Is any brake caliper pin better than Sil-Gylde needed

Donald

Donald

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Mar 21, 2004
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I see there are some silicone paste lubricants on Amazon that are good for many things including brake caliper pins.

But does Sil-Gylde provide the proper lubrication and will not cause damage to:rubber pin boot or the rubber section that is part of some caliper pins?

So any need for the silicone paste? Sil-Glyde does the truck?
 
In my honest opinion and own experience, AGS Sil-glyde did not work for me and I can only blame myself. I applied to the caliper slide pins but did not service or checked them for >3 years and the lubricant gummed up surprisingly the non bushing pin. It took over 2 plus hours of heating, soaking, rattling, to save the bracket and extract the now sacrificial pin. Sil-glyde and 100% silicone paste will absolutely work but if you don’t perform regular servicing, you may encounter a disaster like me.

My other advice is when cleaning the pin before applying grease, try to not use abrasive like wire wheels, sandpaper, etc. as this will inadvertently cause the base metal to become exposed to elements despite lubing as the plating is now compromised. The pin I removed had a surface texture of orange peel.
 
I used to use Sil-glyde without any issues regarding the rubber. I use silicone grease now because I think it is better. It is more water resistant (try the grease dab in hand under running water test). The Sil-glyde will absorb water easier. The silicone grease seems to last longer and no question about rubber compatibility (for me). The differences probably become more apparent with less than perfect brake system components, rust belt conditions, etc..

A few of us always remind everyone that Sil-glyde is a castor oil product with a trace of silicone in it. That's not bad, but it isn't as good as silicone grease in my experience.
 
ccs368 said:
In my honest opinion and own experience, AGS Sil-glyde did not work for me and I can only blame myself. I applied to the caliper slide pins but did not service or checked them for >3 years and the lubricant gummed up surprisingly the non bushing pin. It took over 2 plus hours of heating, soaking, rattling, to save the bracket and extract the now sacrificial pin. Sil-glyde and 100% silicone paste will absolutely work but if you don’t perform regular servicing, you may encounter a disaster like me.

My other advice is when cleaning the pin before applying grease, try to not use abrasive like wire wheels, sandpaper, etc. as this will inadvertently cause the base metal to become exposed to elements despite lubing as the plating is now compromised. The pin I removed had a surface texture of orange peel.
Click to expand...
I agree. Wipe the pin with a rag or clean with brake cleaner. But no wire brush or sandpaper. If it's not pristine looking after wiping it clean then replace. The pins are pretty cheap.
 
Slyglide is silicone grease. Good for things like O-rings or rubber boots. For caliper sliding pins, I use heavy black caliper grease, with moly.
 
I was not impressed with Sil-Gylde when I used it years ago. Raybestos silicone brake lube with PTFE is the best stuff I've found.
 
I've always used whatever tube of grease I had around the shop. Usually a tube of Lucas Red and Tacky. I greased pins on our 10 year old 1-ton truck before camper towing season started this year. 82k on the odometer at that time.

A bunch of experts on this forum told me I was going to kill my entire family in a fiery crash down a mountain. So I pulled it all down and did it again with SilGlyde and Powerstop G36 pads. Long story but a pair of brand new OE calipers got added to the front, retaining my brackets and pristine looking slider pins. $$$

Now this thread is telling me we're all going to die in a fiery crash down a mountain. I can't win with you guys.
 
While available online, not sure if its on Amazon. I have been using Kleen-Flo silicone for many years with zero issues. Use it on all our vehicles. Well its like 5 vehicles, a quad and a side by side.

I redo the slide pins so every couple/three years. No issues with rubber or it hardening. The only observable difference is color.
 
Nessism1 said:
Slyglide is silicone grease. Good for things like O-rings or rubber boots. For caliper sliding pins, I use heavy black caliper grease, with moly.
Click to expand...
1758314397918.webp


Sil-glyde is good, Silicone grease is better.
 
Nessism1 said:
Apparently my tube is OLD. Just looked at it. Says "silicone" right on the front. It's clear, or yellowish at this age. Again, for lubing rubber, says so right on the tube.
Click to expand...

Post up a pic?

"silicone based brake lubricant" isnt the same as silicone paste.

I have 3 tubes myself. I use it yearly. I also have some mission silicone paste and I like it better on caliper pins.
(also good on trailer plugs)
 
I’ll never use sil-glyde on caliper pins again. It gummed up and completely seized the pins in the caliper bracket bore on my F-150 less than 2 years. I absolutely could not get them loose and ended up buying new brackets and pins. Greased the new pins with the motorcraft XG-3. Pulled them apart to check about a year and a half later to check them and they were as free as the day I installed them.
 
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