Originally Posted By: HangFire
Originally Posted By: supton
Originally Posted By: Silk
I replace many disc pads a year, probably done thousands over the years. I put stuff on pads, and always a lube of some sort on the ears, other stuff on the backing and shims. Some times I get to put pads in vehicles I have done before, and can always tell my own work. But the grease or whatever I put on the ears is never there, it has disapeared as if I never put it on. I still always do it, but in reality I don't think it's needed.
On my daily drivers I find I need to do it about twice a year. Once a year and it seems dry, but if I touch up spring/fall it'll have some left on the ears.
I find it pretty necessary to do, otherwise I find the pads will get stuck. So at least once a year I like to bust apart all the brakes. Twice is preferable though.
If you look at a typical new vehicle service schedule, even when the OCI's expanded to 10-15K they still wanted you back at the dealer every 6-7.5K for a tire rotation and safety inspection. In theory they could be touching up the lube on those brakes. Average US car gets 12,000 miles a year, so that's twice a year.
So maybe every tire rotation I should relube the brakes. Something to think about. The wheels are off anyway.
Every 10k I check/strip and clean the brakes on my car. rears usually can go longer, but fronts can use the cleaning. Nothing is ever seized, but dust builds up and impedes free travel of brake pads.