Suzuki V-Strom (VStrom) Owners Club DL250, DL650, DL1000 & DL1050

Oily Rag - Dedicated to Pat, Greywolf. 26/06/45 - 04/06/18 => Oil/Lubrication => Topic started by: Brockett on February 25, 2025, 21:03:47

Title: Lubrication for brake calipers
Post by: Brockett on February 25, 2025, 21:03:47
What's a good grease for brake caliper slide pins?
Title: Re: Lubrication for brake calipers
Post by: Rixington43 on February 25, 2025, 21:28:22
Red rubber grease has always been my go to on brakes.
Safe on rubber parts, good temperature resistance, often supplied with caliper rebuild kits so I take their word for it.
Title: Re: Lubrication for brake calipers
Post by: Froglodyte on February 25, 2025, 22:54:16
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254646859764?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=KjHjI6ASRi-&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=dMVtlzOqQmq&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
Title: Re: Lubrication for brake calipers
Post by: purplebikeunicorn on February 25, 2025, 23:27:46
I've got a silicone grease I use for slider pins inside boots like on the Gen 3. For metal on metal surfaces (for instance where the pads run) I use a high temp ceramic grease from Eurocarparts.

That K2 "Silicone" grease isn't listed as silicone anywhere else, the manufacturer doesn't even say silicone, just "synthetic", otherwise that seems like a decent buy.
Title: Re: Lubrication for brake calipers
Post by: nigel s on February 26, 2025, 04:57:28
I use this on sliders and pins, one sachet is enough for all three brakes.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/232360866347

Title: Re: Lubrication for brake calipers
Post by: Brockett on February 26, 2025, 12:38:55
 Thanks all for your responses.     -  Last year on the XJ600 I used a high temperature copper grease and this was nicely slippery. Since then the bike has never been out in the rain and the rubber boots and seals and pistons were new. Yesterday, having not used the bike for six months the front brakes were jammed on. After removing the calipers and cleaning everything I found the grease I used had turned into something like hard wax and the pins were reluctant to move.  A common problem unless they are stripped once or twice a year and why I hate two pot sliding calipers.
I looked at the product recommended by Mr Froglodyte but saw the postage from Latvia was over £9 so I opted for a cheaper free post version (because I am a cheapskate). I considered the small sachet options but having four bikes I opted for a larger alternative.
Title: Re: Lubrication for brake calipers
Post by: Ianmc on February 26, 2025, 14:21:43
   Do a search on EBay for K2 grease,just under £9 posted.
Title: Re: Lubrication for brake calipers
Post by: Froglodyte on February 26, 2025, 15:45:06
Sorry Brockett - I didn't notice the postage charges !
Title: Re: Lubrication for brake calipers
Post by: Brockett on February 27, 2025, 00:32:37
No worries Mr F . Your suggestion put me on the track of the same from a cheaper seller.
Title: Re: Lubrication for brake calipers
Post by: Lemonwizard on March 16, 2025, 20:05:20
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254646859764?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=KjHjI6ASRi-&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=dMVtlzOqQmq&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
I have used this exact one on my Glee front and rear for the past year and haven't had any problems.  :thumb:

Edit: it wasn't my first choice when I looked up products needed for servicing my calipers because I was unable to find out what kind of grease this is exactly. I still don't know to this day. But it does it's job well.
Title: Re: Lubrication for brake calipers
Post by: Ianmc on March 16, 2025, 21:33:58
  I was an apprentice at 15 yrs old (in 1961) in a garage that was a Girling and Lockheed brake specialists,I was taught to ONLY ever use red rubber grease on ANY brake or clutch master or slave cylinders.When I do my brakes,I remove the caliper,remove the  pads and pump out the pistons one at a time until I see it is a clean area.I then get an old thick shoe lace and make a loop and wrap it around one piston at a time,then using a good blast of brake cleaner use the lace backwards and forwards to get the piston clean,then finish off with another good blast of brake cleaner.After it is dry use another lace smeared in red rubber grease wrapped around once more and spread a decent layer of red grease ALL around the piston before pushing back in.If you do that every-time even if they look as if they are clean,you shouldn’t have any piston seizure problems ever.I use hi-temp lithium grease on the back of the pads when re-assembling.The K2 hi-temperature grease is only for external sliders and the backs of brake pads and not for any seal or protective rubber that comes into contact with brake fluid.NEVER use copper grease on anything to do with brakes,it has metal in it to stop seizures that will destroy your highly polished pistons and caliper bores and doesn’t like being exposed to the weather.
Title: Re: Lubrication for brake calipers
Post by: Brockett on March 17, 2025, 11:31:53
Top advice Ianmc. I like the bootlace cleaner and another for appling red rubber grease.