CX-5 Brake Caliper pin lube question
- Thread starter jerrym
- Start date
- :
- 2019 CX-5 GTR
I might suggest a browse of the service manual
www.dropbox.com
and then this thread:
www.mazdas247.com
and this video (not a Mazda CX-5; but does a great job at showing the parts in general)
Dropbox
and then this thread:
Grease for brake caliper pin?
hi guys, what do you guys use for brake caliper pin to make sure it slides smoothly ? I found this online.... NAPA sil-glyde ? I want to make sure it doesn't cause rubber "swelling" but still also provide good lubrication my friend made the big mistake of using this in his caliper pins...
and this video (not a Mazda CX-5; but does a great job at showing the parts in general)
Chris_Top_Her
Contributor
- :
- San Antonio, Texas
- :
- '15 CX-5 Miata AWD
I just use syglide. Get yourself some brake parts cleaner and an abrasive cloth to remove the s*** that might be caked on it.
Digbicks1234
16.5 CX-5 Touring/2023 CX-9 Touring
So what you'll need is silicone grease/paste. I use the 3M one since it comes in a bottle with a brush and lasts a long time.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/ (commissions earned)
Before you even start, you'll need the right tools for the job and you'll need to put the car in emergency parking brake mode (EPB), especially for the rear brakes. You'll find it in the manual or in the forums for the steps.
Required Tools/Parts:
1. 3/8 or 1/2 breaker bar
2. A metric hex set
3. 3/8 or 1/2 Torque wrench
4. Silicone grease
5. Paper towels to wipe off any dirt or old grease off of the caliper slide pins
6. Brake caliper compressor since you'll be taking off the caliper and it'll need to be pushed back in so you'll definitely need a tool for that.
In addition, since you'll be lubricating the caliper slide pins, you might as well lubricate the brake pads also since the grease that was previously from the factory would've dried up already and you'll notice a significant increase in your pedal (smoother braking) after applying it. Get yourself some steel brushes to clean up the brake pad mounting hardware as well since there will definitely be a lot of gunk stuck inside of them.
Here's what I use:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/ (commissions earned)
Also, the rear brakes are much harder to access since you can't turn the steering wheel to make the pins stick out at a certain angle so you'll need to pretty much go behind it to see what you're doing. Just make sure you get good quality jack stands and a rubber pad that has a "slot/slit" adapter. Most jack stands do not have a "slot/slit" and the Mazda has pinch welds.
Last edited:
SuperLube and SilGlide are good with a 425 degree threshold. I still have a bottle myself. I highly recommend to switch to CRC Silaramic with a 3000 degree threhold. I got a bottle at Autozone.
Silicone Grease like above = lubing the caliper pins. Why? So calipers can move freely in and out squeezing and releasing pressure of pads unto rotors. Cause of issue = that grease is either too minimal or burnt off (hence why I recommend higher heat threshold). Why silicone? Because silicone is safe on rubber o-rings and other rubber parts on the pins. Other types of grease WILL wear out the rubber parts and cause them to expand.
Burping pins = air trapped will cause the pins to sort of seize up. Pinch the rubber grommet thingies on the caliper to help purge air when you manually slide pins in and out freely.
The "Other" grease = providing metal-to-metal lubing. Since the pads' metal sides and backing are constantly grinding and being pushed against other metal components they need high heat grease that won't run off, will stay put, and is thicker. If in doubt just stick to copper based grease.
Brake Cleaner = After all this lubing going on lol!!!....make sure to wipe off the rotor's surfaces using brake cleaner to remove grease. I like to also use it to clean calipers too
KY Lube = only for extreme backup purposes.
Silicone Grease like above = lubing the caliper pins. Why? So calipers can move freely in and out squeezing and releasing pressure of pads unto rotors. Cause of issue = that grease is either too minimal or burnt off (hence why I recommend higher heat threshold). Why silicone? Because silicone is safe on rubber o-rings and other rubber parts on the pins. Other types of grease WILL wear out the rubber parts and cause them to expand.
Burping pins = air trapped will cause the pins to sort of seize up. Pinch the rubber grommet thingies on the caliper to help purge air when you manually slide pins in and out freely.
The "Other" grease = providing metal-to-metal lubing. Since the pads' metal sides and backing are constantly grinding and being pushed against other metal components they need high heat grease that won't run off, will stay put, and is thicker. If in doubt just stick to copper based grease.
