Brake light switch for use with silicone brake fluid (DOT 5)

[jtjim]

For my two cents worth---I have used silicone fluid in every brake system I have rebuilt--GM cars, Studes, surge brakes, etc. I went through several pressure switches in my GT Hawk with disc brakes, finally engineered a bracket as suggested by StudeRich. When I rebuilt my Avanti this spring, I immediately installed a GM type switch on the brake pedal. (By the way, there is a bracket with a hole in exactly the right place on the Avanti pedal )

[Lenny R2]

In my 63 Avanti i copyed the diagram from Stan Gundrys book&bought the recomened brake light switch , just a little tap of the pedal
&the brake lights are on.Thinking about the Ron Frances switch for the 62 Champ pickup .They both have Dot 5 fluid.

[philbirkeland]

I started with a clean system, replaced all brake lines, wheel cylinders, master cyclinder etc. Used Silicone brake fluid and in about two months, the OEM switch failed. I replaced it with another OEM switch, and in a few months that one failed. The article was in the June 2004 issue, page 20. The H-D switch part number is 72023-51C.

Joey D - When I rebuilt the brake system on my 2R10 pickup, I replaced the original and non-functioning hydraulic switch. DOT 4 fluid. After 500 miles, the switch failed. My NAPA counterman told me "they just don't make these like they used to." The new switch is still ok after 1000 miles. Perhaps you just had more bad luck than I did. I have been told not to bother with DOT 5, as there are just as many problems as with DOT 4, just different. The one real disadvantage of DOT4 is moisture absorption (even if DOT 4 is LMA), which causes corrosion at the wheel cylinders, curable by flushing the system every 5-10 years. Best, Phil.