Couple of brake questions...

Petroleum grease should never be used anywhere that it can come in contact with any kind of rubber brake parts, regardless of maker. I use silicone grease inside the rubber disk brake boots. No other lubrication should be necessary.

I'm not sure what is meant by "brake grease." If it says something like "safe for use on rubber brake parts" then I'd consider using it, otherwise I wouldn't.

I find it rather simple to hone the cylinders right on the car. Then wipe them clean, clean the seals and boots, lube with silicone grease and reinstall.

You can use regular grease (or a good antiseize) on the adjusters (sparingly, so it doesn't get on the drums or shoes. I also smear a tiny bit on each of the three raised lumps on the backing plate where the edges of the shoes rub.

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----------------------------------------------- Jim Adney snipped-for-privacy@vwtype3.org Madison, WI 53711 USA

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Brake Grease is sold in tubes that say "Brake Grease" on them, at least out here. It is safe to use on rubber parts. I bet you can figure out what it was designed for ;)

Jan

These are brand new loaded calipers...I ought not need grease inside the seals, need I? There should be some in there from the factory, yeah?

When I said brake grease, I meant this:

for rubber supposedly, says its got teflon, moly, and graphite in it.Picked it up at Kragen when I was getting some brake fluid (NAPA wasn't open), thinking I was going to use it on the pins or at least the adjusters for the drums. I'd read somewhere to use it on the pins and on the backs of the pads to prevent vibration and/or squeaking. Seemed like a good idea, so long as nothing got on the contact area of the pad nor the rotors, but if not, then not.

Good idea, I like it. Any old brake cylinder hone oughtta work, right? A hone one would get at NAPA shouldn't be too big, should it? It looks as if it would fit.

I like that idea about the raised spots on the backing plate, makes more good sense.

Thanks a million Jim, you really know your stuff.

-Kevin

Right, just install them as they came to you.

That URL just got me a generic page, so I didn't get to see what you were after. What product number were you inquiring on?

Those things are all find in ANY brake application, but we still don't know enough to be sure about the rubber parts.

You just have to be sure that the hone will go down to the size of the bores in your cylinders. The hones will have sizes stated on them when you buy them.

Good stuff, straight out of the VW manuals.

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----------------------------------------------- Jim Adney snipped-for-privacy@vwtype3.org Madison, WI 53711 USA

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The problem with this is that there are 2 different kinds of applications for lubricants in brakes.

There are:

Brake pplications that are in contact with rubber brake parts, and there are brake applications which are metal to metal away from any rubber.

Both are places where "brake grease" might be useful.

I was only commenting that I wouldn't be comfortable unless I got some clue from the vendor about which application this particular grease would be suitable for. In general, the same greases are NOT suitable for both.

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----------------------------------------------- Jim Adney snipped-for-privacy@vwtype3.org Madison, WI 53711 USA

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Sorry about that, I ought to check my links before I post them. Frustrates me when coders don't make their URL's reflect the site the viewer is at, and it's simple to do. Product No. 05352 On the site they state it is "Synthetic Brake Caliper Grease" although on my package it says "Synthetic Brake & Caliper Grease." The site states for usage in disc brake systems, although my package states "all disc, drum, and ABS systems," if it matters.

I think I may make a phone call to them to clear the matter up, considering they designed the product.

Thanks so much Jim!

-Kevin

When you finally get to the complete description, it says "plastic & rubber safe", but down below, under Plastic Safe it says "not determined." Seems odd, but nevertheless it looks like it should be fine.

They probably had nothing to do with developing the product. They probably just market it.

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----------------------------------------------- Jim Adney snipped-for-privacy@vwtype3.org Madison, WI 53711 USA

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