Lithium grease / Castrol red rubber grease - SV650.org

DarrenSV650S · 17-01-10, 03:21 PM

Is lithium grease the same as red rubber grease?

I've got a big tub of it and I'm wondering if it's ok to use on brake seals?

the_lone_wolf · 17-01-10, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarrenSV650S

Is lithium grease the same as red rubber grease?

No

Don't know if you can use lithium based grease on rubber though...

Dave20046 · 17-01-10, 03:25 PM

No you can't.
Get some rubber grease, I got a mega pot of it off ebay for about £6 IIRC you can get little tubs/tubes for less.

yorkie_chris · 17-01-10, 03:40 PM

No it's not the same. Lithium grease is oil based, rubber grease is vegetable based so it's safe on rubber.

DarrenSV650S · 17-01-10, 03:51 PM

Ok cheers. I'll get some rubber grease.

punyXpress · 17-01-10, 07:44 PM

Lithium grease will rot any rubber, so don't use it where rubber is involved.

Dave20046 · 17-01-10, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by punyXpress

Lithium grease will rot any rubber, so don't use it where rubber is involved.

I heard a good 20% of mechanic's kids are born this way.

embee · 17-01-10, 08:29 PM

Not quite true, there's rubber and there's rubber, just like "plastic" and "metal".

"Rubbers" that don't like mineral oils include things like natural rubber (latex), EPDM, polyurethanes etc

Those used for oil seals, O-rings etc are things like fluorocarbon ("Viton"), nitrile (NBR), silicone is reasonably OK. There are others with greater or lesser tolerance. Fuels are another matter.

Easy to find tables of materials and tolerance to different substances, the wonders of t'internet and all.

I'm not sure what brake seals are made of, but they don't like mineral oils as said, in this case red rubber grease is your stuff.

fastdruid · 17-01-10, 10:10 PM

Halfrods sell it, IIRC 5quid for a massive pot (I bought one years ago and barely touched it).

Druid

johnnyrod · 20-01-10, 09:08 PM

TBH I've never used grease on the brake pistons, just lube them with fluid, push them in, and wipe off the excess. Can't say it need cleaning up that often, eveyr 2-3 years I guess, only ever done tha back once (since 1999) but I think it could do with another look soon, new pads on the way anyway.

17-01-10, 03:21 PM	#1
DarrenSV650S Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Dundee Posts: 4,404	Lithium grease / Castrol red rubber grease Is lithium grease the same as red rubber grease? I've got a big tub of it and I'm wondering if it's ok to use on brake seals?

17-01-10, 03:25 PM	#3
Dave20046 Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Sheffield Posts: 10,274	Re: Lithium grease / Castrol red rubber grease No you can't. Get some rubber grease, I got a mega pot of it off ebay for about £6 IIRC you can get little tubs/tubes for less. __________________

17-01-10, 03:40 PM	#4
yorkie_chris Noisy Git Mega Poster Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Halifax/Leeds Posts: 26,645	Re: Lithium grease / Castrol red rubber grease No it's not the same. Lithium grease is oil based, rubber grease is vegetable based so it's safe on rubber. __________________ Currently Ex Biker Now rebuilding a 63' fishing trawler as a dive boat

17-01-10, 03:51 PM	#5
DarrenSV650S Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Dundee Posts: 4,404	Re: Lithium grease / Castrol red rubber grease Ok cheers. I'll get some rubber grease.

17-01-10, 07:44 PM	#6
punyXpress Member Mega Poster Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Riding, North Posts: 2,664	Re: Lithium grease / Castrol red rubber grease Lithium grease will rot any rubber, so don't use it where rubber is involved. __________________ Was: K2 naked in rapid yellow - gone to a better? place Now: Street Triple R

17-01-10, 08:29 PM	#8
embee Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Warwickshire Posts: 2,801	Re: Lithium grease / Castrol red rubber grease Not quite true, there's rubber and there's rubber, just like "plastic" and "metal". "Rubbers" that don't like mineral oils include things like natural rubber (latex), EPDM, polyurethanes etc Those used for oil seals, O-rings etc are things like fluorocarbon ("Viton"), nitrile (NBR), silicone is reasonably OK. There are others with greater or lesser tolerance. Fuels are another matter. Easy to find tables of materials and tolerance to different substances, the wonders of t'internet and all. I'm not sure what brake seals are made of, but they don't like mineral oils as said, in this case red rubber grease is your stuff. __________________ "Artificial Intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"

17-01-10, 10:10 PM	#9
fastdruid Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: W Mids Posts: 2,037	Re: Lithium grease / Castrol red rubber grease Halfrods sell it, IIRC 5quid for a massive pot (I bought one years ago and barely touched it). Druid __________________ '00 SV700S - '94 RVF400R - '97 RVF400R - '88 VFR750F

20-01-10, 09:08 PM	#10
johnnyrod Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Doncaster, oop norf Posts: 2,122	Re: Lithium grease / Castrol red rubber grease TBH I've never used grease on the brake pistons, just lube them with fluid, push them in, and wipe off the excess. Can't say it need cleaning up that often, eveyr 2-3 years I guess, only ever done tha back once (since 1999) but I think it could do with another look soon, new pads on the way anyway.

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