1 Topic by jimbo_se-r (edited by jimbo_se-r 2016-05-25 10:19 AM)

  • From: Round Rock, Tx
  • Registered: 2010-12-06
  • Posts: 688

Topic: Red rubber grease, caliper pins

It seems that no auto parts store sells this, and what I've found as substitutes I'm not happy with.  What I'm dealing with is a Nissan brake caliper, one of the caliper pins goes into a rubber sheath that is the entire length of the pin, and sealed at the bottom so no air gets in.  The Nissan caliper rebuild kit for this one comes with a special packet of red grease, the FSM simply refers to this as rubber grease.  The grease is not only safe for use on rubber parts (won't cause them to swell over time, which would be bad for the caliper pins), but also lubricates well (very good for caliper pins).

I've been using Sil-Glyde on most caliper pins with good success, it's safe for rubber parts and lubricates well on metal-metal surfaces.  But on the metal-rubber surface, it seems a bit too sticky, it takes a good bit of force to move the pin in and out of the rubber tube.

I just tried some Permatex Ceramic brake grease (the purple stuff) and it seemed to slide a bit better, but I'm still not terribly happy with the amount of force needed to move the caliper pin in and out.

Nissan only sells this (when you can find it) in a 16oz jar for about $40, the description is PBC Grease (Poly Butyl Cuprysil).  And unfortunately I have none so I can't easily compare how well this stuff glides compared to the two other greases I've just tried recently, so I don't know if the factory stuff would work better at this point or not.

Here is a pic of the rubber tube the caliper pin goes into:
http://i40.tinypic.com/2055lzm.jpg


Anyone else run into this, and know of some off the shelf product that works well with metal-rubber surfaces?  The last thing I want is a dragging caliper pin.

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  • Registered: 2011-10-14
  • Posts: 4,167

Re: Red rubber grease, caliper pins

When I need a high performance, hard to find, weird application lube or sealant, I check out the Yamalube and Yamabond lines.

https://www.shopyamaha.com/yamalube-pro … lernumber=

  • gunn
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  • From: SF, CA
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Re: Red rubber grease, caliper pins

These internet nerds say that a commercial trade-name for PBC is "Copaslip"
http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1286428184
http://forum.landrovernet.com/showthrea … 84f1ec2a26

OTOH, this claims that the PBC stuff is specificlaly made by Fuchs uses organicmetallo compounds instead of copper...
http://www.saving-old-seagulls.co.uk/ph … php?t=1685



Either way, not that expensive
https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/produ … ?RecID=293
http://www.ebay.com/itm/18g-Fuchs-Renol … xyu~lSTrTO

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  • Registered: 2009-06-10
  • Posts: 558

Re: Red rubber grease, caliper pins

jimbo_se-r wrote:

<snip>

I've been using Sil-Glyde on most caliper pins with good success, it's safe for rubber parts and lubricates well on metal-metal surfaces.  But on the metal-rubber surface, it seems a bit too sticky, it takes a good bit of force to move the pin in and out of the rubber tube.

<snip>

I'd imagine that sticky=good for something that should adhere to parts that could get wet - and, while, being heated to a billion degrees during a race, not turn all runny.

(That said, if anyone has any idea why calipers don't keep the pads against the rotors _every time_, let me know.  I don't entirely buy the 'caliper seals slightly retract the pistons when released' answer I've seen around.)

On my street car I just used a bit of silicone dielectric grease that I had handy, and it seemed OK, although I know I didn't take the pads up to the point of fading.

5 Reply by Team Infinniti (edited by Team Infinniti 2016-05-26 08:23 AM)

  • From: WPB Fl.
  • Registered: 2010-10-27
  • Posts: 1,571

Re: Red rubber grease, caliper pins

"being heated to a billion degrees during a race, not turn all runny."

Perhaps it is nice and slidey @ temperature?

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  • From: Gilbertsville, PA
  • Registered: 2009-12-22
  • Posts: 3,251

Re: Red rubber grease, caliper pins

also found on ebay 100g tube, 16.99 w/ free shipping

http://www.ebay.com/itm/321311298488

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  • bshorey
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Re: Red rubber grease, caliper pins

I use this stuff on sliding caliper pins:

https://www.grainger.com/product/1YHR2? … 26183251:s

Can't say how well it works on race applications, as our race car has proper dual piston calipers wink

It does mention o rings, so presumably it's safe to use with rubber.  It seems to have the consistency of Never Seize.

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  • Registered: 2009-08-28
  • Posts: 606

Re: Red rubber grease, caliper pins

We use the AC Delco caliper grease, comes in a toothpaste tube its VERY thick and sticky....but...when it gets hot its perfect, the calipers slide like butter and the stuff never gives up.   

Think of it like a better version of sli glide.

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  • Registered: 2014-06-01
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Re: Red rubber grease, caliper pins

You can also clean the pins with some carb cleaner and remove a few microns with some 400 grit sandpaper before reassembly.

  • From: Hayward, CA
  • Registered: 2010-03-23
  • Posts: 1,762

Re: Red rubber grease, caliper pins

1. You are moving the caliper by hand and it seems stiff. But when you step on the brakes you are applying hundreds/thousands of pounds of force, so its going to move? Yes?, yes.
2. The caliper doesn't move very much each time you step on the brakes. It should be centered if your piston(s) are moving freely in the caliper and the pads only move a few mm.
3. I would really be worried about the sloppy-ness of the caliper on the pins, vs the stickiness of the grease. Misalignment of the caliper when you are applying thousands of pounds of force will cause more problems than a slowly moving caliper (slow moving for whom?).
4. I pre-treat my rubber parts with STP Son of a Gun, which is a silicone. It seems to make them last much longer. It seems to keep these boots (yes Nissan brake system) from getting effected by the grease. I use basic Moly high temp brake grease on by brake systems.

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  • From: Rockville, MD
  • Registered: 2010-12-15
  • Posts: 1,154

Re: Red rubber grease, caliper pins

We use ordinary caliper grease, including rubber-in-metal pins. Never had a problem.

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  • From: Port Huron, MI
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Re: Red rubber grease, caliper pins

My saturn has that same type. 

After fighting with them on personal cars and on the race car, my team and I opted to remove them.  We clipped the rubber boot and epoxied it in place.  Luckily for us the guide pin for the other side is the same size hole so the those bolts work.

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