mgs
[Top] [All Lists]

Re: Brake light switches AND fluid problems

To: "James Nazarian Jr" <James.Nazarian@colorado.edu>,
Subject: Re: Brake light switches AND fluid problems
From: Larry Macy <macy@bblmail.psycha.upenn.edu>
Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2000 19:35:47 -0500
Whoa Now I am confused. Do we have 2 James Nazarian's on the list?? If 
not why do you contradict your self.

Larry

>>>>On 2/24/00 6:26 PM so and so (James Nazarian Jr) said. (And I quote:)

>I just read last week that DOT 5 has a higher boiling point than DOT 3 &
>4.  I read this in a suspension tuning book, that I would consider quite
>reliable.
>
>James Nazarian
>'71 B roadster
>'71 BGT rust free and burnt orange
>'74 BGT going by-by soon
>'63 Buick 215 
>
>On Thu, 24 Feb 2000, James H. Nazarian, Ph.D. wrote:
>
>> Hi Max,
>> 
>> As I have understood, DOT 5 does have a lower boiling point than the other 
>brake
>> fluids. The difference is not great, and falls into the vicinity (I think) 
in
>> excess of 400 F. Most amateur LBC racers, in their wildest dreams, will 
never 
>see
>> brake fluid temperatures like that. So be it if Silicone isn't the best for 
>race
>> cars, but it is great for street cars. IMHO it is silly to be changing 
brake 
>fluid
>> once, twice or more times per year when there is a better solution 
available. 
>I
>> hate to think where all that DOT 3 & 4 brew gets dumped every year. 
Silicone 
>is
>> inert, non-irritating, non-toxic and, for the most part, non-allergenic. As 
>for the
>> breast implant controversy, I prefer Coke: "It's the real thing."
>> 
>> Jim
>> 
>> Max Heim wrote:
>> 
>> > Actually, I seem to recall that the knock on silicone is that it had a
>> > lower boiling point, and that with hard driving and disk brakes, it could
>> > potentially boil. Steam is highly compressible. For this reason it used
>> > to be strongly recommended for show cars (safe for paint) and
>> > contraindicated for race cars (obviously), with everyone in between free
>> > to choose. Haven't heard this lately, perhaps newer formulations have
>> > fixed this.
>> >
>> > James H. Nazarian, Ph.D. had this to say:
>> >
>> > >Gents,
>> > >
>> > >> The three problems with silicone are that,
>> > >> 1. it does not absorb water.  This allows water to pool in the lines 
>unless
>> > >> you bleed it out every year.
>> > >
>> > >Hydrophobia is not a detraction of DOT 5, but a benefit. Can someone 
site 
>an
>> > >example of definitive research showing that water will pool in silicone? 
I
>> > >don't
>> > >think so! Try leaving some in an open graduated cylinder for a year or 
two
>> > >and
>> > >see if the volume changes, or any pools of water show up.
>> > >
>> > >> 2. it is (or was in original formulation) just a bit more compressible 
>than
>> > >> DOT 3 or 4 brake fluid.  This may only be in early silicone fluids and 
>could
>> > >> be much better now.  Barney, you use that A for some serious 
>autocrossing.
>> > >Did
>> > >> you notice any difference in pedal feel between DOT 5 and DOT 4?
>> > >
>> > >Compressibility? Of a liquid? If such a thing could occur, I seriously
>> > >doubt one
>> > >could detect it with a foot.
>> > >
>> > >> And 3. the above seal swelling problem.
>> > >
>> > >I respectfully suggest this is a myth. If the stuff is no good I'd 
>appreciate
>> > >some proof before I remove what appears to be perfectly performing, 10
>> > >year old,
>> > >anhydrous brake/clutch fluid, and replace it with rust-worm food.
>> > >
>> > >Jim
>> > >
>> > >
>> > >
>> >
>> > --
>> >
>> > Max Heim
>> > '66 MGB GHN3L76149
>> > If you're near Mountain View, CA,
>> > it's the red one with the silver bootlid.
>> 


Larry Macy
78 Midget

Keep your top down and your chin up.

Larry B. Macy, Ph.D.
macy@bblmail.psycha.upenn.edu
System Manager/Administrator
Neuropsychiatry Section
Department of Psychiatry
University of Pennsylvania
3400 Spruce St. - 10 Gates
Philadelphia, PA 19104

 Ask a question and you're a fool for three minutes; do not ask a 
question and you're a fool for the rest of your life. 


<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>