What are the types of lubricants?
There are several basic types of brake lubricants that fall into two categories: those that are designed for lubricating hardware and mechanical components and typically contain a high percentage of solids (dry-film lubricants), and those that are designed for lubricating seals, boots and other internal parts when assembling calipers, wheel cylinders and master cylinders. Hardware lubricant is a special high-temperature grease designed to provide lasting protection, and it may be synthetic or silicone based.
Moly LUBE
Synthetic-based, boundary-type lubricants that come in tube, paste or stick form have a high solids content and typically contain a variety of friction-reducing ingredients such as molybdenum disulfide (moly or MOS2) and graphite. Moly and graphite are both dry-film lubricants that can handle high temperatures and pressures. Some of these products are rated to withstand intermittent temperatures as high as 2,400° F! Moly won’t evaporate or burn off over time, and it won’t attract or hold dirt like ordinary “wet” greases can.
Silicone GREASE
Silicone-based brake grease is designed for caliper and wheel cylinder assembly work because it is an excellent lubricant for rubber and plastic. Silicone’s normal working range is -40° F to 400° F, but it does not have the high-temperature staying power of a high-solids synthetic lubricant. Also, silicone is a “wet” lubricant that can attract and hold dirt, making it less suitable for lubricating external metal-to-metal contact points. This type of product is best suited for assembling calipers, wheel cylinders and master cylinders.