Quote:
Originally Posted by BonzoHansen
I do brakes a little bit different. And to be honest I've never seen any qualified tech use RTV on brake pads. But the pink anti-squeal we used to use looks kind of like it.
Since I usually flush fluid when I do pads/shoes, I crack the bleeders on the calipers and then push the pistons in. Plus I've read numerous tech bulletins on pushing fluid back up can damage ABS units and masters.
Totally agree on cleaning all the mating surfaces and greasing the slides. I have a container of brake grease (which I suppose is just synthetic bearing grease). Regular grease can damage rubber parts. Make sure you don't get anything on the pad or rotor surfaces. A few cans of brake clean (2+2 brand is good, don't get the cheap crap) are good to have handy.
The best anti-squeak stuff I've used is anti-seize. Honda supplies it with their pads. I also tend to prefer dealer pads & rotors unless the car is rather old. The quality is higher and the noise is lower. Aftermarket I try to stick with NAPA or Wagner stuff. Cheap rotors are especially problematic. I just got cheap ones for the back of my olds and the damn rotor was pitted because it was a poorly casted china part. You may find anti-squeak stuff with dealer pads, but I hear they have been cheaping out and not supplying it anymore.
Like I said I usually flush out the old brake fluid at the same time. I have a turkey baster in the garage I use to suck most of the old fluid out of the MC, then I fill it with clean new fluid and open the bleeders and let gravity do its thing. Let it go until the MC is very low, then close the bleeders, fill the MC and I'm done.
Make sure you pump the brakes before you throw it in gear & driver off!!
Oh yeah, make sure she is safe up on jack stands. Don't be afraid to shake the crap out of the car on the stands before you start working. Better it falls with you in front of it than under it.
Dave, does this have to be done soon?
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I never knew that can damage anything. Thats the way ive always done it. I do brakes for friends and family as a little side business for 10 or 20 bucks and ive always done it that way. And ive used silicone one or 2 times on my own car because i didnt have any of the brake quiet stuff. Doesnt seem to make a difference to me.