Here's what dug up. It may already have beenGroup III is represented on the market by the following materials:
Molykote AS-880N Grease;
Permatex Ultra Disc Brake Caliper Lube;
SLIPKOTE 220-R Silicone Disc Brake Caliper Grease and Noise Suppressor;
SLIPKOTE 927 Disc Brake Caliper Grease.
SLIPKOTE 220-R Silicone Disc Brake Caliper Grease and Noise Suppressor is a full synthetic silicone grease. Color transparent white. There is no drop point. Operating temperature range from minus 46° to plus 288°C. This special grease is used to lubricate the caliper of not only cars, but also trucks and buses.
SLIPKOTE 927 Disc Brake Caliper Grease is a lubricant based on synthetic oil and synthetic thickener. Contains submicron particles of molybdenum disulphide, polytetrafluoroethylene and graphite. Color grey. There is no drop point. Operating temperature range from minus 30° to plus 1100 °С.
Permatex Ultra Disk Brake Caliper Lube is 100% synthetic lubricant, but not silicone oil based. Green color. There is no drop point. Operating temperature range from minus 40° to plus 204°C.
Molykote AS-880N Grease is a silicone oil based grease, silica gel thickener, contains solid lubricant additives. Black color. Dropping point +260 °С. Operating temperature range from minus 40° to plus 204°C. Produced by the manufacturer in 20 kg buckets. Retail available with pre-order through some auto parts stores under the brand name of the car manufacturer. For example, "Subaru-Outback" part #26298AC000 (out of production), new catalog number K0777-YA010.
All four greases are made in the USA.In the Primorsky and Khabarovsk Territories of the Russian Federation, NICHIMOLY DB-200 caliper lubricant was spotted on sale, the manufacturer is the Japanese corporation DAIZO. Unfortunately, nothing can be said about the composition and properties of this lubricant due to the lack of information in English on the manufacturer's website. In addition to the content of molybdenum disulfide (MOLY) in it, which follows from the name of the lubricant. It is sold in large containers, which is not very convenient for the average consumer.
And what do manufacturers of disc brake calipers recommend for their products? Global OEM manufacturers of automotive and motorcycle brake systems, such as TRW Automotive, Cardone, Remsa America, Delphi and others, recommend silicone, high-temperature lubricants for disc brake caliper maintenance. And from this review, the conclusion is that special group III lubricants are the best choice for the average car owner, because due to their high temperature properties they are applicable on brackets, reverse metal surfaces of brake pads, anti-squeak plates, pistons, bolts, pins, bushings and elastomeric oil seals, those. on all lubricated disc brake caliper parts.
Konstantin GUNIN
Magazine "Consumer" - "Avtodela"Full article
In brake mechanisms, it is permissible to use only lubricants that meet the stringent requirements of the car manufacturer. This is due to the fact that the composition is subjected to high thermal stress and the effects of salts, water and brake fluid. In this case, the lubricants must not react with plastic parts and elastomeric seals.
What is brake lubricant for?
The result of applying brake lubricant depends on the application area. Coating the guides in the wells of the caliper brackets leads to increased smoothness, reduced wear, reduced risk of jamming and scoring.
There are tools that help eliminate high-frequency squeaks. They allow you to reduce extraneous noise during braking. Anti-creak pastes also protect against corrosion.
To facilitate disassembly, compositions from sticking parts are used. They have a copper or nickel base and have anti-creak properties.
Lubricating the seating surfaces makes it easier to assemble the calipers. At the same time, the use of special tools to simplify the installation of pistons in cylinders helps to reduce the risk of corrosion.
Lubricant Requirements
The lubricant must meet the following requirements:
- do not freeze at low ambient temperatures;
- be inert to water and brake fluid;
- have a high operating temperature (150-180°C);
- do not enter into a chemical reaction with parts of the brake mechanism, do not cause deformation of the anthers;
- dropping point should be absent or be as high as possible;
- show chemical resistance to aggressive substances;
- do not leak or melt during the entire service life;
- have anti-corrosion properties;
- do not let the contact surfaces stick;
- do not wash for a long time.
