3 replies to this topic

[grahama]

Hi all,

 

been a while but starting back on it again.

 

When rebuilding brake and clutch master cylinders etc I have heard the use of 'red rubber grease' is good for using to lubricate the seals before the rebuild.  Have you used it to do this job??

 

thanks,

 

Graham

[Gr4h4m]

Iirc the instructions say use the brake fluid?

[tiger99]

Please do not use that awful red rubber grease, unless your Rover or Haynes manual says that it is necessary. It is basically thick brake fluid, and absorbs water horribly, resulting in corrosion.

 

There has been VERY BAD ADVICE (yes, I am SHOUTING at the perpetrators, if they read this) in several magazines recently (the average thicko "journalists" cross-feed duff information to each other all the time) about using silicone grease, so please don't do that either. It is likely to react with standard brake fluid, leaving crystalline deposits which will damage the seals.

 

I just use clean brake fluid as assembly lubricant, under scrupulously clean conditions, which usually means on a fresh sheet of kitchen roll on the worktop, NEVER in a filthy garage.

 

But, or cars where I am going to use silicone brake fluid (DOT 5), I do then use high temperature silicone grease, plenty of it, to cover the exposed piston surfaces, but I am not prepared to recommend that to the average Mini owner, as far too many of you have reported trouble when trying to bleed with normal DOT 4 fluid, and silicone is trickier. I do prefer silicone, and only if you are supremely capable and confident about bleeding it (suction bleeder works best), use both silicone grease and fluid.

[grahama]

Thanks for that,  fluid it is then!!