In a message dated 8/25/2005 1:28:01 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
WRJJRS@aol.com writes:
Besides
DOT 4 silicone fluid which has the advantage of not harming paint, I have been
using various synthetics in my race bikes for years which are good to better
than 600°F! I have heard some older auto fluids are corrosive to aluminum but
with the number of aluminum components on modern cars it MUST be less common.
I have had all sorts of ALUMINUM BRAKE PARTS including master cylinders on my
bikes and never seen ANY problem. The aircraft fluid is simply stupid when
compared to modern auto fluids.
I think most compatibility problems went away when Girling quit using
natural rubber seals and vegetable oil fluids in their products (British cars
still stuck in the 30s).
Less than a second into serious braking the rotor temps will be well past
the 400 Degree flash point of the "New MIL-Spec" fluid.
If there were such a problem, you could drop an old seal into a jar of
the proposed fluid for several months to see the result. Any Hot Rod shop has
fluids in the 550 degree (Lockheed)
to 600+ degree (Wilwood) wet boiling point. Obviously the flash points are
well above that, but you could contact the Manufacturers and ask. Just don't
mention aircraft.
When you see the rotors on the circle track racers flashing to bright
orange and spit sparks twice each lap, for 400 miles, does it make you think
these boys know about brake fluid.
I have raced with silicone and liked the nonboiling feature. It is
difficult to get a good solid pedal because silicone retains air for long
time. It is also thick enough that power bleeding with a pressurized master
cylinder gives the best result. Power bleeding from the caliper end is also a
good method. In any case not moving the master cylinder during bleeding will
give better results. All non silicone fluids absorb water from the air at a
known rate. If a small amount of that water flashes to steam during braking, the
next time the pressure on the pedal is released, the remaining steam pressure
will push the fluid back through the master cylinder and leave that system
useless.
I use the Lockheed 550 and bleed the brakes to new fluid every two races.
Never had a brake problem.
If you wait for the FAA to figure anything out, you will be too old to
fly.
Lynn E. Hanover