New Brakes

If you don't want to worry about replacing or rebuilding your wheel cylinders every few years do to the brake fluid absorbing moisture, DOT 5 is the way to go. Plus, it won't "eat" your paint if spilled. if you drive your car a lot and periodically flush out the old DOT 3 or 4 fluid yearly, then you could use non-silicone type fluid. Just for the heck of it Goggle "using silicone brake fluid" for various other opinions. Some folks say silicone fluid gives you more of a "softer pedal" than regular fluid. I use silicone
because it does not absorb water and have not had to replace or rebuild any wheel cylinders in 10 years. So, it's hard to say which is "best". I think silicone has a higher boiling point.
 
I like silicone. Having said that you need to be extremely careful about getting bubbles into the brake fluid. Don't shake the can and pour slowley. Bubbles will make the pedal soft untill they are all bled out. Also silicone finds small leaks in the system that DOT 3 will not find. If you use silicone be sure to mark the master cylinder so the next person will not add DOT 3.

Charlie Stephens
 
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