Many brake mechanisms use rubber, which is based on a copolymer of ethylene, propylene and a diene monomer. Rubber is highly sensitive to the quality of the lubricant.
When choosing a composition, you should be guided by the recommendations of the automaker.
What to lubricate when replacing brake pads
When replacing front or rear brake pads, apply lubricant to the caliper guides. This will protect them from souring, deformation, corrosion, and also reduce mechanical wear. If the car has an ATE brake system with open guides, it is strictly forbidden to apply special equipment.
To reduce high-frequency sound, apply a thin layer of paste between the plate and the non-working side of the pad. It is recommended to cover the ends of the consumable with special equipment. This prevents the pad from rubbing against the caliper. It is forbidden to use shoe lubricant for guides - rubber anthers will swell. The tightness will be lost, moisture will get inside, the process of corrosion will begin.
Grease when replacing brake pads is also applied to the plates holding them. It allows you to reduce the volume of extraneous sounds and protects against rust. It is worth applying the paste not only on the staples, but also on the seats.
For reliable operation of disc brakes, it is recommended to lubricate the piston. This will allow him to move freely inside the cylinder. It is important that the composition does not react with the brake fluid. In more detail, the effect of TJ on lubrication is discussed in the video:
It is not necessary to remove the piston to apply the product. The risk of cuff rupture is high, therefore, when servicing the assembly, it is important to balance the risk of damage to the anther and the need to change the lubricant on the piston. In the absence of proper skills, it is better to contact a car service.
Handle fasteners with special tools. Then it will be easier to disassemble the mechanism. To prevent spontaneous loosening or damage to the thread, it is necessary to control the tightening torque using a torque wrench.
If the replacement of the pads involves the installation of a new disc, the surface under it should be covered with an anti-stick agent. Copper grease in aerosol cans will do. The spray jet must be directed carefully so that the liquid does not fall on rubber or plastic surfaces.
How to lubricate the caliper
Means for calipers are made mainly on a copper or ceramic basis. The composition may include mineral, semi-synthetic and synthetic oils.
Molykote Cu-7439 Plus
Molykote Cu-7439 Plus is made from fine copper powder. The paste can be used with calipers of auto giants Land Rover, Honda, Subaru, Nissan. Molykote Cu-7439 has many advantages - the video tells about them:
MS-1600
MS-1600 is the best domestic paste. It has a wide operating temperature range - from -50°C to 1000°C. MS-1600 does not react chemically with DOT 3, DOT 4, DOT 5.1 TA. Interacts with DOT 5.0.
XADO VeryLube
XADO VeryLube - green spray with article XB40019. It needs to be applied in layers. Leave each coat on until it dries completely. The standard capacity of 320 ml is enough to process all the calipers on the car.
SLIPKOTE 220-R DBC
SLIPKOTE 220-R DBC, based on synthetic purified oil, has the best anti-wear and antioxidant properties. It is applied with brake mechanisms of many new cars. In retail, SLIPKOTE 220-R DBC can be found in Toyota packaging with article number 0888780609.
How to apply
Cover the guides with a thin layer. A small amount of the substance must be placed in the well on the bracket. After assembly, check the rubber boot.
Before proceeding with the installation of the pads, you need to apply the paste between the anti-squeak plate and the non-working side. For even distribution, it is recommended to carry out several strips, which are then flattened under pressure.
The reliability of the brake system of the machine depends on the choice of lubricant and the method of its application. Therefore, you need to carefully approach the choice of means and not use unsuitable lubricants - even if they are much cheaper.
It is logical that the brake caliper of a modern car is an important element of the mechanism, on which the safety of your movement directly depends. He has to work in super-heavy conditions, because the block can heat up to 500-600 ° C, in addition, this part is constantly exposed to moisture, salts, and even the brake fluid itself. This situation requires careful and thoughtful selection of a special lubricant and its correct application.
