The Ford Barn

Barry in St.Paul · 09-19-2023, 01:49 PM

Hi,
I started my rebuild of my '57 chassis with DOT5 silicone brake fluid. Had a devil of a time getting all the connections to stop weeping, but finally did. Then, discovered the wheel-cylinders have very slight weeps, some DOT5 in the boots while sitting the past couple years (working on OTHER parts of the chassis). The new cylinder had sat for several years in my basement before I got to that part of assembly, there was slight corrosion spotting so I used Scotchbrite on them; I think those very fine scratches are where the darn DOT5 is sneaking past now.

Therefore I need to replace (or hone/kit if I switched to DOT3) my wheel cylinders. In which case, NOW would be the time to switch to the less-difficult DOT 3 if I'm ever going to. All I'd have to do is clean up the M/C and purge the lines with alcohol, and switch is complete.

This is not on my Ford Model-A, but the other club already weighed in ~50/50 (ha!), so thought I'd ask here. Being in Minnesota where cars are parked for at least 6 months of the year, wondering how many of you have switched your cars to DOT5, if you've been glad you did, or if you had any problems with leaks/weeps like I have? (or, how many have good experience to stay away from DOT5?)

I don't intend to start a "which oil is better" type thread here! :-) Just looking to see if there are a lot of successful DOT5 users out there or not, and if you had to do anything special to keep them leak-free.
Thanks!

09-19-2023, 01:49 PM	#1
Barry in St.Paul Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 118	DOT5 in Minnesota; keep trying or switch to DOT3? Hi, I started my rebuild of my '57 chassis with DOT5 silicone brake fluid. Had a devil of a time getting all the connections to stop weeping, but finally did. Then, discovered the wheel-cylinders have very slight weeps, some DOT5 in the boots while sitting the past couple years (working on OTHER parts of the chassis). The new cylinder had sat for several years in my basement before I got to that part of assembly, there was slight corrosion spotting so I used Scotchbrite on them; I think those very fine scratches are where the darn DOT5 is sneaking past now. Therefore I need to replace (or hone/kit if I switched to DOT3) my wheel cylinders. In which case, NOW would be the time to switch to the less-difficult DOT 3 if I'm ever going to. All I'd have to do is clean up the M/C and purge the lines with alcohol, and switch is complete. This is not on my Ford Model-A, but the other club already weighed in ~50/50 (ha!), so thought I'd ask here. Being in Minnesota where cars are parked for at least 6 months of the year, wondering how many of you have switched your cars to DOT5, if you've been glad you did, or if you had any problems with leaks/weeps like I have? (or, how many have good experience to stay away from DOT5?) I don't intend to start a "which oil is better" type thread here! :-) Just looking to see if there are a lot of successful DOT5 users out there or not, and if you had to do anything special to keep them leak-free. Thanks!