Brake caliper rebuild questions
 

The factory service manual says you need to use an orange color grease and a red color grease when rebuilding brake calipers. My rebuild kits did not include any grease...any idea what type of grease they are and what I can use?

Also, I tore one of the boots protecting the caliper pins (like the one on the left end of the caliper in the attachment). any ideas where I can get one, or how I can MacGyver something?

This is on an '85 GS.

Thanks,
Rich

I think you got ripped off. Probably bought it at AZ or something. Mine didnt have grease either though lol. I bought mine at AZ btw. If you need any parts from it, let me know and I will give it to you. I didnt really need it.

Nah, I got mine at Advance Auto Parts. I shouldn't need anything except the grease, unless I hose something up putting them back together. lol

Red grease is synthetic, IIIRC.

I found a box of the rubber mufugga's in a box a while ago. Let me know if you can't figure something out and I'll see if I can re-find it (I have too much RX-7 shit...) and send you one.

I tore one on one of my racecars not long ago. I think they were designed for longevity... as long as you aren't taking them on and off a lot like on a racecar. Oh, well.

Thanks, Chris...I might take you up on that offer!

Rich

On the brake caliper rebuild kits, most kits only come with one type of grease. The Mazda FSM reads that you should be using 2 types because back in 1984/85, they wanted to specify that you use a grease on the rubber O-ring that wouldn't cause the rubber to break down and degrade over time.

The grease that goes between the caliper piston and the cylinder wall, this needs to be non-soluble in brake fluid so that it seals the piston to the inside band and prevents brake fluid from seeping past. The second type of grease is synthetic grease that goes between the brake cylinder seal and the dust boot. This grease will not react with the rubber and cause it to break down, which would result in the rubber boot tearing and allowing dirt/grit to get in and destroy the inner seal, thereby causing your brake caliper to leak and fail.

With the greases provided in today's rebuild kits, you only need to use that same type of grease on both locations and feel comfortable that you're doing it right. Just keep a clean work area, take your time, and your rebuild should be fine. HTH,

Thanks for the great info, longduck...I appreciate it. Since my kits didn't come with any grease, what should I use? Will the parts store guy know what I'm talking about if I ask him?

Well, he should if he knows what he's doing. I would recommend a pretty thick wheel bearing/axle grease that is synthetic in nature.

Some of the organic greases will cause problems with rubber parts, and should be avoided. Don't let him fool you into thinking that 'Brake Quiet' grease is the right thing - because it's not.

You're looking for 'Brake Caliper Piston Grease'. Accept no substitutes...

OK...thanks!

Hey - I picked up some caliper grease at Advance Auto Parts today...man that's some thick stuff! And it's blue!

Thanks again.

Caution - caliper grease is designed to lube the slider pins that mount the calipers; not the piston seals and dust boots.

Get the right stuff for the job,

Hey LongDuck nice ride, those wheels 17 inch diablos? I Have the same wheels on my seven, check out my ride sometime and let me know what you think.http://www.cardomain.com/id/topgunm2k

Well, this stuff is called "brake caliper grease". It's synthetic, and is thick like wheel bearing grease. In a previous post you said "I would recommend a pretty thick wheel bearing/axle grease that is synthetic in nature". Does it sound like this stuff will work? I haven't mounted them yet, so it would be easy enough to take them apart and start over if I have to.

Thanks,
Rich

the only grease i've ever used on calipers is on the slide pins. no kit i've used had grease in it. anywho, good luck with ur rebuild.

good news! I ruined one of the caliper rebuild kits and ordered another one. I got this one from RockAuto.com and it's a Wagner kit. It included the two rubber boots for the caliper pins as well as the grease. Also, the dust boot fit much better.

Rich

Thanks for the site. That is a great looking rebuild kit and they have our NGK plugs for 5.21 each.

Yea, it looks like they have a lot of stuff. I just wish they had pictures. That's the one thing I like about PartsAmerica.com...they have pictures of most of the parts.