I can't remember the exact # of years ago that I put silicone fluid in my 1955 Desoto Fireflite hdt.. About 36 years ago the Desoto - with its original wheel cylinders and power master cylinders - the front cylinders started leaking so I flushed out the old fluid, honed the front wheel cylinders, soaked the rubber cups in lacquer thinner - so that they swelled up, soaked the brake fluid coated shoes in lacquer thinner and then set fire to them to burn off the brake fluid. I reassembled the old parts into cylinders (I was cheap with the $ and always re-used the old brake parts in my cars) and put in silicone brake fluid which was, at the time, only available at one local racing shop (and very expensive) and unheard of (as far as I knew) among my car friends. My first attempts of testing the brake -the cups turned (or would not slide ) and leaked silicone. I had to really polish, by hand, the cylinders to a high degree (so the cups slid easily and final got a good pedal - better then with the regular brake fluid ever gave me. After a few more years of driving I stored (in unheated garage and sheds) the car for for some 30 years (about 15 years in Utah's cold county). I never started the car until two years ago when I pulled out the Desoto, replaced the cracked exhaust manifold (due to the cold storage?) put a new carb on (old one leaked all over when I first tried starting it), pumped the brake pedal a couple times and had solid pedal. I then drove the car, with only adding what was left of a gallon of gas, used to poor down the carb to start the car, (to the old gas) to a gas station for more fresh gas and then onto the muffler shop and back home. After a few days of driving the old gal, I put the car back in the storage so that, with room, I could concentrate on finishing other car projects. I have owned this Desoto for 43 years - bought from the original owner (a little old California lady) who had stop driving it a couple years before due to, (as I discovered after buying it ) a burnt exhaust valve. The Desoto now has about 145,000 miles on original master cylinder, trans. radiator, engine and brake components. Only thing I did was do a valve job, carb, silicone fluid, air shocks (used to carry 4- 5 people and gear on ski and camping trips 37+ years ago). the exhaust manifold, replaced front motor mount, painted the green (white top and firesweep still original white as well as original upho) and the dual exhaust two years ago. I probably have to check/redue the brakes again after all these year sof setting and not being checked. I'm a true believer in the silicone fluid - also don't remember ever having to replace the stop light switch during those early years of driving with silicone. I put silicone in my H but yet to drive it - may be by next summer. Ken Wilson, San Jose, Calif., 62 H PS. Although I usually do my own brake jobs I had on a occasions (40 years ago ) to have it done by brake shops. After a couple of brake failures /lack of good braking after having gone to the brake shops ( one failure was coming out of Yosemite on a steep grade, the brakes failed to slow a 55 Desoto convertible and I had to crash into the side of a hill to stop the car or go over a cliff. Since that instance, some 40 years ago I since have always done my own brake work and never again trust any brake shop or person to touch any of my older mopar's brakes. I even did my brakes on our 20+ year old 1962 Chrysler 300's and 1964 Darts, with 9" brakes, which (I and Wife) drove for years and years as everyday work and travel/vacation cars with never a brake fade/failure/un-even or stopping problem (even on steep sierra back roads) and my 80's Dodge truck. Most important, in the old drum mopars was good/perfect brake adjustments which most shops, I think, do know how. A few years back I bought an old Amco brake shoe adjustment tool which made the brake shoe adjustment easier and faster. ------------------------------------ To send a message to this group, send an email to: Chrysler300@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to bob@xxxxxxxxxxxxx or go to http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Chrysler300/join and select the "Leave Group" button For list server instructions, go to http://www.chrysler300club.com/yahoolist/inst.htm For archives go to http://www.forwardlook.net/300-archive/search.htm#querylangYahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Chrysler300/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Chrysler300/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: Chrysler300-digest@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Chrysler300-fullfeatured@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: Chrysler300-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/