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MG MG Y Type - Correct brake fluid

I am sure this has been discussed before but I am new to this bulletin board. I am restoreing a 1948 YA
#1336. Replaced all rubber components with the rebuild kits from NTG. Was planning to use silicon brake fluid but in talking to a member of our saloon car club was advised to not use it. Will the rubber stand up to silicon and will I get a spongy feeling on the brakes from useing it. Also can anybody tell me where I can get a brake return spring, NTG does not sell these.

Thanks Frank
Frank Russell

Normal brake fluid is quite OK to use, but will need replacing every 18 months or so as it absorbs water, ( hydroscopic.) Silicon is also alright, the brake pedal just feels a bit different, and the fluid lasts for years. Do not mix them. Silicon is far more expensive.

I use ordinary brake disc Dot fluid in all my own cars.

Neil.
Neil Cairns

I expect you mean brake shoe springs which are shown in the NTG catalogue and which are, it shows, supplied as the same as a TC. If you mean the brake pedal return spring located in the pedal box then Brown and Gammons do a TC spring which is the same as my 'Y' spring. I know because I bought one and now don't need it for reasons too difficult to explain. Slater Reynolds
J S Reynolds

I switched to silicon probably about 15 years ago and at the same time had the wheel cylinders and M/C sleeved with bronze or stainless steel, can't now remember which. Anyway the point is that since then my brakes have worked perfectly; not maybe 21st century standards but at least as good and maybe better than when new. Am also sure that all rubber parts were renewed 15 years ago and so far they all seem fine. Before I would have major brake work done every two or three years as a result of condensation in the brake fluid. Silicon is worth it for that alone. The only minor downside is that silicon doesn't seem compatible with the brake light switch and it has to be replaced periodicaly. I am told that this is common and not unique to Ys. Terry
Terry O'Brien

Thanks for the advise. I will probably use silicon brake fluid so I do not have to change it on a regular basis. I am sure I will be asking for more advise in the future, when I purchased the car it was partly disassembled and even with a service manual and Dave Lawences book not sure if I got all the parts and some of the parts I do have where do they go.

Frank
Frank Russell

In the U.S. there are 3 types of brake fluid available:
Steven Rixen

In the U.S. there are 3 types of brake fluid available;
DOT (Department of Transportation) 3, which is in general use in American cars which have neoprene based cups and seals. DOT 3 DOES NOT WORK WELL WITH BRITISH CUPS AND SEALS. The British use a 'rubber' material which is attacked by the dot 3 fluid and the cups and seals deteriorate to a gummy, leaky mess over 1 to 3 years.
DOT 4, in the U.S., is the right thing to service a British brake system as the OEM recommended. This is usually available as CASTROL GTX brand.
DOT 5, or Silicone Brake fluid is the modern approach to brake system servicing. I have seen and worked on many British Brake Systems which have been serviced with Silicone, and the most successful conversions have come when the Masters, Slaves and Calipers have been overhauled/assembled with silicone and the lines blown out prior to servicing with the silicone fluid.
Steven Rixen

This thread was discussed between 13/11/2001 and 04/12/2001

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