You already understand the importance of brakes in a vehicle. The caliper is a part of the brake system of a vehicle. The caliper pins hold the brake calipers well aligned. If the system isn’t well aligned, it will skid to a side each time you apply the brake. And for the caliper to keep functioning properly, it must be properly lubricated with the right grease.
Yea, you can. The best type of grease for caliper pins is waterproof silicone-based grease. Water intrusion will not affect it and it will keep the pins sliding with the joints getting damaged. You might want to get the pins greased either once a year or every 15,000 miles. It all depends on how often you use the vehicle.
If the pins or other parts of the brake system are not properly lubricated, your brakes can be misaligned and they will begin to generate frictional heat. This will fasten the rate of wear and tear, shortening the lifespan of your brake system.
In a severe case, it may reduce the effectiveness of the brake. You don’t want to have your vehicle come to a halt several meters away from the spot where you applied the brakes.
What Kind of Grease Do You Use on Brake Caliper Pins?
The best type of grease for brake caliper pins is the waterproof silicone-based grease. It has a very high melting point, so it does not melt easily. Also, it is thick enough to prevent wear and tear for a long time. Another quality of the grease is its high adhesion level. It stays in place for a long time.
In addition, extremely low temperature does not affect its performance. Most importantly, it is resistant to the intrusion of water. This is because the caliper is often exposed to water. If water finds its way into the caliper, it won’t have much effect on the caliper pins if they are covered in waterproof silicone-based grease.
How Often Should You Grease Caliper Pins?
You really don’t have to wait until your calipers begin to show some signs of no-grease before you think of greasing the pins. It is better to grease them as a preventive measure. So, whether you use your vehicle frequently or you hardly use it, try to grease the caliper pins at least once a year.
In the alternative, you can grease it every 12 – 15 thousand miles. If you wait until you begin to hear funny sounds before greasing the pins, the pins may already have worn out. As such, you’ll shorten their lifespan.
How Do You Grease Caliper Pins? 14 Easy Steps
Greasing your caliper pins is a task that requires a lot of patience. So, don’t do it in a rush. Secondly, take note of the positions of every component that you remove. If you fit any component wrongly, it can have costly consequences.
Step 1 – Gently remove the wheels. This will give you easier and better access to the calipers.
Step 2 – Take the time to remove the caliper bracket gently. After removing it, don’t let it hang on the brake line. This may strain the brake line. Instead, tie it to another part of the system.
Step 3 – Hold the rubber boot in place and remove each of the slide pins one at a time.
Step 4 – Remove the rubber boot as well.
Step 5 – Inspect the slide pin for wear or damage. If there’s any, you need to replace the pin. Also, inspect the rubber boot for tear or damage. If any, replace the rubber boot immediately.
Step 6 – Wipe the old grease off the slide pins. It is not a good idea to mix different types of grease together. Their additives may cause a bad reaction and reduce their efficacy. This is why you must wipe off the old grease first, except if you’re sure that the grease you want to apply is the same as the old grease.
Step 7 – For the same reason, clean the old grease off the boot and the interior of the caliper bore. To carry out the latter, wrap a piece of cloth around a screwdriver and insert it into the bore. Turn it around in the bore. This will help to clean off the old grease effectively.
Step 8 – Apply the new grease to the body of the slide pin. Spread the grease around with your finger.
Step 9 – After that, you can insert the greased pin into the bore of the caliper and turn it around to distribute the grease evenly before removing the pin.
Step 10 – Insert the rubber boot into the bore.
Step 11 – Slide the pin into the rubber boot.
Step 12 – Repeat all the processes on the second slide pin.
Step 13 – Now, you can couple the caliper back in the reverse order of their disassembly.
Step 14 – Re-install the wheels, and you’re done.
What Happens If You Don’t Grease Caliper Pins?
The brakes will become misaligned. And this will generate excessive frictional heat, leading to quick wear and tear. In the end, the lifespan of your calipers and the entire brake system will be shortened.
Is Silicone Grease Good for Caliper Pins?
Yes. This is because the grease is resistant to water. Remember, the calipers are often exposed to moisture. Also, the grease has a high melting point. That means excessive heat has little impact on it.
On the flip side, it is resistant to extremely low temperatures as well. The grease is thick enough to prevent wear and tear. And finally, its high adhesion properties will make it stay in place for a long time. This is why it will keep the pins sliding without damaging the joints.
Final Words
Here are the main takeaways from this piece. The best type of grease for caliper pins is the waterproof silicone-based grease. And it should be applied to the caliper pins every 12 – 15 thousand miles or at least once a year.