Couple of brake questions...
 

I've got some brand spanking new (after quite the wait; Nancy at OVW got
one unloaded set and one garbage set she wouldn't sell, so it was for
good reason) varga calipers I'm just itching to put on my Ghia. My
question is, should I apply brake grease anywhere and if so, where? I'm
guessing on the pins, maybe elsewhere. I've heard there should be no
grease applied to ATE calipers, which were installed in some KG's
originally. Can anyone enlighten me on this matter?
Also, what is procedure for inpsecting wheel cylinders? Pull them apart
and check for pitting? New ones are $12 or $13 at the OVW Company. If
they are pitted at all, should I get a brake cylinder hone and a rebuild
kit, or just get a set of varga wheel cylinders? Drum wise, where
should one apply brake grease? On the adjusters?
Thanks a million everybody!
-Kevin

On Sat, 09 Jul 2005 01:31:50 -0700 Kevin Holzer >
wrote:

>I've got some brand spanking new (after quite the wait; Nancy at OVW got
>one unloaded set and one garbage set she wouldn't sell, so it was for
>good reason) varga calipers I'm just itching to put on my Ghia. My
>question is, should I apply brake grease anywhere and if so, where? I'm
>guessing on the pins, maybe elsewhere. I've heard there should be no
>grease applied to ATE calipers, which were installed in some KG's
>originally. Can anyone enlighten me on this matter?

Petroleum grease should never be used anywhere that it can come in
contact with any kind of rubber brake parts, regardless of maker. I
use silicone grease inside the rubber disk brake boots. No other
lubrication should be necessary.

I'm not sure what is meant by "brake grease." If it says something
like "safe for use on rubber brake parts" then I'd consider using it,
otherwise I wouldn't.

>Also, what is procedure for inpsecting wheel cylinders? Pull them apart
>and check for pitting? New ones are $12 or $13 at the OVW Company. If
>they are pitted at all, should I get a brake cylinder hone and a rebuild
>kit, or just get a set of varga wheel cylinders? Drum wise, where
>should one apply brake grease? On the adjusters?

I find it rather simple to hone the cylinders right on the car. Then
wipe them clean, clean the seals and boots, lube with silicone grease
and reinstall.

You can use regular grease (or a good antiseize) on the adjusters
(sparingly, so it doesn't get on the drums or shoes. I also smear a
tiny bit on each of the three raised lumps on the backing plate where
the edges of the shoes rub.

-
-----------------------------------------------
Jim Adney
Madison, WI 53711 USA
-----------------------------------------------

Jim Adney wrote:
>
> On Sat, 09 Jul 2005 01:31:50 -0700 Kevin Holzer >
> wrote:
>
> >I've got some brand spanking new (after quite the wait; Nancy at OVW got
> >one unloaded set and one garbage set she wouldn't sell, so it was for
> >good reason) varga calipers I'm just itching to put on my Ghia. My
> >question is, should I apply brake grease anywhere and if so, where? I'm
> >guessing on the pins, maybe elsewhere. I've heard there should be no
> >grease applied to ATE calipers, which were installed in some KG's
> >originally. Can anyone enlighten me on this matter?
>
> Petroleum grease should never be used anywhere that it can come in
> contact with any kind of rubber brake parts, regardless of maker. I
> use silicone grease inside the rubber disk brake boots. No other
> lubrication should be necessary.
>
> I'm not sure what is meant by "brake grease." If it says something
> like "safe for use on rubber brake parts" then I'd consider using it,
> otherwise I wouldn't.
>

Brake Grease is sold in tubes that say "Brake Grease" on them, at least
out here. It is safe to use on rubber parts. I bet you can figure out
what it was designed for ;)

Jan

Jim Adney wrote:
> Petroleum grease should never be used anywhere that it can come in
> contact with any kind of rubber brake parts, regardless of maker. I
> use silicone grease inside the rubber disk brake boots. No other
> lubrication should be necessary.

These are brand new loaded calipers...I ought not need grease inside the
seals, need I? There should be some in there from the factory, yeah?

> I'm not sure what is meant by "brake grease." If it says something
> like "safe for use on rubber brake parts" then I'd consider using it,
> otherwise I wouldn't.

When I said brake grease, I meant this:
http://www.crcindustries.com/CRCWEB/...t.aspx?tabid=1
Safe for rubber supposedly, says its got teflon, moly, and graphite in it.
Picked it up at Kragen when I was getting some brake fluid (NAPA wasn't
open), thinking I was going to use it on the pins or at least the
adjusters for the drums. I'd read somewhere to use it on the pins and
on the backs of the pads to prevent vibration and/or squeaking. Seemed
like a good idea, so long as nothing got on the contact area of the pad
nor the rotors, but if not, then not.

