Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi chaps

I'm about to buy the brake fluid for the brake rebuild, (new pipes and all new cylinders) and spotted this Lockheed brake fluid on eBay. It is only dot 3, do reckon it's worth using at this price of 25p per 250ml tin? Postage is reaonable at £1.50 + 50p per subsequent tin.

Item no: 280237444571

Cheers,

Dom

If you've replaced all the kit I would recommend DOT 5 Silicone fluid. Its a fit and forget thing.
Roger

Seconded.
After spending the time and money to redo the brakes put silicone fluid in so they will last a long time.

ONLY if your rebuild includes a new master cylinder and flexis (and servo if you have one ) - putting Silicone fluid in any old parts causes seal swelling.
Personally - I'm not in favour of Silicone fluid - it's not used in new cars - there must be a reason! Some have reported a 'spongey' feel to the pedal with S fluid.
I would suggest just buy Dot4 fluid locally - rather than waste good money on postage. Morrisons have it - not too bad a price either.

i think you will find that lockheed do not recommend silicone fluid

Or girling for that matter!

Could it be that both Lockheed and Girling have a vested interest in selling brake parts?
I and plenty of other people have used silicone brake fluid without problems.
It is slightly more difficult to bleed and get a hard pedal but once you have it done you know that the fluid isn't drawing water into the system from the atmosphere and rotting your new cylinders.

Thanks for the input chaps. I've plumped (yes, I used to love Call my Bluff!) for some Comma Dot 4. Decided that as it offers a higher safety margin, it was worth going with the more "modern" fluid.

Wise choice - by no means does S fluid solve all problems. I know folks with this fluid in their systems - and they still get seized up cylinders. If worried about fluid absorbing moisture - just bleed some new fluid through the system from time to time. Only place it can make contact with air (to collect moisture) is the master cylinder reservoir - and that has only a tiny hole to allow air in/out. If really worried - keep a bag of silica gel on top of the reservoir - but i do think that's going just too far!

MarkyB wrote:Could it be that both Lockheed and Girling have a vested interest in selling brake parts?
I and plenty of other people have used silicone brake fluid without problems.
It is slightly more difficult to bleed and get a hard pedal but once you have it done you know that the fluid isn't drawing water into the system from the atmosphere and rotting your new cylinders.

Perhaps, but it could be that when these firms design their braking systems they test their performance with the major brands of brake fluid for which they were designed to operate. Silicon fluid is not one of them so they cannot reccomend or verify the performance of their equipment when used with silicone fluid.

Exactly - so why would anyone think it will be compatible ?

It's probably fine, but that's not good enough for me. You only have one chance with brakes and I'm lucky I survived careering through a hedge and rolling my blue morris into a field, narrowly missing trees and a street light. All because of a failed rear brake cylinder.

Sounds exciting!

It was until I had to get out of the car while it was on its side! Unfortunately it was beyond repair.

Well - I rolled a Mini once (during competition) - but never my Minor. Few 'narrow escapes' in my youth though, until I discovered ..... wait for it ...... Wolseley 9" front brakes!

I've been looking for some as a period mod for my new split screen, if you see any, or Riley drums for that matter for sale please drop me a PM!