Rubber grease - use it or not?

[johnnyrod]

The other "rubber grease" thread got me thinking... do you use it on your calipers or not?

I've never used it ever, and as far as I know, it hasn't made any difference to how often I've had to strip and clean the brake calipers of mine or other peoples' bikes. I've always used some brake fluid to get the pistons back in then wiped off any left on the outside. Other people will swear blind that if you don't put rubber grease on they'll seize up at the first sniff of salt. My only experience of it was having to sort out two bikes' front brakes (GSXR600 and 750, both SRADs) which had been serviced by the same dealer, and both had grease on them. Both had a problem of excess lever travel which seemed to be due to the pistons getting sucked back in to the calipers too far. Cleaning the grease off fixed it but that might be coincidental.

So, what do you reckon? Is it essential, nice to have, or worse than useless? I've seen to many brakes in my time but I'm never too old to learn something better.

[_Stretchie_]

I've never heard of it until these recent threads.

So what's the idea, do you give the piston a coating before popping it back in?

[embee]

I always use a small paintbrush to coat the exposed part of the pistons and dust seal with RRG after cleaning, seems to keep corrosion at bay for me (but I don't do winters).

[TSM]

you knoww the white crystals you see around the rubber bits, thats dried brake fluid

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by TSM

you knoww the white crystals you see around the rubber bits, thats dried brake fluid

+1

I always use the grease. Fact you are using brake fluid as well is probably why they still seize!

Out of interest - would you guys use red rubber grease on fork seals?

[Spanner Man]

Good morning all.


I've used red rubber lube, & a product known as 'Never Seez' on caliper pistons for around 30 years, & never had a problem. My mates 900 Yamaha did well over 200k miles without needing a caliper rebuild-It works!

I wouldn't recommend using any old copper based anti seize on caliper pistons however. Some on the market are just too 'greasy' & possibly wouldn't have a high enough melting point.

Originally Posted by lukemillar

Out of interest - would you guys use red rubber grease on fork seals?

I've never used rubber lube when assembling forks, as I prefer to use a thin layer of grease on the inside of the slider where the upper bush & the seal go, & then use fork oil or engine oil on the outside of the bush & new seal.
However, I would think that rubber lube would be fine.


Cheers.

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by lukemillar

Out of interest - would you guys use red rubber grease on fork seals?

Silicon grease.

But TBH normal grease would work there, they must be safe with oil as many fork oils are mineral based.


I actually tried silicon grease on brakes, and it is too slippy to work right, had problems with the pistons moving back too far.

[johnnyrod]

Thanks guys - maybe silicone was used on the gixxers that had that problem. To back up Spannerman's point about other lubes - don't do it, some of them might attack the seals. Might give it a go then.

i too have never used red lube on any callaper rebuilds iv'e done but they are all cars so could be they are better protected and don't suffer as much as bikes.

thanks for starting this thread cos i was thinking about this too.