copper grease on brakes yes or no?

Discussion in 'Technical Help' started by crispey, Aug 10, 2015.

  1. crispey

    crispey crispey creme de la creme

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    sorry it should read near brakes
    I
    have a brake pad change coming up and in my internet searches I came across this! Now in the old days I used to splash it all over but now they say no, and if no what does everyone use to lube the pins etc?
     
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  2. thebiglad

    thebiglad Old fart, still riding !

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    WellI would always use it on the back of pads and on the pins. Some argue that it will attract muck but I haven't found that - but there again I have the bike in bits regular so things get and keep clean.
     
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  3. Recycled Rocker

    Recycled Rocker Senior Member

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    Wow nearly lost the will to live reading that lot. Like everything else in life, moderation, moderation,moderation, I use it on pins and anything with threads where there is corrosion especially between dissimilar metals. I wouldn't use it anywhere near brake fluid/pistons.
     
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  4. crispey

    crispey crispey creme de la creme

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    Basically they're saying that the grease reacts with the rubber seals causing them to swell and become dysfunctional.
     
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  5. Recycled Rocker

    Recycled Rocker Senior Member

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    i used to wear my shoes down trying to stop mi pushbike, so yer must use a lot of coppery stuf..
     
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  6. Havit

    Havit Admin
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    I use it like the big lad, it does stop squealing , copper ease has always been part of my brake service, maybe I'm old fashioned ,
     
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  7. steve lovatt

    steve lovatt Something else

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    Always use it on the back of pads and on the pins to stop squealing - same with car brakes in the days when I used to change the pads myself.
     
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  8. topbanana0

    topbanana0 Well-Known Member

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    Until recently I would have said yes, but after seeing this maybe not on my bike.



    Matt appears to know his stuff, like following him on YouTube.
     
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  9. TEZ 217

    TEZ 217 Crème de la Crème

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    Look Havit what you and littleade do is your business keep it to yourself.

    As for copper grease I have always used it on brake pins and where the piston hits the back of the pad, always will.
     
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  10. Rocker

    Rocker Elite Member

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    You shouldn't use copper slip on the back of pads a the heat turns it to glue use hi temp grease instead
     
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  11. Callumity

    Callumity Elite Member

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    Brake application transfers energy as heat, light and sound. Sound is unwanted vibration.....eliminate vibration and you kill sound.....albeit some is inevitable. Light should be undetectable without an infra red camera! Mostly heat is dissipated to air.
    The basic theory of a light smear of grease (and shims) is to damp out the vibration so you are not driving a violin string. The grease gets contaminated over time and you don’t need to coat the pad just inside the caliper fingers and the edge of the piston contacting the pad.
    Grease is getting old school with Teflon coatings on some pad backing and shims but done sparingly it works for me.
     
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  12. youngy

    youngy Active Member

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    red rubber grease for the seals.

    copperslip on the pins.
     
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  13. TEZ 217

    TEZ 217 Crème de la Crème

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    COPPER SLIP OLD SKOOL , HELL YEAH :D:D:D:D:D
     
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  14. Billy the giant

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    Old school right. Modern brake pads have anti squeal shims ect for the vibration, ie squealing sound. But applying copper slip (ease) does no harm at all. Applying copper slip between the calliper and anti rattle clips is fine, normally the clips are stainless sprung steel and the calliper is normally cast, hence dissimilar metals resulting in galvorossion. Hi temp grease and extreme pressure grease would be a bit a bit risky as they are petroleum based and if contacted with pin gators, would distort and loosen seals, red rubber grease is the way to go lubing those as they have been made with natural oils, and don’t distort rubber seals. Copper slip on the pad rear, and moving parts would be fine as copper slip is a clay based anti seize, and has a very high melting point.
    I’ve never had any problems, and that lad in the YouTube vid seems a bit of a tit!
     
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  15. itchyfeet

    itchyfeet New Member

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    I 've been maintaining my own bikes since my Dad showed me how to service my first Honda MT50 36 years ago. I've always used copperslip on the back of the pads (where the pistons touch) as I'm convinced it stops squeal. In fact on the occasions where i have fitted pads while touring without copperslip brake noise has reminded me to apply some on returning home. That cannot be in my mind only and maybe things/technology have moved forward but I think the you tube vid is completely over the top, use it if you want and know what you are doing, don't use it if you don't want and put up with pad rattle or squeal (on older bikes) Maybe new bikes have coated pistons that stop this, butb I don't think mine does. Anyway, a jar of copperslip lasts for years and years, and I've still got two to get through!!
     
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  16. t552

    t552 Senior Member

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    wurth AL1100 is even better.
     
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  17. Brixton Steve

    Brixton Steve Member

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    It's amazing how many people think they know better than the pad manufacturers.
     
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  18. Yorkshireman

    Yorkshireman Crème de la Crème

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    That could be the record for thread resurrection. .:p
     
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  19. joe mc donald

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    Yes I still use copper ease on my pads. Not the pins I polish them and a little silicone spray. But each to their own if it makes you feel better go for it.
    Joe.
     
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  20. johne

    johne Standing on the shoulders of dwarves.

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    Its a yes from me.
     
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