> I find it rather simple to hone the cylinders right on the car. Then
> wipe them clean, clean the seals and boots, lube with silicone grease
> and reinstall.

Good idea, I like it. Any old brake cylinder hone oughtta work, right?
A hone one would get at NAPA shouldn't be too big, should it? It
looks as if it would fit.

> You can use regular grease (or a good antiseize) on the adjusters
> (sparingly, so it doesn't get on the drums or shoes. I also smear a
> tiny bit on each of the three raised lumps on the backing plate where
> the edges of the shoes rub.

I like that idea about the raised spots on the backing plate, makes more
good sense.

Thanks a million Jim, you really know your stuff.

-Kevin

On Sun, 10 Jul 2005 00:45:35 -0700 Kevin Holzer >
wrote:

>Jim Adney wrote:

>> Petroleum grease should never be used anywhere that it can come in
>> contact with any kind of rubber brake parts, regardless of maker. I
>> use silicone grease inside the rubber disk brake boots. No other
>> lubrication should be necessary.
>
>These are brand new loaded calipers...I ought not need grease inside the
>seals, need I? There should be some in there from the factory, yeah?

Right, just install them as they came to you.

>> I'm not sure what is meant by "brake grease." If it says something
>> like "safe for use on rubber brake parts" then I'd consider using it,
>> otherwise I wouldn't.
>
>When I said brake grease, I meant this:
>http://www.crcindustries.com/CRCWEB/...t.aspx?tabid=1

That URL just got me a generic page, so I didn't get to see what you
were after. What product number were you inquiring on?

>Safe for rubber supposedly, says its got teflon, moly, and graphite in it.

Those things are all find in ANY brake application, but we still don't
know enough to be sure about the rubber parts.

>> I find it rather simple to hone the cylinders right on the car. Then
>> wipe them clean, clean the seals and boots, lube with silicone grease
>> and reinstall.
>
>Good idea, I like it. Any old brake cylinder hone oughtta work, right?
> A hone one would get at NAPA shouldn't be too big, should it? It
>looks as if it would fit.

You just have to be sure that the hone will go down to the size of the
bores in your cylinders. The hones will have sizes stated on them when
you buy them.

>I like that idea about the raised spots on the backing plate, makes more
>good sense.

Good stuff, straight out of the VW manuals.

-
-----------------------------------------------
Jim Adney
Madison, WI 53711 USA
-----------------------------------------------

On Sun, 10 Jul 2005 09:41:08 +0300 Jan Andersson
> wrote:

>Brake Grease is sold in tubes that say "Brake Grease" on them, at least
>out here. It is safe to use on rubber parts. I bet you can figure out
>what it was designed for ;)

The problem with this is that there are 2 different kinds of
applications for lubricants in brakes.

There a

Brake pplications that are in contact with rubber brake parts, and
there are brake applications which are metal to metal away from any
rubber.

Both are places where "brake grease" might be useful.

I was only commenting that I wouldn't be comfortable unless I got some
clue from the vendor about which application this particular grease
would be suitable for. In general, the same greases are NOT suitable
for both.

-
-----------------------------------------------
Jim Adney
Madison, WI 53711 USA
-----------------------------------------------

Jim Adney wrote:
> That URL just got me a generic page, so I didn't get to see what you
> were after. What product number were you inquiring on?

Sorry about that, I ought to check my links before I post them.
Frustrates me when coders don't make their URL's reflect the site the
viewer is at, and it's simple to do.
Product No. 05352
On the site they state it is "Synthetic Brake Caliper Grease" although
on my package it says "Synthetic Brake & Caliper Grease." The site
states for usage in disc brake systems, although my package states "all
disc, drum, and ABS systems," if it matters.

I think I may make a phone call to them to clear the matter up,
considering they designed the product.

Thanks so much Jim!

-Kevin

On Thu, 14 Jul 2005 00:05:23 -0700 Kevin Holzer >
wrote:

>Jim Adney wrote:

>> That URL just got me a generic page, so I didn't get to see what you
>> were after. What product number were you inquiring on?
>
>Sorry about that, I ought to check my links before I post them.
>Frustrates me when coders don't make their URL's reflect the site the
>viewer is at, and it's simple to do.
>Product No. 05352

When you finally get to the complete description, it says "plastic &
rubber safe", but down below, under Plastic Safe it says "not
determined." Seems odd, but nevertheless it looks like it should be
fine.

They probably had nothing to do with developing the product. They
probably just market it.

-
-----------------------------------------------
Jim Adney
Madison, WI 53711 USA
-----------------------------------------------