What kind of brake grease should I be using?

[ZionXIX]

As the title states, what kind of grease for the brake pins and pad channels (or guides, or whatever you want to call them) should I be using? I notice some products for the pads that say not to use on the pins. Is there a product that will work on both? Could I use some of the same grease on the caliper mounting bolt to act like an anti-seize?

Thanks, -Z

 

[tvpierce]

Brake caliper grease. Available at any auto parts store.

Don't use it on the mounting bolts.

 

[12BYotaFan]

Ive just always used c5a antisieze.

 

[JRZEE2000TR4LTD]

No "grease" or anti-seize anywhere on the front brakes. You can use some anti squeal between the pistons and pads/shims.

 

[alumarine]

antiseize is not a grease or lubricant.
I do use it on the bolt threads though but not on sliding parts.


I use Permatex Brake Caliper Lube.
It can be used on pins, slides and apparently on the back of pads.
There's lots of different products.

 

[ZionXIX]

antiseize is not a grease or lubricant.
I do use it on the bolt threads though.

I use Permatex Brake Caliper Lube.
It can be used on pins, slides and apparently on the back of pads.
There's lots of different products.

Thats basically what Im looking for. 1 product to apply to the pins and brake pad channels. I would never put actual antisieze on the brake components. But if I had brake lube and I put some on a caliper mounting bolt and torqued that bolt to spec. Would that be a problem? When I changed my rotors I had 1 mounting bolt that required the strength of Hercules even with an 18in breaker bar with one important difference. I had to apply that same herculean force for each and every thread of that bolt to remove and reinstall. there was a lot of squeaking. I thought that bolt was going to break. I was definitely sore the next day. Im not sure if it was rusty or if the bolt had been stretched by too many idiots with air tools. I thought maybe a little dab of brake lube wouldn't hurt in preventing such an arduous task in the future.

Whats that you say? Buy a new bolt? My concern is what if the threads on the caliper are messed up and only the (allegedly) stretched bolt fits?

 

[tvpierce]

I wouldn't put grease or anti-seize on the mounting bolts.

For reference, on European vehicles I've owned in the past, the bolts that came with new calipers had lock-tite pre-applied to the bolts.

 

[JRZEE2000TR4LTD]

Thats basically what Im looking for. 1 product to apply to the pins and brake pad channels. I would never put actual antisieze on the brake components. But if I had brake lube and I put some on a caliper mounting bolt and torqued that bolt to spec. Would that be a problem? When I changed my rotors I had 1 mounting bolt that required the strength of Hercules even with an 18in breaker bar with one important difference. I had to apply that same herculean force for each and every thread of that bolt to remove and reinstall. there was a lot of squeaking. I thought that bolt was going to break. I was definitely sore the next day. Im not sure if it was rusty or if the bolt had been stretched by too many idiots with air tools. I thought maybe a little dab of brake lube wouldn't hurt in preventing such an arduous task in the future.

Whats that you say? Buy a new bolt? My concern is what if the threads on the caliper are messed up and only the (allegedly) stretched bolt fits?

No need for any kind of lubricant on the pins. They are somewhat loose anyways especially where they go through the pads so there's no way movement will be inhibited. Furthermore, all it will do is attract dirt and brake dust and cake up.
Antiseize does somewhat change torque specs when you use it so you have to be careful. The reason those bolts get so locked in is because of heating and cooling causing contraction and expansion. I see it all the time on the equipment I work on. I can usually get the bolts off fairly easily with a 1/2" drive 18" ratchet and a 14mm socket.
Also, the bolts bolt into the spindle not the caliper, so if threads are messed up, they'll be in there.

 

[yoshoto]

"brake grease", is really brake rubber grease, or some type of rubber compatible grease. usually its a synthetic grease.

The rubber used in seals in the brake system can be degraded with regular lubricating greases.

Typically you will use brake grease during repair/assembly and rebuilding of brake parts such as: master cylinder, brake calipers, brake shoe pistons, sliding caliper pins where protected by a boot, also on the master & slave of hydraulic clutch systems etc.

For all metal to metal applications like caliper bolts, disk pad to caliper contact, pad to piston contact, pad to spring(brake hardware) contact, use a good quality moly based grease. Using brake grease here will work but not as good as the moly stuff.

Antiseize should be used where galling can occur, galling is micro welding of metals under heat and/or pressure, so anything on the exhaust system side that is a nut or bolt, go ahead and use antiseize. Do not use antiseize as a lubricant for rotating or sliding surfaces.

Stainless steel in high torque applications requires antiseize but this wouldn't be an issue in our vehicles unless you have changed out some hardware.

 

[stir_fry_boy]

Thats basically what Im looking for. 1 product to apply to the pins and brake pad channels. I would never put actual antisieze on the brake components. But if I had brake lube and I put some on a caliper mounting bolt and torqued that bolt to spec. Would that be a problem? When I changed my rotors I had 1 mounting bolt that required the strength of Hercules even with an 18in breaker bar with one important difference. I had to apply that same herculean force for each and every thread of that bolt to remove and reinstall. there was a lot of squeaking. I thought that bolt was going to break. I was definitely sore the next day. Im not sure if it was rusty or if the bolt had been stretched by too many idiots with air tools. I thought maybe a little dab of brake lube wouldn't hurt in preventing such an arduous task in the future.

Whats that you say? Buy a new bolt? My concern is what if the threads on the caliper are messed up and only the (allegedly) stretched bolt fits?

Clean up the bolts and put anti-seize on them. The best brake lube for me after 100s of brake jobs, is not brake calipers grease at all. It's Honda Super High Temp Urea Grease. It was designed by NASA for their rocket bearings. It lasts forever, and it will still be there when you do them again. Slider pins especially. The Honda techs use it. I use it for a lot of things instead of anti-seize. It's about $12 at the dealer. A little tub lasts me about 3 years.

 

[shahsmerdis]

if you have this question please refer to this video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yhw_d_EWrOQ

and this for a shorter slightly higher quality video version

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68zZbdFPTbA

 

[nevada]

As the title states, what kind of grease for the brake pins and pad channels (or guides, or whatever you want to call them) should I be using? I notice some products for the pads that say not to use on the pins. Is there a product that will work on both? Could I use some of the same grease on the caliper mounting bolt to act like an anti-seize?

Thanks, -Z

this is what we use at the shop.


https://www.amazon.com/CRC-Brake-Caliper-Synthetic-Grease/dp/B000M8IF1Q

for slider pins, and on the backs of the pads. or rather, the contact points on the caliper.

I suppose you could use it on the bolts, but I wouldn't. if they don't turn freely, clean the threads or replace them. then, if you must have something on there, use Loctite.

there are some OEM's that use Loctite on the mounting bolts, and some that don't. personally, I don't think its necessary, as long as they are torqued properly.

 

[rmlamp]

I just use high temp synthetic brake grease.