Bad breaks with brakes breaking

[Dennis P]

Took advice and bought new brake mc. Installed, added fluid pumped and found fluid shooting out of brake sensor switch. internal seals blew. Fortunately, mc and hazard assembly all blew before rebuild hit the road! Took another unit and installed, no problem. Now, how tdo I neutralize the brake fluid, ruined , pelling paint in mey repainted engine bay, so I can re repaint ???

 

[Dr_EluSivE]

not sure about the repaint, But may i suggest in the future running DOT5 silcone brake fluid, it wont damage the paint and it lubricates the system better. only bad part is its expensive.

Dr.

 

[PC]

Sorry to hear about the squirting incident.

In general, glycol fluid washes off quite easily with soap and water or denatured alcohol.

You will need to strip and/or sand off all of the damaged material before repainting. After sanding, follow the usual pre-paint steps of prep-sol, tack cloth, etc.


PC.

 

[Justin Bowen]

DOT 5 silicon-based brake fluid does not mix with DOT 3,4, or 5.1 glycol-based fluids. You should not add DOT 5 fluid to a system filled with 3,4,5.1 fluid.

 

[Dr_EluSivE]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Justin Bowen:
DOT 5 silicon-based brake fluid does not mix with DOT 3,4, or 5.1 glycol-based fluids. You should not add DOT 5 fluid to a system filled with 3,4,5.1 fluid.<hr></blockquote>

Yeah, Good point, you have to flush the system first.

Dr.

 

[Peter Mittler]

Speaking of brake fluid. I read somewhere that brake fluid absorbs moisture and therefore should be drained, flushed and refilled every two to three years. Is this true? If the brake system is a sealed system, how does moisture get into the lines? What is the common practise here?

 

[Dave Russell]

The brake system is not truly sealed on the older cars. Just a vent hole in a poorly gasketed cap on the reservoir. Most newer systems have a rubber diaphragm under the filler cap which actually does a pretty good job of sealing.Also damp air can migrate through the flexible rubber hoses & seals.

In theory, it is good advice to change fluid every couple of years. I personally never change fluid & have never had problems. My old Ford truck has gone 20 years on the same fluid & never needed any added or changed.YMMV.
Original rotor pads & shoes also plus power brakes.
D

 

[PC]

Yes, it's true. Brake systems are sort of sealed but it's not a super-duper hermetic seal. Water does get in.

Glycol based fluids are hygroscopic (readily absorb water). That's why they wash off easily with water. They'll suck moisture right out of the air. Always use brake fluid from a fresh, sealed container. An opened can of fluid that's been sitting on the shelf will become saturated with water.

I recommend flushing and bleeding fluid every year. It's cheap insurance. Water in the fluid will corrode the system from the inside out.


PC.