Lubricant Requirements
In summary, the following requirements apply to brake caliper lubrication suitable for efficient operation in difficult operating conditions:
- preservation of properties at high temperature conditions (up to +180 ° C and even higher);
- maintaining the desired consistency with strong heating, excluding the transition to the melting stage, so that there are no leaks;
- poor solubility in brake and other fluids;
- compatibility with caliper parts and seals.
Lubricants
According to the application on specific parts of the caliper, lubricants are divided into the following groups:
- High temperature extreme pressure pastes. They are used on staples, metal surfaces of pads, as well as on anti-creak plates. High-temperature pastes, in turn, traditionally vary in the composition of fillers:
- complex (additives of copper, aluminum and others);
- copper (copper powder and graphite);
- with the addition of molybdenum disulfide;
- filled with magnesium silicate and ceramics.
- Lubricants for other parts of the caliper. These are the edges of pistons, seals, bolts, bushings and pins. It should be noted that standard silicone-based lubricants for rubber, plastics and other materials are not applicable for these purposes.
Lubrication of brake calipers and guides
So, consider a list of all the elements that need lubrication:
![](https://i1.wp.com/avtodoc24.ru/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/smazka_pri_zamene_tormoznyx_kolodok_3.jpg)
When you service or change brake calipers, it is necessary to lubricate their contacting and rubbing surfaces: guides (fingers), piston of the working cylinder, clamping brackets. You can read about this in the manual of any car. Yes, and purely logically, this is understandable to any motorist. But if you do it wrong or use lubricants that are unsuitable for these purposes, then you can only do harm by rendering the components of the caliper unusable.
In order to understand how to properly lubricate all elements of the caliper, as well as how to do it, you need to understand the following questions:
- Under what conditions does the caliper work.
- What requirements should the lubricant chosen for it meet.
Operating conditions
Calipers work in very difficult conditions, one of which, first of all, is high temperature. When driving on alpine serpentines, aggressive driving style, or under heavy and frequent braking, the temperature of the brake pad can reach 600°C.
Also, brake pads are affected by dirt, water, reagents that are sprinkled on winter roads. And when the piston sealing rings in the cylinder are worn, brake fluid enters. Therefore, for a clear and uninterrupted operation of these elements of the brake system, appropriate special lubricants must also be used. You can not lubricate them with graphite paste, nigrol, lithol, because these lubricants simply cannot withstand such working conditions.
Not only do these lubricants dissolve, wash out and coke, they can adversely affect anthers. This can easily lead to jamming of the pistons of the working cylinders, guides (fingers), failure of the brake system and the most terrible consequences.
What should be the grease for calipers
To choose the right lubricant for fingers (guides), pistons in caliper cylinders and other elements, you need to focus on the requirements described below:
- The lubricant must be non-corrosive to rubber, elastomer and plastic parts.
- It must remain resistant to brake fluid, water and other aggressive substances that can dissolve and wash it out.
- The grease must be high temperature and withstand temperatures of 180°C or more. It should not melt under increased thermal loads and should not flow out.
- Also, it must be frost-resistant and not lose its properties at sub-zero temperatures, which can reach -35 ° C and below.
Therefore, do not listen to garage craftsmen who say that you can use lithol and other similar lubricants to lubricate calipers. This can threaten not only breakdowns of this unit, but also more serious losses, for example, in an accident.
What are lubricants
Caliper lubricants can be broken down into several different types, each of which has several lubricants that correspond in their characteristics to the operating conditions of various elements of the disc brake caliper.
Synthetic or mineral pastes with added metals
In the first group, it is worth considering high-temperature lubricating pastes with anti-seize (Anti-Seize) properties. These lubricants contain full or semi-synthetic, as well as mineral bases. With the addition of synthetic thickeners, submicron particles of metals such as molybdenum or copper. Instead of metals, solid lubricant substances can be used that work successfully at supertemperature values.