Brake Cleaner = After all this lubing going on lol!!!....make sure to wipe off the rotor's surfaces using brake cleaner to remove grease. I like to also use it to clean calipers too
KY Lube = only for extreme backup purposes.
Last edited:
- :
- Canada
I've heard it's also useful for divorce court, tax time, and the dealership service desk.
- :
- Plano, Texas, USA
I‘ve been using AGS Sil-Glyde brake lubricant for caliper pins. But why this Super Lube is food grade and meets USDA guidelines? Is it edible?the service manual says to use a rubber grease for the caliper slide pins and a different grease for the pads. I used this for the pins
- :
- 2018 CX-5 Sport
https://www.amazon.com/dp/ (commissions earned) doesn't appear to be silicone. The description says " A synthetic, dry-film, ceramic lubricant ".
https://www.amazon.com/dp/ (commissions earned)
CRC SILARAMIC is formulated with pure silicone and a blend of ceramic and proprietary lubricants, and contains the latest corrosion, extreme pressure and oxidation additives. It dramatically reduces brake noise, prevents disc brake squealing and chattering, and silences calipers. SILARAMIC has an extremely wide temperature range of -50 degrees F to over 3000 degrees F (-46 degrees C to +1649 degrees C) which makes it ideal for all types of brake materials, including ceramic brakes which operate at extremely high temperatures. It offers unsurpassed protection in both wet and dry conditions and will not melt or run off onto the friction pads or rotors.
Compatible with Brake System Rubber and Plastics, Including Nitrile
Its a high temp silicone grease (so safe for rubber) intended for ceramic brake pads. Why should you use this when using ceramic brake pads? Ceramic brake pads get really hot AND don't absorb that heat like metallic pads. Therefore that heat transfer to the rotors and other brake components........like the pins in calipers.
Plus it even says pure silicone on the bottle's top.
Sounds like an impressive product. I have a lifetime supply of brake job lubrication materials, but still may need to buy this next time.CRC SILARAMIC is formulated with pure silicone and a blend of ceramic and proprietary lubricants, and contains the latest corrosion, extreme pressure and oxidation additives. It dramatically reduces brake noise, prevents disc brake squealing and chattering, and silences calipers. SILARAMIC has an extremely wide temperature range of -50 degrees F to over 3000 degrees F (-46 degrees C to +1649 degrees C) which makes it ideal for all types of brake materials, including ceramic brakes which operate at extremely high temperatures. It offers unsurpassed protection in both wet and dry conditions and will not melt or run off onto the friction pads or rotors.
Compatible with Brake System Rubber and Plastics, Including Nitrile
Its a high temp silicone grease (so safe for rubber) intended for ceramic brake pads. Why should you use this when using ceramic brake pads? Ceramic brake pads get really hot AND don't absorb that heat like metallic pads. Therefore that heat transfer to the rotors and other brake components........like the pins in calipers.
Plus it even says pure silicone on the bottle's top.
But I object to the marketing on the tube. They shouldn't be able to say "Pure Silicone" unless the tube contains 100% silicone.
What is that supposed to mean. One of the ingredients is silicone and that silicone is unadulterated, until we add other stuff and blend and process it?
PURE NATURAL HONEY
HFCS Fortified Sweet Goodness
- :
- Plano, Texas, USA
CRC Silaramic brake grease should be a good product as a “rubber grease” for caliper pins / guides. I use Sil-Glyde like many others which should be similar to CRC Silaramic.
You can also get “Niglube RX-2” orange rubber grease or “Cosmo” pink rubber grease, and Molykote 7439 brown anti-rattle brake grease mentioned in Mazda workshop manual. Plenty of discussions here:
Strange Brake Pad Wear
Thanks for the suggestions. I started to comment on the name of one of those, but thought better of it. Definitely not from the US.
- :
- Plano, Texas, USA
Well click the link. “Niglube RX-2” orange rubber grease mentioned in Mazda manual is available in the US from eBay. It seems to be mentioned by many Subaru owners with Subaru part no. 003606000 and it’ll come with OEM brake pad kit like Honda but not from Mazda.
Molykote 7439 brown anti-rattle brake grease mentioned in Mazda manual is also available from eBay.
