What brake fluid do you use in youe C3 and why?

Thanks, John

 

went thru this a while back here is the thread. I ended up going with Wilwood 560 DOT3, still have the potential of damaging the paint, but I placed priority on being sure I would have a firm pedal and would rather water be absorbed into the fluid vs. forming beads of water with silicone since it doesn't get absorbed.
You will get many opinions on this, and ultimately you will need to make up your mind, no one will do it for you.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ht=brake+fluid

 

Silicone + Motive pressure bleeder

 

I run normal Dot 4 fluid. I'd be happy to use silicon fluid but I can't be bothered to clean out the system, etc. Dot 4 works fine & having to change it every year or 2 is a great way of forcing me to repaint the callipers
I expect there'll soon be an attack on silicon fluid, but I've run silicon in my bike (front & rear brakes) since 1986 & haven't had the slightest hint of any problems with it. And they got some real hard use back in my "mad" days. I've also used it in several bikes I've built for people & none of them have had a problem. In the same time I've had to repair many similar bikes that have had master cylinders leak/seize due to internal corrosion while using Dot 3 or 4 fluid (methinks they never changed it!). In fact, I've got the badly corroded remanants of a m/cylinder on my bench at the moment that I'm tring to get apart.
I'd use silicon Dot 5 in the Vette for normal street use (not sure what it'd be like for racing with the higher temps?) but like I said, I can't be bothered with all the effort for the only practical gains being that I won't have to change it regularly, & being able to spill it on paint without damage (silicon fluid makes paint really gleam!). Not having to change it regularly isn't really an advantage as C3 brake systems seem to need frequent work & come apart regularly ( ) & as for being able to spill it, I'll just have to be more careful (seeing Dot 3 ripping through aircraft quality 2-pack paint is incredible, more effective than stripper. It's also very depressing with a new paintjob! ).

 

I run silicone Dot-5. Since my entire brake system was crap when I bought it...it's all new front to back.
Eddie

 

I use Silicone only because it doesn't eat paint and for no other reason. If I used regular brake fluid I would go with the Ford fluid. I hear claims it is the best fluid available.

 

Replaced the entire braking system on the C3, now i use castrol super dot 4 all the time- change it one a year. I like it and i think its similar to the ford heavy duty.
Never been interested in dot 5 though.

 

I used Dot 5 (Silicone). I manily wanted to avoid the problem of water contamination with Dot 3/4. Also, the fact that it doesn't remove paint. I've already managed to drip and splace the Dot 5, so great it doesn't remove paint.

I have an all new brake system so getting rid of residues of Dot 3 was not a problem.

It's been said that it's difficult to get a hard peddle with Silicone. I just took my time and used mainly gravity bleeding with an occassional push of the brake peddle. I used brake self-bleeder screws all around. Without much trouble I have a pretty stiff peddle. I'll work later to get it a little stiffer. I wonder if there's a tiny air bubble lurking somewhere?

 

Silicone (Dot 5) is the only way to fly. Doesn't eat the paint off! Also, I'm a retired brake engineer, and as mentioned by others, the Ford OE fluid (Dot 3) is the best. Most all Dot 3 fluids are Dow Chemical based, but Ford has the best additive package. Delco was the most agressive to aluminum at high temperatures.