What Kind Of Grease Do You Use On Brake Caliper Pins? (Explained!)

Last Updated on December 28, 2022 by Leepu Da Maxim

You should use high-quality, high-temperature grease on brake caliper pins. You should use grease that is specifically designed for use on brake components. You can either use lithium-based grease, molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) grease, or polyurea grease on brake caliper pins.

Key Takeaways

• You should use grease that is compatible with the materials used in the brake caliper and pins
• You must follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for lubricating brake caliper pins
• If you don’t grease caliper pins regularly then the rotor and the brakes will not be able to make proper contact and you will get poor braking performance
• You should grease the caliper pins every 12,000 to 15,000 miles or as specified in the vehicle’s maintenance schedule

Best Greases For The Brake Caliper

	Mission Automotive – Marine Grease	Permatex Ultra Disc Brake Caliper Lube
Features	Thick consistency that is compatible with a wide temperature range Prevents contaminants from corrosion and oxidation	Provides the necessary lubrication throughout the life of the rotors and brake pads
Pros	The short and easy application can be used in a flexible and versatile way with functionality and excellent service life	Excellent cost-benefit ratio Prevents uneven wear and reduces vibration Prevents brake pads from sticking to the rotors
Cons	When using the brush, the user may encounter some inconveniences because the grease is too thick	The application is usually somewhat complex One application is required every 15,000 miles

Can I Use Lithium Grease On Brake Calipers?

Today, a lot of people have decided to use lithium grease in brake calipers. However, here you do not get the same functionality when it comes to the front or rear axle of the vehicle. In particular, you can use white lithium on the backplates and fittings of the drum brakes.

In particular, this is a very low-temperature grease that can be somewhat efficient. Also, it is important to consider that it is not a good choice for use in the front axle disc brakes of the vehicle.

Here, the heat resistance will not be the most adequate during operation. Beyond that, it is possible to decrease the vibrations between the caliper pistons and the disc brake pads. 

What Happens If You Don’t Grease Caliper Pins?

As it happens with other components and parts in the vehicle, the lack of lubrication can cause some problems. One of the most common problems is that the rotor and the brakes will not be able to make proper contact.

If this happens, then the brake pads will continue to be left in a very uneven manner. Over time this situation can bring even greater drawbacks.

On the other hand, some components could stick like the sliding pins. Here, the result of this is that the brake pads will wear out quickly due to the large accumulation of heat. This simply happens because the rotor and the brake pads will be in continuous contact. Of course, this dramatically decreases the life span of both the rotors and the brake pads. 

How Often Should You Grease Caliper Pins?

A large number of users do not properly maintain their vehicles. In particular, some of them forget that it is necessary to lubricate the brake caliper pins from time to time. Regular lubrication should be established approximately once a year or after every 15,000 miles. If you allow more time to pass before doing this, then a set of issues and faults could arise.

So, one of the most common problems is the uneven wear of the entire vehicle brake system. Also, the life span of various vehicle components could be significantly reduced.

Lack of lubrication will require a high budget to repair the various faults that occur. To avoid this, it is necessary to e brake grease that can withstand high temperatures. 

Can Vaseline Be Used As Grease?

As we have mentioned, the best functionality can be obtained by using vehicle brake grease. On the other hand, Vaseline could be efficient when we are talking about a bicycle or a related vehicle. In this case, the wear and functionality are not at such a high level compared to a large car or vehicle.

Also, it is possible to use Vaseline and obtain a time of use that is too short. Here, you will have to add Vaseline every short period, which is not very convenient. In the end, you will end up spending more money compared to brake grease.

Besides, it is not possible to obtain the maximum performance for the entire braking system of a vehicle. That’s why it’s best to avoid petroleum jelly and instead, use brake grease.

Can You Unseize A Caliper?

It is possible to perform this procedure here, and in fact, you only need the brake system and hydraulic pressure here. This is even really useful when you want to remove a caliper piston that has become stuck in some way.

Of course, you will also need some technical knowledge to be able to avoid beginner’s mistakes. If you do not have this knowledge it would be advisable to hire a professional. When you decide to do the job, you should follow the steps below:

1. First, You Must Remove the caliper from the disc and then continue pumping the brake pedal.

2. This Way You Will Be able to move the piston and remove it from the corroded part.

3. Once You Have Accomplished This Step, you can then disassemble the entire brake system and rebuild it.

4. Along With This, it is also an excellent opportunity to check the wear of the brake pads and rotors. In case of excessive wear, it is recommended to replace all these parts.

How Do You Tell If A Caliper Is Seized?

To know if a clamp is grasping, then you can pay attention to some common signs of this problem. One of the most common signs or examples is the uneven functionality of the vehicle’s brake system. Specifically, braking parts on only one side of the vehicle will do all the work of the entire brake system.

When this happens, then the functionality will feel too uneven between the two sides of the car. So, it is very easy to notice that the vehicle will continue to move asymmetrically.

Here, when you apply the brakes the car will be oriented to the left or right as you go. To fix the seizure of a brake caliper you will need to take a few simple steps.

What Can I Use Instead Of Brake Grease?

If you cannot use brake grease, there are other options or alternatives. One of them is to use silicone grease since it allows you to obtain a similar functionality. Here, you can use silicone grease for each of the components of the entire brake system. In particular, this lubricant can provide excellent use also as a preservative.

When dealing with a rubber or plastic surface, silicone provides excellent results. That is why you will be able to find this accessory in a large number of auto parts stores, or home improvement stores. Of course, if you have the right budget, it is always better to use brake grease. This way, you will be able to obtain the maximum functionality for your vehicle. 

What Happens If You Put Grease On Brake Pads?

One of the most common problems that happen to a lot of users is greasing the brake system incorrectly. In this sense, some users over-grease the brake pads which can cause some inconvenience. In particular, here the power or braking capacity of the vehicle may be reduced by a certain amount.

Also, this is not usually solved consistently, even after you use carburetor spray, or clean the entire area. Therefore, you should wait long enough for the grease to melt completely. Here, you will have to re-grease each component of the braking system. Therefore, it is an excellent opportunity to carry out greasing correctly. 

What Is The Grease That Comes With Brake Pads For?

One of the most common components included with brake pads is grease. In particular, this type of grease is manufactured from graphite to provide specific functionality. You can use this grease to prevent the brake system from squeaking. To do this you must apply this graphite-based grease on the brake pad clips that you must incorporate.

In this way, your vehicle will be able to have optimum functionality for much longer. At the same time, greasing the pads most appropriately allows you to obtain a much longer life. 

On the contrary, when the lubrication is not adequate, the wear of the different components is done much more quickly. Therefore, it is undoubtedly a procedure that you should not forget. 

What Can I Use Instead Of Lithium Grease?

Some users prefer to use other components instead of lithium grease. So, some experts recommend using marine grease to obtain the necessary lubrication for large loads. In particular, this type of grease provides high resistance to water in general. In turn, another common characteristic is that it is a much thicker grease compared to other types of grease.

Beyond that, the different metallic parts of a vehicle can more efficiently prevent rust. Of course, this is not the best option when we are talking about a vehicle’s brake system. Here, the most suitable grease is brake grease. Otherwise, the other types of grease will not be able to provide adequate resistance to high temperatures.

References:

https://www.autoguide.com/best-brake-caliper-greases

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=23&t=789999