Caliper/Brake assembly lube???

[crazy steve]

Does anybody know where you get the grease that's used for assembling pistons into calipers and master cylinders? The stuff I'm thinking of is red and I've gotten little 'tubes' of it with rebuild kits and found it inside of some newer calipers I've disassembled, but I haven't been able to find a local source.

I'm thinking this would be good to 'pack' into the o-ring grooves of the caliper bodies to prevent corrosion from coming back. It apparently doesn't dissolve in brake fluid, but is non-harmful to the brake system.

Anybody?

[CatatonicBug]

I was of the understanding that you should never use ANYTHING except clean brake fluid anywhere in the brake system. I've never had to "lube" it with anything else, and the calipers and pistons always just press in by hand.

[crazy steve]

'Bug, this 'grease' is specifically for brake systems. I first ran into it about 7-8 years ago when I got little tubes of it in some automotive caliper kits. I've since seen it inside of other calipers I've disassembled, so I'm figuring it was used at the factory. Harley furnishes it in their caliper rebuild kits, and I was told it's main use was to prevent corrosion behind the piston o-rings; it's use as a 'lube' is secondary.

Somebody makes this stuff, it's just figuring out who...

[natemoen]

Call a dealer and ask. They may know.

[CatatonicBug]

Maybe this is what you're looking for? I just did an ebay search for "Castrol red rubber grease".

I had never heard of it, but a search here led me to that link.

I assume it's different from the stuff they sell for the external moving brake parts here?

[crazy steve]

Call a dealer and ask. They may know.

Trust me, the morons you usually find at the Harley dealer don't know; I won't let those guys anywhere near my Sportsters...

And before everybody piles on Harley, I'll point out that when my '78 was new the dealer had absolutely zero clue as how to wire up my trailer wiring, and failed (in two attempts) to diagnose a broken pick-up wire.

Dealers of any stripe are a last resort for me....

[natemoen]

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/WIL-290-11087

I don't mean talk to a tech, a parts manager should know, and not just Harley even a car dealer parts manager.

[crazy steve]

Maybe this is what you're looking for? I just did an ebay search for "Castrol red rubber grease".

Yep, that sure looks like it; right color and consistancy. I wonder why it's 'Not Available to United States'? Now that I have a maker, I'll see if I can find a supplier...

Thanks!

[cywelchjr]

Well, there is this one.

Or this one.

Those are the two I could find that I am almost sure are the same stuff.

[crazy steve]

Thanks Cy! I sent a question to the 'Penrose' seller to see if that's the same stuff, we'll see what comes back...

[fredintoon]

Does anybody know where you get the grease that's used for assembling pistons into calipers and master cylinders? - - -

Hi Steve,
the purplish-red stuff? When I worked in a hydraulics shop we used that stuff to lubricate o-rings and seals on assembly.
Try your local hydraulic equipment repair shop.
They'll either sell you a tube of it or give you a part-used one if you ask nicely.

[ManagerMike]

I know exactly the stuff you're talking about. It comes in small, horse-pill size packets which are cut open with a knife or side cutters and are packaged with automotive wheel cylinder or master cylinder rebuild kits.

Last I saw these things available separately was in a wheel cylinder cup selector assortment box behind the counter of a napa store. The packets were in one of the compartments in the tray.

I'll try to remember to make a phone call tomorrow and se if they are still available and maybe get a part number.

[je2wheeler]

Castrol red rubber grease

I have a small screw top tub of the Castrol red rubber grease that has been banging around in my toolbox for years, this has lasted me for at least a dozen rebuilds and enough left over for plenty more.
I had an experance with a friend of a friend years ago concerning a Harley dealer, was '75 I think when a riding duddy told me a story about a '71 Harley 350 Sprint that the local Harley dealer had for 6 months tring to resolve a no 3rd gear issue. The dealer went belley up and told his friend to pick up his 350. He got it in several boxes with the rolling frame. I took a look at it and found a sheared woodruff key on a trans shaft. Replaced the key and we pieced it togather in one afternoon. Ran and shifted fine. One happy camper. Can't remember if it was just a dealership that Harley pulled the plug on or if sales were off due to the AMF boondoggle. Do remember they copped an attitude if you rode up on anything other than a Harley.

[Elevener]

I have used sil-glyde availiable at napa with no problem, but for others opinion read here http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=52957.0

[crazy steve]

Sil-glyde is for use at various moving points (brake shoes to backing plates, caliper pins, etc) and isn't the same stuff. The guy selling the Penrite is sending me a sample, and I'm pretty sure that's what I'm looking for.