Brake Caliper Maintenance

[kerrton]

At the advice of Philipa, I've decided to do some brake caliper maintenance on the Rogue and Mazda3 this weekend, I've been convinced that it's a good thing to do even though it's not in our maintenance schedule (however it is a yearly item in the Mazda3 maint. sched).

My question is, what type of lubricant do you use for the caliper sliders, just any type of spray lube with silicone, or is it a thick grease with silicone, or is there some that is specifically formulated for lubricating brake calipers?

And I wasn't anticipating using anti-seize lube on the pads, but I guess I'll have to pick some up at Canadian Tire or some place like that - or is this only required after intalling new pads? Is there any tips to consider when applying this lube? Thanks a lot in advance, I really appreciate it.

[philipa_240sx]

My question is, what type of lubricant do you use for the caliper sliders, just any type of spray lube with silicone, or is it a thick grease with silicone, or is there some that is specifically formulated for lubricating brake calipers?

Yes. Permatex makes a 'Disc Brake Caliper Lube'. It's a thick grease that is compatible with rubber parts. Use this to lubricate the caliper sliders.

And I wasn't anticipating using anti-seize lube on the pads, but I guess I'll have to pick some up at Canadian Tire or some place like that - or is this only required after intalling new pads? Is there any tips to consider when applying this lube? Thanks a lot in advance, I really appreciate it.

Nissan sells a heavy duty disc brake lube. But it's expensive. The service manager at the local dealer recommended using a copper based anti-seize compound. Permatex and others sell this. It's basically a heavy grease with suspended copper particles. The grease should be applied to all moving parts with the exception of the sliders or any rubber parts as it is not compatible.

Please refer to the exploded diagram of the caliper on page BR-34 for grease points:

2008 Rogue - BR section

[philipa_240sx]

I just completed the brake service on my Rogue. I took plenty of photos. I will try and post a How-To on brake maintenance before the week is out.

My brakes were very dirty and I did notice some slightly uneven pad wear. Otherwise, everything was in OK shape. I think the maintenance was overdue though.

[ahhbeebee]

Great stuff, looking forward to it.

How long did it take? And how much longer for a newb?

[philipa_240sx]

I did all 4 calipers it in about an hour. Figure 2-3 hours if you have never done it before.

[kerrton]

Did you observe a lot of dirt/crap in the calipers, and how was the grease on the rails, any left? dirty? Just curious.

[philipa_240sx]

Yes, there was lots of dirt on the surface of the caliper body, hardware, pads, etc... the rears especially. The rear pads were also firmly 'stuck' and needed some gentle prying to remove them. I was expecting the inboard pads to show significantly more wear, but they were surprisingly even.

As for lube, there was very little left on the brake pad contact points (the ears at each end of the pad). The slider pins were in perfect condition... lots of lube and no evidence of water or dirt.

Once I do my write-up, you will see how easy it is to service the brakes. As an added bonus, the procedure is nearly identical if you want to replace the pads and rotors.

I have 31,000mi (50,000km) and one year of driving on the vehicle so far. Overall my brakes have approx 65% of their original material. At this rate I should be good until 60,000mi (100,000km) before needing replacement. Keep in mind I don't drive much in the city... so my brakes don't get used alot. I expect a a Rogue driven in the city will get substantially less life out of a set of brakes... probably 40,000mi (65,000km) or less.

[philipa_240sx]

The first part of the how-to is up:

zer...rvice

[philipa_240sx]

The How-To is now completed and added to the FAQ. Enjoy!

[kerrton]

Phil I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate you taking the time and effort to do this. You have enabled me to perform basic maintenance and even future brake pad replacement on both of my vehicles, and avoid around 130 bucks of labor x2 vechiles each year. I'm going to do both vehicles on Sunday if all goes well, and I'm sure it will, because I don't plan on removing the calipers (hopefully the pads will come off easily), so there really isn't much to this. I guess the most essential item here beyond general cleaning is to ensure the 2 pins are clean and lubricated, and the little boot is in good shape......

Thanks again for your help.

[ahhbeebee]

Thank YOU!!!

[philipa_240sx]

At the advice of Philipa, I've decided to do some brake caliper maintenance on the Rogue and Mazda3 this weekend, I've been convinced that it's a good thing to do even though it's not in our maintenance schedule (however it is a yearly item in the Mazda3 maint. sched).

The Mazda 3 uses a slightly different brake caliper design. The steps will be similar, but the brake pads are mounted in a different way. I actually find them easier to work on than other brake system designs.

Automotive parts suppliers like PartSource (Canada) that can provide you with diagrams of the brake system to aid you.