silicone hydraulic fluid, why not DOT5 silicone? Options

[worn]

We run silicone brake fluid in our LBCs (Little British Cars) and this is widely accepted among that crowd. This week I am putting new front wheel cylinders in the 47 Dodge P.U. truck cause we don't run it enough and they pitted.

So why not use the silicone fluid in a 914? Yes, there is a slight compression you can feel in the pedal, but in my TR6 you can hardly feel it. I now have enough toys so that routine maintenance is a pretty big chore. Keeping up with batteries and tires is bad enough. Yes, I know that you should bleed out the old fluid, but frankly I doubt that would have helped me with the truck. The problem was the lack of movement of the seals over the cylinder. My time flies!

So - what do you think?

Thanks,
Warren

[Tbrown4x4]

I worked at a British shop and we had NLA m/cyls and wheel cylinders re-bushed with brass sleeves. The DOT 5 didn't seem to lubricate as well with the brass and we saw a lot of sticking wheel cylinders until we went back to DOT 3 or 4. I've been reluctant to try it ever since.

It was also my understanding that silicone does not absorb moisture, but really holds onto air, and that's why bleeding can be a challenge.