Brakes soft and fluid leak

[NeilR]

Silicon works for me too, been using for over twenty years, last 15 in Stag.
Just make sure you start with a clean system - Stag was a completely dry system when I used silicon & same for clutch.

[richardthestag]

twice I have bled brakes through with dot 5 silicon fluid and twice the customer has moaned like hell about the 'orrible spongy brake pedal feel.

The second time it cost the customer because I had made it very clear that I was not happy.

The first time was a waste of 2hour of workshop time for me.

The brakes in both cases had passed an MOT with the dot 5, there was no safety issue but the pedal feel was not what the customer was happy with.

In both cases I had drained all the old dot 4 / whatever out and then filled with dot5.

When I replaced with dot4 I followed the same procedure and found that brake pedal feel and customer confidence was restored.

[APS]

Nick has sold his stag and wants to put it back on the road for the new owner to collect. So best keep it simple and with the lower cost option of using standard brake fluid, of course once the cause of the loss fluid has been found and rectified.

[DMT]

I was told that if you want to change to Silicon you must replace all rubber seals otherwise it won't feel right. This might be why Richard had his problems, but I don't see why if the seals were cleaned.

[mole42]

I was told that if you want to change to Silicon you must replace all rubber seals otherwise it won't feel right. This might be why Richard had his problems, but I don't see why if the seals were cleaned.

I really dislike silicon fluid because it is ever so slightly compressible and never acheives a really firm pedal. Most people don't notice but as a competition driver I always feel slightly unsettled if the brake pedal doesn't go hard when I operate it!