Silicone Paste and Brake Seals

[CoolasIce2]

I’ve searched for an answer but couldn’t find one.
Can the silicone paste Eric has talked about be used right on the rubber caliper and wheel cylinder seals? I want to use a thick lube on some new parts that will be stored for a while as well as parts in use. I want to put some on the part of the caliper piston that is past the piston seal, but under the dust boot, and on the wheel cylinder walls under the dust boot.
Why do I want to do such things? Because those areas can dry out and rust.
Thanks.

Topic

[Tri9SS]

I woud check on using silicone spray, just make sure it is safe for the rubber parts, if you go with spray dont use WD-40 because the solvents in it will attack rubber parts. Lets see what others may have used for rubber parts protection.

[TexasCoder]

Yes, you can use the silicone paste. In fact, he repaired a honda window channel, and lubed it with the silicone paste. Just make sure that you do not get any on the brake disc or pads. The only think I would not use the paste on is the metal portions of the brakes. You want to use an anti-sieze lubricant, I believe eric uses a 3M copper based anti-sieze compount on metal to metal parts.

I use the same silicone paste to lube the caliper piston where it seals against the rubber, and also on the slide pins for the caliper.

[CoolasIce2]

[quote]Quoted From TexasCoder:

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I use the same silicone paste to lube the caliper piston where it seals against the rubber, and also on the slide pins for the caliper.

OK Thanks for the reply. For the slide pins I would use a special lube made just for that. The silicone may not last as long as the special brake grease.
Something like http://www.ryderfleetproducts.com/ryder/af/ryder/core/content/product/srm/key/BST%2049590/pn/Brake-Caliper-Lubricant-8oz-Brush/erm/productDetail.do

[CoolasIce2]

OK Thanks. I think it would be good practice to apply some to the caliper piston and wheel cylinder, as long as it doesn’t affect the rubber. The reason I’m interested is that I had a disc caliper seize on my car. It got tighter and tighter so much I had to drive at 1/2 throttle to barely move. I measured the disc temp with an IR gun and the rotor was over 600 degrees! The standard practice that we all do of squeezing the caliper piston back into its hole when we change pads may work, unless the rubber piston boot isn’t intact. Mine had few tears in it which allowed moisture to rust the piston enough so when it was pushed back, the rust now was under the seal and caused the caliper to become stuck.I removed the piston and cleaned it with crocus cloth, and reinstalled it with new dust boots. I’ll get some of the Silicone paste and apply it to the piston. I like the idea of the thick paste.!

[EricTheCarGuy]

You can use the paste for that but if you put it on the outside of the seals you might find that when you use it again a lot of dirt will collect on the places where you put the paste, for the exterior you might consider using silicone spray rather than paste as that will soak into the rubber and not collect dust later on.

[Author]

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