ducatipaso.org

I use PBR rubber grease " specially formulated for use in automotive braking systems ", You should be able to get it or something similar at an Automotive brake repair/reconditioning outfit

ducinthebay wrote:
This guy is pretty good actually, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDfNb_9YkcI

What assembly lube are any of you using? I was searching trying to find an appropriate lube, but could only find brake fluid as an appropriate lube. I know normal grease is a bad thing and will swell the seals, and render them useless, as will most cleaning agents, except for Brake Cleaner.

Cheers, Phil

Hi Phil.

Had a look at the Youtube video (parts 1 and 2). It is very good. It sort of makes sense to use just brake fluid when reassembling?

Found this lube at a local Autoshop.

http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/online ... 3948#Cross

Can't say if its any good or not? Been checking into the Brembo repair kits. They all come with a sachet of lube. Bevel Heaven have the sachet as a separate item.

Cheers.

Nick.

Thanks for the tips.
Yeah, I have always just used brake fluid for re-assembly in the past. But McTool's recommendation caught me off guard a bit.

Mc tool wrote:I use PBR

In the states, PBR is short for Pabst Blue Ribbon, a long standing beer brand common with the working man.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pabst_Blue_Ribbon. While cheap beer is used for many things, an assembly lube for brakes isn't one I would have picked, but would quite well expect from McTool.

But I might drink a PBR while doing my brakes.

Cheers, Phil

I use dedicated ATE breaking-grease for a long time now, and completely happy with it.
the one I use is transparant and looks a bit like jelly-butter and comes in a blue tube.
it should be widely available as ATE is a known brand for car braking systems.

Bertus

As far as assembly lube goes brake fluid is probly OK if you assemble immediately and seal off the system , but being hydroscopic brake fluid aint great if you were cleaning and reassembling with a view to long term storage ( mothballing spare parts ) as it will absorb moisture and cause corrosion.
I just did a google on PBR and guess what? Pbr brakes were fitted to the Z06 corvette and are still standard equipment on Chev , Ford , Dogge , cadilac Chrysler , Toyota, Nissan, Renault and Fiat , manufactured in Knoxville , Colombia and Detroit Plants , Not surprized you havn't heard of it Phil , are you sure that was cheap American beer you were drinking and not brake fluid , I mean I could understand not being able to tell the difference

Watched the video's,bought the kit,installed it all yesterday. All appears ok. The calipers were filthy,so they have been cleaned with brake cleaner,cotton buds for the tricky places and an old toothbrush for the really thick crap. I checked the first seal,and tried to pick the high side by eye and feel. No luck,but put it in and it felt like it should (high side to the back). Put the next one in slightly,and it felt the same. Turned it around,and it felt the same?

So,have I done it wrong and got the seals in backwards? I even got a vernier out to see if it could measure the difference. It couldn't. Last thing I want to do is sail into a corner and find the brakes are just there as show pieces. Is there a definite way to determine if they are in correctly? Something like smooth and easy to get the piston in,and firm and tight to get it out again,they are in correctly. Vice Versa if they are in backwards.

The other one, is should the pistons have gone in with a little brake fluid in the bore,so when the piston is pushed to the bottom,all the air is expelled? I'm having a bit of a problem getting the brakes to bleed correctly.

Cheers.

Nick.

Can't help you there, Nick.
I removed and cleaned out one of the calipers and seals, but also had difficulty with the bleeding (thing ).
I can't tell whether there is a 'right way round' for the seals either.
Anyone?

p.s. Work has stopped on my bike anyway, due to too many other commitments. Maybe next year .

Projectman wrote:Can't help you there, Nick.
I removed and cleaned out one of the calipers and seals, but also had difficulty with the bleeding (thing ).
I can't tell whether there is a 'right way round' for the seals either.
Anyone?

p.s. Work has stopped on my bike anyway, due to too many other commitments. Maybe next year .

I think I have it nutted out, though its probably more luck than planning?

I gave up on trying to bleed the brakes after pouring in about 250ml of brake fluid and getting nothing. Came back the next morning, and the reservoir was down about half way. I topped it up, and squeezed the brake lever, and there was a little bit of brake pressure. I'm going with the idea of gravity has worked miracles overnight, and the brake fluid has slowly leeched down to the bottom of the caliper, and the air in the system has moved up.

As to which way round they go? I removed one of the calipers last night, and found the inside 30mm piston at the back of the caliper (as mounted) was coming all the way out, while the others were coming out about half way, and no further. They would get so far, and just move back and forwards with lever pressure. What I think I have done is put those 3 seals in backwards, and the 30mm that comes all the way out is correct. I disassembled the caliper, and there wasn't any air in the caliper that I could see. Not much else I can do at the moment, as I am committed to other things now. I should get back to it in about a month if I am lucky?

I hear you about leaving the bike until next year! B1 took its first deep breath in about 2 months on the weekend. Started very nicely, warmed up and sounded magnificent. Once the front brakes are finished, I have a list as long as your arm of "more" stuff to do.

Cheers.

Nick.