DOT 5 brake fluid

[mpollock]

Has anyone ever used DOT 5 brake fluid in their Spider? I am doing a complete brake rebuild - new brake lines and hoses, master cylinder, rebuilding calipers. I am considering using DOT 5, which is silicon-based and won't be as caustic to paint as Glycol-based DOT 3 and DOT 4. I'm just curious if anyone has done this, and if so what were the results. In a quick search of the web the negative comments I have seen have mostly been based on emotion and not fact. One thing I did see is that the silicon fluid holds more air in suspension so the pedal might be slightly softer.

[AndyS]

been using it mine for 20 years. No issues. lower maintenance than the regular fluid IMO. Pedal feels fine to me. The newer dot 5 fluids are better than when the stuff first came out too. back then, I heard about problems with leaks and was told they have since added agents to swell seals like the old style fluid does.

[Fi8spider]

I used my Spider for some club racing a few years ago and replaced the fluid with AP Racing 551 which is a Dot 5.
http://www.apracing.com/Info.aspx?InfoI ... oductID=41
Not cheap but the results for me were well worth it. I experienced no problem with pedal feel at all and I can recommend doing system flush with dot 5 if you plan on hard, continuous braking. I have had this fluid in the brake system for 3 years now and have not experienced any problems with brake seals swelling.