluid, it sounds like it's contaminated and needs to be changed out. Dot 5 fluid does a good job of staying clean over the long haul if not mixed with any other specification brake fluids. Flushing the system and insuring all the old fluid is out of the system before refilling it would be prudent.
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By Don Woodruff - 14 Years Ago
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I am changing back from silicon to conventional. Silicon leaks past the wheel cylinder seals, makes replacement of the brake light switch mandatory on a yearly basis. As far as I can see it buys me nothing.
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By texasmark1 - 14 Years Ago
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what happens to the brake light switch?
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By paul2748 - 14 Years Ago
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I have been running silicone (Dot 5) in my 48 ford for 20 years and never had any leaks. Did have some problem with the hydraulic stop light switches, went to a mechanical switch.
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By slumlord444 - 14 Years Ago
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I have had silicone brake fluid in my '57 T-Bird for many years. Put in new wheel cylinders and master cylinder at that time. Had Power Brake booster rebuilt and installed stainless lines also. Had a little problem with leaking fittings at first but stoped the leaks by retightening the fittings. Had to have the boster rebuilt after several years again. Had to replace the brake light switch last year but it had been in there for many years. My experience is that it is well worth the trouble. It is a little more difficult to bleed the system. Peddle seemed to be a little mushy at first but that went away after a little while.
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