This group includes:
- Complex lubricating paste products.
- Pastes that do not contain metals.
- Lubricants containing copper or molybdenum disulphide.
They can be used to cover anti-squeak plates, pressure springs, the back of the pads.
These are pastes of such brands as Huskey, Loctite, Wurth, LIQUI MOLY, Textar, Mannol Kupfer, Valvoline Cooper, Motip Koperspray, Bosch SUPERFIT.
Mineral oil based pastes
The second group includes synthetic lubricating pastes based on mineral oil with the addition of a bentonite thickener, containing fatty acids and metal particles. Their distinguishing feature is the absence of a dropping point with an operating range of -45°C to +180°C. Excellent for lubricating guides (pins) of brake calipers. Here are a few of these pastes from different manufacturers: ATE Plastilube, Loctite Plastilube, Molykote.
Synthetic oil pastes
The third group includes lubricating pastes designed for all moving elements of the disc brake caliper: piston in the cylinder, guides, etc. They are compatible with most rubber-based materials, elastomers and plastics. They are based on highly refined synthetic oils with the addition of a stable thickener and additives with wear-resistant, antioxidant and anti-corrosion properties.
Such lubricants do not dissolve in water, brake fluid, acids and alkalis; do not evaporate well, and also have a high dielectric strength. These lubricants are produced by brands: Molykote, Permatex, SLIPKOTE.
Domestic producers, in this segment, marked themselves with pasta MS-1600.
It can be seen from the description that the lubricating pastes of the third group are the best choice, because it is not in vain that many machine manufacturers recommend them.
What and where to lubricate
When replacing or servicing a brake caliper, you need to understand which of its elements requires lubrication, and how to properly lubricate it:
- If a creak occurs, it is necessary to lubricate the anti-creak plates on both sides, avoiding the part facing the piston of the working cylinder.
- Also, the pressure springs of the pads should not be forgotten. Yes, and the pads themselves can be lubricated from all sides, excluding the friction layer.
- In order for the piston to move freely in the cylinder, its entire surface must be treated with an appropriate lubricating paste. But do not overdo it so that excess grease does not fall out of the piston boot.
- We also carefully coat the caliper guides so that they move freely. It is also important not to overdo it here so that the lubricant from the guides does not get on the friction layer of the pads.
All parts of the machine that operate with a significant coefficient of friction, at high temperatures and in an aggressive environment, without the use of lubricants, will not work for a long time. This postulate largely applies to the work of the caliper. So, lubricate this element of disc brakes correctly and with the appropriate lubricant. This will save you nerves and help you avoid many unpleasant moments.
A situation arises when many listen to the advice of various kinds of "specialists" who recommend the use of standard lubricants such as nigrol, Litol-24 or "graphite" (graphite grease based on grease, operable up to +65 ° C) to lubricate the caliper.
Let's just say that this is absolutely impossible to do!
What can and should be used to lubricate the brake caliper guides?
It's no secret that the disc brake caliper of a modern car is a rather complex and responsible assembly made of high-tech materials, on which traffic safety and, as a result, life depend.
Disc brakes work in the toughest conditions of high temperatures. The temperature in the disc-pad friction pair can reach 500 °C and even 600 °C, and on the surface of other parts of the caliper due to heat removal and dissipation - up to 150 °C and higher. In a real road situation, it is quite difficult to achieve such temperatures, but in conditions of aggressive driving or driving along a mountain serpentine, such values are quite real. In addition, caliper parts are exposed to water and salt from the roadway, as well as brake fluid from the brake system. Such extra-heavy caliper operating conditions require the use of special lubricants in it, designed for extreme operating conditions. Conventional common lubricants under such operating conditions coke, wash out with water, dissolve with brake fluid and often adversely affect the elastomeric and plastic parts of the caliper, which can lead to failure of the brake system while driving.
Requirements for lubricating brake calipers.
