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Brake Fluids?

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<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by LGalper:


How often do you spill fluid on the paint ?
(it doesn't remove paint instantaneously!)
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<hr></blockquote>
Lou,
Good question. - How in the world do you guys get brake fluid on the paint in the first place? In 50 years of car tinkering I have never gotten brake fluid on the paint. Sounds like a red herring to me.
D
 
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Dave Russell:

Lou,
Good question. - How in the world do you guys get brake fluid on the paint in the first place? In 50 years of car tinkering I have never gotten brake fluid on the paint. Sounds like a red herring to me.
D<hr></blockquote>

Well, Dave, I guess some of us just aren't that perfect.
Bob
 
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by LGalper:
How often do you spill fluid on the paint ?
(it doesn't remove paint instantaneously!)
rolleyes.gif
<hr></blockquote>

Hardly ever, but I have recently discovered a small crack in the back of my MC reservoir that was just starting to leak. I don't much care to suddenly find that all the paint under the MC has started to blister because of an accidental leak like that. As there are options (DOT-5) I plan to use them.
 
I've had a leaking master cylinder get fluid on the footwell area. Being less than perfect, I've also spilled brake fluid during refilling/bleeding brakes and unfortunately it's not easy to wipe it off all the nooks and crannies that the fluid can get into.

I once read an opinion that some brake fluid makes it way out of the vent cap during driving. Over time this could cause paint problems, especially on the bulk head surface (in the direct path of the air flow behind the reservoir.) I can imagine that the brake fluid gets shaken up and sloshed around pretty good during sprited driving or on long trips. Is this enough to cause paint problems? Has anyone noticed more paint problems on the bulk head or around the reservoir on cars with original paint?

Cheers,
John
 
How often can I spill brake fluid? Every single time I get within 5 feet of the stuff. The only question is where is it going to land.
 
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by mrbassman:

Well, Dave, I guess some of us just aren't that perfect.
Bob<hr></blockquote>
Actually, you don't have to be anywhere near perfect. Just pay a little attention to what you are doing. Not really so hard to do. I think I shouldn't have poked the hornets nest.
D
 
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Dave Russell:

<<SNIP>> I think I shouldn't have poked the hornets nest.
D<hr></blockquote>

You better smile, when ya say that pilgrim!
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No seriously, you can say just about anything in this group if’n ya use a smiley face every once in awhile.
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<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Bret:


No seriously, you can say just about anything in this group if’n ya use a smiley face every once in awhile.
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[/QB]<hr></blockquote>

you can?????
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and did you know the maximum number of smileys is 8 per post? I didn't

[ 02-04-2004: Message edited by: Chuck Cougill ]</p>
 
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by John Loftus:

I once read an opinion that some brake fluid makes it way out of the vent cap during driving. Over time this could cause paint problems, especially on the bulk head surface (in the direct path of the air flow behind the reservoir.) I can imagine that the brake fluid gets shaken up and sloshed around pretty good during sprited driving or on long trips. Is this enough to cause paint problems? Has anyone noticed more paint problems on the bulk head or around the reservoir on cars with original paint?
Cheers,
John<hr></blockquote>
The reservoir cap on my car is about two inches away from the outside of the shroud & mounted directly to the firewall. I keep a close watch on the cap vent & have never seen anything get out. As a test, I put some Dot 4 fluid directly on some cured paint. It took three days for the fluid to soften the paint. Seems like there is time to wipe up a spill before damage occurs. Oh Well--
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D
 
My master and servo on the jag are somewhat hidden under the heater box. I did'nt realize until too late that the servo was leaking into the diaphram canister which was in turn leaking on to the firewall. Looks like cra- now. There was some leakage at the rear calipers, so thats where I thought the brake fluid was going. Just got the rebuilds back from Apple Hydrolics and started filling and bleeding last night with dot 3. Now I'm rethinking it. Is it too late to switch to dot 5? Or should I flush and go to dot4?
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<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by 66 fhc:
Is it too late to switch to dot 5? Or should I flush and go to dot4? <hr></blockquote>

Some people have had luck draining the system then flushing with denatured alcohol a few times. From what I remember you have to fill the system with denatured alcohol and bleed it, then let it drain completely by opening the bleeders and let it slowly drip out and/or evaporate out of the system. I've talked to a lot of people about it so you might have a hunt 'round the net for specifics. After that you can go ahead and use DOT5, just be prepaired for a long slow bleeding process.
 
This thread is intersting and I have been following it.I have had silcone fluid in the lister for years.Yes a brake switch failed after about 5 years.Whether the fluid or old age of the switch I don't know.I never replaced the switch as it seemed fine at the time I changed.I never had problems such as described like slow bleeding or soft pedal.However usually when bleeding I let gravity work on the front while doing some some small task.Then ordinaily on the back.On Sunbeams there is only one bleeder for the rear.Maybe this was slow bleeding and I never thought about it.I do have fantastic brakes.The booster was rebuilt to perfection by a local shop.Mind you it took him a bit to get it to my satisfaction.
Will I change the others to silicone? Yes at the first time I need to do something to the brake system.
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Its sunny and finally the deep freeze has broken.14F this AM for you southeners
 
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