Modern day vehicles (around 1965 and newer) use an expandable boot
underneath the cap to isolate the brake fluid from the atmosphere. If the
fluid doesn't contact (much) air, then the water transfer between the two is
negligible.
I have seen round replacement boots sold under the HELP! parts name in chain
auto parts stores. Could you adapt one of these to isolate the fluid on
your truck? (I think the fit F*rd truck master cylinders.) I would think it
would be safer than putting a foreign chemical (the molecular sieve) in the
fluid and risk contaminating the fluid and causing further, and worse,
problems. Besides, are the brake fluid molecules larger or smaller than the
water molecules? I pretty sure that the surface tension of the brake fluid
is lower.
James P. Hargreaves
'35 International C-1
'57 Cadillac Sedan deVille
'62 Chevrolet C-10 panel
'64 Chevelle SS
'70 Mercury Montego
"A key ring is a handy little gadget that allows you to lose all your keys
at once."
--Unknown
-----Original Message-----
From: McNulty, Bob [mailto:BMCNULTY@csuchico.edu]
Sent: Tuesday, December 12, 2000 11:20 AM
To: 'oletrucks'
Subject: [oletrucks] old brakes and water and......
I have been rebuilding my brake system (drum/drum) and finally got the
master cylinder cleaned up. What a mess!! It had been sitting out side
for many years. About 1/4 inch of rusty sludge in the bottom of the
reservoir. It cleaned up rather nice with a lot of lacquer thinner and a
final diluted muriatic acid (HCl) dip. Luckily the cylinder portion itself
is in good shape with minimal honing.
Anyway... the nut portion on the cap was badly knarled so I used a file to
try and square up the surfaces again. I notice a pinhole on two opposite
faces of the nut. Did I file to far or are these breather holes? I forgot
to look before I filed.
As an aside.. I was wondering why one couldn't make a "dehydrating bag" to
keep water out of the brake fluid. They make what is called a molecular
sieve. These are small, inert, pellets which have an affinity for water
sized or smaller molecules. I use them where I work to keep water out of
various liquid reagents. It seems to me that one could make a small bag or
pouch of these sieves with a retrieval string. Place the bag in the brake
master cylinder reservoir and keep moisture from leaking into the system (at
least from that location). This could even be used in the fuel tank to soak
up moisture.
Hmmmmmmm maybe a new ___.com is in order.
Any thoughts, comments,.....
I think I am going to try it in a glass beaker full of brake fluid first and
test the idea by adding small amounts (mists) of water and watch what
happens with time.
Happy Holidays to all
Bob in Chico
[demime 0.97c removed an attachment of type application/ms-tnef]
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
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