Speaking in scientific language, then, based on such operating conditions, we can formulate the basic requirements for lubricating a disc brake caliper:
1) the lubricant must be high-temperature, with a working temperature of up to +180 ° C and above;
2) it is desirable that the lubricant does not have a drop point, i.e. did not melt and did not flow out of the assembly at high temperatures;
3) the lubricant must be insoluble in water and brake fluid, i.e. water and chemical resistant;
4) The lubricant must be compatible with plastic parts and elastomeric caliper seals, especially ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber (EPDM) and ethylene propylene terpolymer (EPT) commonly used in disc brake calipers.
In fairness, these lubricants are not manufactured by well-known major oil and grease manufacturers, and if they are in their range, they are produced by specialized manufacturers of specialty lubricants under the trademarks of major oil and grease manufacturers. It is also very common to produce caliper lubricants under the trademarks of brake system manufacturers and car manufacturers. The main manufacturers of special lubricants - suppliers of car assembly plants and manufacturers of automotive components abroad are the following companies:
Dow Corning Corp., a trademark of Molykote;
Kluber Lubricarion Munchen KG, a trademark of Kluber;
HUSK-ITT Corp. (HUSKEY Specialty Lubricants). It also includes SPECIALTY LUBRICANTS Corporation. Trademarks HUSKEY and SLIPKOTE.
Lubricants
So, let's go directly to lubricants. Special lubricants for disc brake calipers can be divided into three groups for use on caliper parts.
I group. High temperature extreme pressure pastes (Anti-Seize compounds). Used on calipers, reverse metal surfaces of brake pads and anti-squeak plates.
II group. Lubricants for other parts of the caliper. Namely piston edges, bolts, pins, bushings and elastomeric seals. Often referred to as Rubber Grease in car manuals. We note right away that conventional silicone lubricants for rubber and plastic are NOT APPLICABLE for these parts for the reasons indicated above!
III group. Universal caliper lubricants - for all moving parts of the brake caliper, incl. for plastic and elastomer.
And what do manufacturers of disc brake calipers recommend for their products? Global OEM manufacturers of automotive and motorcycle brake systems, such as TRW Automotive, Cardone, Remsa America, Delphi and others, recommend silicone, high-temperature lubricants for disc brake caliper maintenance. And from this review, the conclusion is that special group III lubricants are the best choice for the average car owner, because due to their high temperature properties they are applicable on brackets, reverse metal surfaces of brake pads, anti-squeak plates, pistons, bolts, pins, bushings and elastomeric oil seals, those. on all lubricated disc brake caliper parts.
Group III is represented on the market by the following materials:
Molykote AS-880N Grease;
Permatex Ultra Disc Brake Caliper Lube;
SLIPKOTE 220-R Silicone Disc Brake Caliper Grease and Noise Suppressor;
SLIPKOTE 927 Disc Brake Caliper Grease.
SLIPKOTE 220-R Silicone Disc Brake Caliper Grease and Noise Suppressor is a full synthetic silicone grease. Color transparent white. There is no drop point. Operating temperature range from minus 46° to plus 288°C. This special grease is used to lubricate the caliper of not only cars, but also trucks and buses.
SLIPKOTE 927 Disc Brake Caliper Grease is a lubricant based on synthetic oil and synthetic thickener. Contains submicron particles of molybdenum disulphide, polytetrafluoroethylene and graphite. Color grey. There is no drop point. Operating temperature range from minus 30° to plus 1100 °С.
Permatex Ultra Disk Brake Caliper Lube is 100% synthetic lubricant, but not silicone oil based. Green color. There is no drop point. Operating temperature range from minus 40° to plus 204°C.
Molykote AS-880N Grease is a silicone oil based grease, silica gel thickener, contains solid lubricant additives. Black color. Dropping point +260 °С. Operating temperature range from minus 40° to plus 204°C. Produced by the manufacturer in 20 kg buckets. Retail available with pre-order through some auto parts stores under the brand name of the car manufacturer. For example, "Subaru-Outback" part number K0777-YA010.