06 XC70 Brake Caliper slider pins Topic is solved

Post by **scot850** » 14 May 2018, 08:26

I am starting the swap out of the front and rear brakes on my son's XC70 and last night did a check on Vida for the various torque values I will need.

One thing that caught my eye was a highlighted sentence saying, " Do NOT use grease on the slider pins for the calipers".

This instruction was there for both the front and rear calipers. This confuses me (easy these days!). For my P80's I have always greased the slider pins with no problems for over 15 years, and I am certain I have read to use silicon grease specifically for that very purpose.

Can anyone confirm if they use grease or not, or know why Volvo would say not to use grease?

Neil.

Post by **Rattnalle** » 14 May 2018, 09:15

I also grease the pins using brake grease or the grease that comes with new calipers.

The threads however should have loctite on them not grease IIRC.

Post by **abscate** » 14 May 2018, 10:19

Ah, add "do you grease calipers, slides, pins" to the list of

Oil change intervals
Tire pressures
Which religion truly talks to God
Does 90% of engine wear occur on startup?
Do you lubricate lug nuts/bolts?

Which generate such internet fury over such small stakes.

In rusty, crusty, salty environments, you had better grease the slider pins and contact surfaces or else they will freeze up. BMW also specifically trains their techs not to grease brakes, but every good tech in the Northeast does.

Post by **Rattnalle** » 14 May 2018, 10:22

The rubber bushings for the slider pins or sets with bushings and pins come with grease which should be a bit of a hint.

The threads usually have pre applied loctite.

Post by **scot850** » 14 May 2018, 12:57

Thanks guys. Just got a reply from the foreman at the local dealer and he says they have not used grease on the slider pins since 2001 (or since P2's arrived here). Strange though how the pins had a thin film of grease on them I have just cleaned off. They have replaced 3 sets of rotors since we bought this car in 2011, so I guess someone didn't get the memo, and it may also be a reason why the brakes wear so fast possibly? I will follow the Volvo recommendation and not use lube on the pins. I have not bought Volvo brakes this time so not sure what they were supplied with in the Akebono pad kits.

Neil.

Post by **cn90** » 14 May 2018, 21:01

- Honda says use small amount of grease. BMW says do NOT (for fear of dirt/grime collecting on the grease and restrict the movement) LOL.

- What I do:
* Small amount of Loctite on the threads.
* Small amount of grease on the sliding pins.
* Every time I replace the pads and/or rotors, I clean the sliding pin using my fingernail.
* It is basically metal sliding over the rubber bushing.
* Once every 10 years, replace the bushings.

Don't sweat over the small stuff...

Post by **scot850** » 14 May 2018, 23:14

Sound advice. Maybe the mechanic listened to you sometime in the past? There felt like there was a thin layer of dried grease on the surface of all the slider pins. It is a kind of damned if you do, damned if you don't scenario. I think on thinking more about this during the day, I will follow your suggestion of a light coating of silicon grease.

Appreciate the input.

Neil.

Post by **oragex** » 15 May 2018, 04:01

Volvo said yes, then said no, then yes again (remember what they were saying about transmission fluid). They are like a cha-cha dancer.

The truth is that correct grease will not hurt. Without grease, there is a chance the bushings will wear with time.

Post by **scot850** » 15 May 2018, 08:21

I agree oragex. I'll give them just a film of silicon grease and all should be good. Can't be worse than dealer did the last 3 times?

Neil.

Cookie-the-Swede · Post by **Cookie-the-Swede** » 15 May 2018, 10:34

Not greasing the pins is just crazy talk!