Brake caliper pin lubricant

[Captain_John]

So, I was wondering what you use on your calipers to ensure good movement of the caliper on the pins.

My A&P IA friend says anti-seize. That sounds reasonable.

I have read the Cleveland Technicians guide and there is NO MENTION of lubricating these parts at all.

What's your take?

CJ

[Electrogunner]

I just installed a set of matcos on a -10, and again nothing in the install docs mention it. I?ll stay tuned. But a little anti seize couldn?t hurt.

[scard]

Originally Posted by Captain_John

So, I was wondering what you use on your calipers to ensure good movement of the caliper on the pins.

My A&P IA friend says anti-seize. That sounds reasonable.

I have read the Cleveland Technicians guide and there is NO MENTION of lubricating these parts at all.

What's your take?

CJ

dry moly lube

But general service history that I've seen seems to indicate it isn't really necessary.

[RV6_flyer]

Originally Posted by Captain_John

So, I was wondering what you use on your calipers to ensure good movement of the caliper on the pins.

My A&P IA friend says anti-seize. That sounds reasonable.

I have read the Cleveland Technicians guide and there is NO MENTION of lubricating these parts at all.

What's your take?

CJ

For the past 20+ years and over 3,300 operating hours, I have used the brake manufacturers recommended lubrication. Nothing. I just clean them off and put them together.

Any liquid, paste, or grease will just collect brake dust and prevent movement.

[Bob Martin]

My Take is I use lube.
Like Scott said, Dry Molly Lube...
or one of many "brake caliper greases" on the market at the auto parts store or Amazon. It is very similar to anti-seize. My thoughts are if you don't fly much or in nice enviroments and service (clean)your brakes annually, you might not need it. But if I have the assemblies off, which I do every year, I clean and re-lube very sparingly. Too much might attract unwanted debri to collect. You will not need much, if you buy a small tub, 1/2 pt. maybe, it will last two lifetimes. I have a small tub and I use a acid brush to apply it. After all, they do make the product, why not use it?

[DHeal]

I asked Matco's service rep and he said to just keep them clean and dry. In my experience, any form of lube is generally bad in that it attracts and holds dirt and grit leading to wear and sticking slider pins. I use silicone spray (dripped on, not sprayed) or dry graphite on my various aircraft and car slider pins.

[9GT]

Dry lubricant, if any, period. Unlike automotive pins which are weatherproofed in accordion style sleeves, ours are exposed and will collect dust and dirt like a magnet!

[ArlingtonRV]

I use the CRC Dry Graphite Lube spray from Aircraft Spruce (ACS P/N 09-02427).

[Red Mtn flyer]

Polish them [and the inside bore] lightly and leave them -- or apply powdered moly lightly with a cloth [you don't leave much behind, or need much]. You are generating grit with your brake pad right there -- ANY liquid/ carrier will attract and hold the grit, which turns your parts into a grinding machine.
The moly will impregnate the surface pores, so you'll build up a lubricating surface - but the real key is keeping them clean and smooth.

[F1Boss]

On the farm equipment, we use the dry lube so dirt does not collect as it would on greased parts. That product was also spec?d by Beech for the slide tubes on the landing gear in the 30s - I did not know that stuff was around that long.

Farm stores sell it in a spray too, with what smells like an acetone carrier that flashes off quickly.

Messy stuff tho!