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REAR BRAKE CALIPER

Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2010 7:23 pm
by marco2002
Hi All

I'm going to clean up one of the rear brake calipers on my 406 hdi (ate type) the sliders are a bit seized move a bit but not as much as they should. Once ive cleaned it all up what type of grease do you use on the sliders themselves? I have an idea that its like a cv grease (lithium based) but i just wanted to double check. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks
Marco

Re: REAR BRAKE CALIPER

Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2010 7:36 pm
by teamster1975
I've always used copper slip on the sliders, I'm sure other peeps will chime in!

Re: REAR BRAKE CALIPER

Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2010 7:53 pm
by mjb
I use copper grease on brakes - it's designed for very high temperature use

Re: REAR BRAKE CALIPER

Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2010 8:04 pm
by steve_earwig
The white lithium grease does the trick if that's all you got but I think all of us will favour copper-based as that one can go on the pads without fear of ending up on the disk.

Re: REAR BRAKE CALIPER

Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2010 9:36 pm
by nigelw
in the garage we use copper slip or known on the tin as copper grease

Re: REAR BRAKE CALIPER

Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 12:23 pm
by marco2002
Thnks for the advice. One more thing. Whats the best thing to clean the sliders up with? I was thinking a bit of meths would be okay?

Thanks

Marco

Re: REAR BRAKE CALIPER

Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 5:52 pm
by teamster1975
marco2002 wrote:Thnks for the advice. One more thing. Whats the best thing to clean the sliders up with? I was thinking a bit of meths would be okay?

Thanks

Marco
Wire brush/wire wool and WD40 usually, depending on how scabby they are!

Re: REAR BRAKE CALIPER

Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 5:00 pm
by marco2002
I cleaned up the rear caliper and it wasn't sliding at all! Gave it a good clean with the wire brush and used copperslip on the sliders works a treat now. Quite happy with the result.

Only problem is after a week of driving about i've got a sqeeling noise on the back brakes only occurs when you put the car in reverse and back up a slight hill then put the brakes on. When i cleaned it all up i spun the discs a few times just to make sure the backplates weren't rubbing as usual and gave everything a really good clean up and used copperslip on backs of pads as usual......

Maybe i'll have to bite the bullet and take the pins & pads out and try re-positioning them. What a nuisance. Anyone else ever have anything like this before. If i didn't mention it already its a 406 hdi 110 GTX, discs and pads on the back....

Thanks
Marco

Re: REAR BRAKE CALIPER

Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 5:25 pm
by jasper5
Take out the pads and file a small chamfer on the edge of the pad material faces, then clean up the pad faces with some rough sandpaper.
Don't breathe in the dust from sanding.

Re: REAR BRAKE CALIPER

Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 6:35 pm
by marco2002
Thanks Jasper

I'll give that a go tommorow (weather permitting been raining here non stop all day....)

Marco

Re: REAR BRAKE CALIPER

Posted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 10:29 pm
by marco2002
Thanks for the advice Jasper. Did exactly what you said and the noise has gone!
One more question my the pads don't have any shims with them. Are they neccessary?
I'm thinking the garage may have removed them when the discs and pads were fitted.

Thanks Marco

Re: REAR BRAKE CALIPER

Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 12:04 pm
by jasper5
Glad you fixed the noise :D
Shims are not always fitted these days, many cars don't have them.

Re: REAR BRAKE CALIPER

Posted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 1:21 pm
by teamster1975
Nice tip there Jasper, thanks!
I've got an occasional squeak from the front brakes since I replaced the disks and pads, I'll do as you suggested!