Brake cylinders

Cacti_Ken · Post by **Cacti_Ken** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 3:39 pm

I'm starting to install brake lines, wheel cylinders and master cylinder.
New cylinders have some sort of lubrication in them like oil. Should the cylinders be taken apart and cleaned up. What should cylinders and components be cleaned or washed with?
Are the aluminum pistons suposed to be greased to keep from oxiding in cylinder?

DOT 3 brake fluid and oil or grease do not mix do they?
Always had a problem when a vehicle isn't used much . Seems the cylinders always corrode up.
Waiting for your suggestions.
Ken

Post by **wesk** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 8:41 pm

Ken,
If you're using DOT 3 then you can use the commercial spray type brake parts cleaner and flush the entire system through the bleeders with alcohol.

Petroleum products are a definate "No No"

Cacti_Ken · Post by **Cacti_Ken** » Sat Dec 31, 2005 8:55 pm

Wes, I've read pros and con about DOT3 versus Silicon. I just wonder if you can grease the pistons to keep them from corroding up if you use silicon fluid in place of DOT3.

Post by **wesk** » Sun Jan 01, 2006 2:41 am

Negative. Petroleum products are not compatible with either DOT 3 or DOT 5

Keep in mind that moisture is the key to the corrosion problem and it normally in normal use takes much longer than a year. A healthy bleeding once a year and a flush every 3 years will handle it.

Jeeps4Brains · Post by **Jeeps4Brains** » Sun Jan 01, 2006 8:53 pm

I saw something at toolwarehouse.net. It is an Electronic Brake Fluid tester. Submerge the tip in the brake fluid and press the button. Green LED and moisture < 1.5% means OK. Cost is around $53 but less than the cost of brake parts.

Post by **wesk** » Sun Jan 01, 2006 10:38 pm

Only leaves you with a reading for the reservoir or any other access point you may use. Doesn't get to the really hard to get to or low points. Best defense against moisture and corrosion is to drain, flush and service with new fluid evry two or threee years.

ChuckW · Post by **ChuckW** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 9:13 am

Let me add my experience with DOT-5 silicone......I used it in my last rebuild and now I wish I had not. I used it because I thought it would help with the mosture problem, but the trade-off is not worth it. Brakes are extremely hard to bleed, lots of air stays in the fluid, brakes are not firm. I think there is now a mosture-resistant DOT-3 and that's what I would recommend. Any mosture will settle to the lowest part of the system, i.e.; the wheel cylinders. As Wes says, a yearly bleeding should take care of the mosture problem....water is another issue, if you are running your jeep in water that is over the wheels, you need to pull the drums and clean the water and debris out of the drums & brakes. The sure way to kill a brake system is to run it in water and then let it sit without cleaning & drying.

Cacti_Ken · Post by **Cacti_Ken** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 11:09 pm

Thanks Chuck for that bit of info. I will go with DOT3.