Brake Grease - Latest

[Pickled Piper]

What's the latest thinking on brake grease? For decades I've used a copper based grease (similar to Copaslip) on the appropriate surfaces.

I understand the reason for using silicon grease on the slider pins and around the rubber parts. However, there are a whole range of new greases appearing on the market. Stuff like Brembo B Quiet.

What are the benefits of the new stuff?

Cheers

pp

[ARHarh]

I am old school, and I am still using the tub of copper grease I bought 30 odd years ago. And a small tub of silicon grease i have for 15 odd years.

[paintman]

Pickled Piper said:

What's the latest thinking on brake grease? For decades I've used a copper based grease (similar to Copaslip) on the appropriate surfaces.

I understand the reason for using silicon grease on the slider pins and around the rubber parts. However, there are a whole range of new greases appearing on the market. Stuff like Brembo B Quiet.

What are the benefits of the new stuff?

Cheers

pp

More money in the pockets of the manufacturer.

[Chris32345]

paintman said:

More money in the pockets of the manufacturer.

Some ceramic grease barely Costa more then a tub of copper grease

[5s Alive]

I've used this for years on pads slider pins, o-rings, exposed electrical contacts, bolt threads and others I've forgotten. Thick, tacky and clear it's incredibly persistent. A light smear on exposed bolt heads has lasted through long salty Scottish winters. Fantastic stuff.

[Pickled Piper]

Chris32345 said:

Some ceramic grease barely Costa more then a tub of copper grease

You are of course correct. However, some of us oldies purchased a big tub of copper grease back in the 80s and were hoping to stretch it out for another couple of decades

[ARHarh]

Pickled Piper said:

Chris32345 said:

Some ceramic grease barely Costa more then a tub of copper grease

You are of course correct. However, some of us oldies purchased a big tub of copper grease back in the 80s and were hoping to stretch it out for another couple of decades

That was me Still got at least 1/4 of the tub left.

[bern]

I've always used copper slip sparingly but one thing I read recently that did make sense was that copper is obviously conductive and with modern abs sensors and such becoming more and more sensitive it can cause issues.

I'm still using mine though until it runs out!

[ARHarh]

bern said:

I've always used copper slip sparingly but one thing I read recently that did make sense was that copper is obviously conductive and with modern abs sensors and such becoming more and more sensitive it can cause issues.

I'm still using mine though until it runs out!

Abs sensors are generally no where near brake pads, at least not on any cars i have worked on. And I can't be sure but I don't think they have have live electrical stuff that could be exposed to copper. Do they not work like hall effect sensors with magnets and stuff.

[GreenV8S]

bern said:

I've always used copper slip sparingly but one thing I read recently that did make sense was that copper is obviously conductive and with modern abs sensors and such becoming more and more sensitive it can cause issues.

I'm still using mine though until it runs out!

Any system that relied on a metal-to-metal sliding joint NOT conducting would obviously be causing all sorts of problems in any case.

Coppaslip isn't a great choice for a sliding bearing. It's intended as an anti-seize compound, not a lubricant.

[TwinKam]

Copper grease is dissed by the ceramic grease manufacturers, but as soon as they mention it affecting ABS they make idiots of themselves as of course copper isn't magnetic...
But horses for courses; copper 'grease' is an anti seize agent not a lubricant, be careful what you use in contact with any rubber component (generally red 'rubber' grease and silicone grease are OK), and use everything sparingly lest it flings onto places that it's not welcome.

[lemlem]

TwinKam said:

Copper grease is dissed by the ceramic grease manufacturers, but as soon as they mention it affecting ABS they make idiots of themselves as of course copper isn't magnetic...

Copper does have an effect on magnetic fields. Check out 'Lenz's law + copper' on youtube for some fun demos. I think it's a valid reason to avoid copper near ABS, but I'm not an expert in any way.

[GreenV8S]

lemlem said:

I think it's a valid reason to avoid copper near ABS

No, it has nothing to do with ABS. If ABS sensors were affected by the presence of conductive material then obviously the whole car would already be causing problems. What type of grease you need to use on caliper sliders has absolutely nothing to do with your ABS system.

[Tony1963]

lemlem said:

Copper does have an effect on magnetic fields. Check out 'Lenz's law + copper' on youtube for some fun demos. I think it's a valid reason to avoid copper near ABS, but I'm not an expert in any way.

I didn’t go to YouTube, but a believable source:

https://www.physics.wisc.edu/ingersollmuseum/exhib...

And it states:

“ The strength of the magnetic field depends on distance: the magnetic field is strongest near the magnet ends and weaker farther away. As the magnet enters the copper collar (you may think of the collar as a lot of coils stacked on top of each other) it induces currents in the copper”

Taking that literally, I can’t see where it says the copper would affect a sensor.

[Pickled Piper]

I did some more research on this. It appears that the ceramic grease is more environmentally friendly in terms of disposal.

I also watched a couple of YouTube videos starring Ed China. He is very much pro ceramic grease now. He has been working for the brake manufacturers so it's not a big surprise. However, I do recall him slapping on copious amounts of copper grease whenever he did a brake job in his old wheeler dealer days.