silicone paste vs silicone grease for caliper slide pins

[JIM B]

There are tons of info on the internet about what lubricant to use on brake caliper slide pins. Being I’ve been in the appliance industry for 46 years(retired) ,silicone paste (food grade for refrigeration )has been the preferred choice for lubricating metal/rubber mechanisms, o rings etc. ETCG uses 3m silicone paste as his choice. I’m not sure if silicone grease has the same properties as the paste,but if someone knows if there is a difference,what that would be. Naturally, brake parts need higher temp lubes than appliances, but I have used the same silicone paste with success on caliper slide pins.

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[Richard Kirshy]

3M(TM) Silicone Paste Clear
100% silicone lubricant
Safe for use on all the rubber and plastic parts of your vehicle
Can be applied in a thick film for long term performance in severe conditions
Also applies as a thin film for near-invisible protection

Use 3M™ Silicone Paste for the many areas of your vehicle that require long-term protection from the harsh conditions of environmental exposure. This non-hardening, water-resistant paste can be applied heavily to help seal out contaminants and weather. It can also be spread thin for nearly invisible lubrication and protection.

3M™ Silicone Paste
Safe for use on all the rubber and plastic parts of your vehicle
A Multiple-Purpose Auto Lubricant and Protectant
3M™ Silicone Paste is a non-hardening, water resistant, 100% silicone-based compound designed to lubricate and protect a broad range of surfaces and surface combinations. This compound is suitable and safe for use on the plastic-to-plastic, plastic-to-metal, plastic-to-rubber, rubber-to-rubber, and rubber-to-metal areas throughout your vehicle. It both conditions the rubber to keep it soft and supple and protects it from damage due to wear & tear and environmental exposure. It has excellent dielectric properties, meaning it insulates rather than conducts — use it under your hood to protect battery terminals, ignition systems and other low voltage electrical parts where arcing can cause oxidation or corrosion.

Apply this paste thick to help seal out moisture, contaminates and other environmental elements or spread it thin for a nearly invisible coating that will provide lubrication and protection. A brush is permanently attached to the top of the container to make applying 3M™ Silicone Paste more convenient.

Recommended Applications
Weatherstrip seals: doors, trunks, hatches, sun-roofs, etc.
Can help eliminate squeaks in instrument panels and from other trim panels.
Excellent for lubricating the threads of fasteners that screw into plastic: dash panels, interior parts, trim parts, headlight bezels, taillight lenses, license plates, grills and fog lamps
Lubricate tight fitting plastic & rubber parts during re-assembly: hoses, O-rings, rubber grommets, chassis & steering bushings, etc.
Dielectric grease for electronic equipment, ignition systems, and electrical terminals.
Spark plug wire terminals
Bulb bases: Tail lights, turn lights, marker lights, stop lights, convenience lights, trailer lights
Brakes: caliper guide pins, outer caliper seals, outer wheel cylinder seals
Seat tracks, window tracks and window regulator mechanisms

Silicone grease:
Silicone grease is commonly used for lubricating and preserving rubber parts, such as O-rings. Additionally, silicone grease does not swell or soften the rubber, which can be a problem with hydrocarbon based greases. It functions well as a corrosion-inhibitor and lubricant for purposes that require a thicker lubricant.

Thermal grease often consists of a silicone grease base, along with added thermally conductive fillers. It is used for heat transfer abilities, rather than friction reduction.

Special versions of silicone grease are also used widely by the plumbing industry in faucets and seals, as well as dental equipment. These special versions are formulated using components not known to be an ingestion hazard. Electrical utilities use silicone grease to lubricate separable elbows on lines which must endure high temperatures. Silicone greases generally have an operating temperature range of approximately −40 to 200 °C (−40 to 392 °F) with some high-temperature versions extending that range slightly.

There is also a specific brake parts version:
Permatex 24125 Ceramic Extreme Brake Parts Lubricant
This 100% synthetic lubricant contains real ceramic solids for extreme performance under the most critical braking conditions. A purple, environmentally friendly, non-melting formula, this premium lubricant is our longest lasting, most temperature resistant way to silence brake noise such as squealing and chattering; also effective in preventing long bolt and sleeve seizing and galling. Excellent on rolling and sliding surfaces operating in wet or dry conditions from -65°F to 2800°F (-54°C to 1538°C). This product assures that critical brake parts remain lubricated throughout brake pad life. Resistant to corrosion and contaminants, it will not wash out. It is compatible with internal/external brake rubber and plastic hardware, including ethylene-propylene rubber.

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