[Alpines] brake switch

[Carl McLelland]

Ten years ago when I was restoring my Series 1 race car I heard that
silicone/synthetic brake fluid was bad for natural rubber seals like those
used in British cars.  To test the theory I immersed a rubber seal in
synthetic/silicone brake fluid in a jar then promptly forgot about it. About
six months later when I got to the point of overhauling the calipers and rear
brake cylinders I came across that jar.

I found that (1) the seal had shrunk about 25% and (2) had literally turned to
stone! It would have been completely unuseable for it's intended purpose:
serving as a seal in a brake or hydraulic system.

I used Castrol GTLMA brake fluid in my Alpine and later in my Lotus 61 formula
Ford and have NEVER had any problem whatsoever with it.
    Carl
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: William Lewis
  To: alpines at autox.team.net
  Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 10:50 AM
  Subject: [Alpines] brake switch


  Michael
          I just replaced my brake switch.  Very easy to do.  I put a rag
  under the old switch to catch the few drops of brake fluid that came out
  during the change.  I unscrewed the old switch, screwed in the new switch,
  and didn't need to bleed the brakes.
          I have been told that silicone brake fluid ruins the switches.  I
  use Castrol and my old switch was probably an original from 1962.  I got
  my new switch from Rick at SS.
  Bill Lewis
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