Certainly this is correct if the truck has been sitting for long periods of time. If you have been driving it regularly and you are fixing the brakes your pedal may already be going to the floor. You may want to think about using silicone brake fluid if your truck is going to sit for a while. It costs more but I have had good luck with it in keeping little used brake systems working.

 

Are you using silicone brake fluid in a drum brake system?

 

Yes, I have used it for over 25 years and never had any problems with damaged seals. There are lots of rumors out there but the truth is that if you live in the rust belt or a damp climate (Florida, Gulf Coast, beach communities) it is a good idea to use it. It isn't necessary in dry climates unless you are going to keep the vehicle near the water. So many older Jeep vehicles are kept at hunting camps, etc. or only used in bad weather. Silicone fluid protects their infrequently used systems.

If you are going to have any paint work done you need to let your painter know that he may have to use anti-fisheye additive.

Here is a good, commons sense article on it: http://adlersantiqueautos.com/articles/brake1.html. I'm not sure that I agree with his caution about using it on booster equipped vehicles. It would take a lot of silicone brake fluid to cause significant damage to an engine, certainly more than what is contained in a brake M/C reservoir. You would be seeing serious brake failures first. Regardless it is still a good article. You can come to your own conclusions.

 

Thanks Pete. I live in semi-arid Southern California, nowhere near the ocean, so I guess I'm OK with DOT 3.

 

Yes, I would say that is a good choice.