My father runs an auto parts store, so I'll verify all this with him tonight......
If I remember correctly......English cars used/use natural rubber in their brake hoses/wheel cylinder seals, etc. US built & Asian cars used/use synthetic rubber in their brake parts. IIRC, brake fluid comes in three different varieties: DOT 3; DOT 4; DOT 5. DOT 3 is what most US and Asian cars use. It is designed to keep synthetic rubber in brake parts supple. It will, however, destroy natural rubber by essentially making it too soft. DOT 4 is for English autos and is safe for natural rubber. DOT 5 is silicone and is compatible with all types of rubber - this I'm a little uncertain about - it's been a long time since I sold this stuff.
My theory is if you use DOT 3 on your gum brake hoods, you will end up with an unuseable mushy mess. DOT 4, however, might just do the trick. Try it at your own risk. Cheers, Byron Morton Nashville, TN - where I just replaced the entire front brake system on my Ford truck.
__________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance - Get real-time stock quotes http://finance.yahoo.com