So I Used the Honda OEM Pad Provided Grease Packet on Slide Pins...

Just an update to the group - completed this work today. Took my time (about 2 hours total) cleaning the boots, pins and pin holes. Multiple brake clean flushes on each, cleaning out with a brush, screwdriver with a rag, etc...

Then re-greased all the pad mating surfaces since I was worried the brake clean flushes took off the original layer.

In the end, there was zero noticeable traces of the dark grease (though I'm sure remnants remain).

I'll call it a job done for now but will know the culprit if the rubber ends of the lower pins are swollen or damaged at next change.

Thanks for everyone who replied - made me realize that it was better to just do what I knew had to be done and get it over with.
I would have done the same. The fear of moly grease swelling the rubber parts would have kept me up at night!

BTW new seal kits are available for a few $$, in case yours swell at some point in the future. I replace these whenever I do brakes on 10+ y.o. cars, regardless of whether they are swelled.
 
If that grease packet is really m77 molycote, curious why everyone is so concerned that this is a problem ? Has anyone actually had any rubber swelling issues with that product? I always just throw out that packet but have used m77 in multiple industrial applications. Remember it as a silicone formulation ( not petroleum based) with added moly and quite rubber safe. Somewhat of of a combination anti seize grease that does a good job of keeping rust away when metals get wet. Cannot say for sure based on personal experience on brake slide pins, but personally expect it would be fine on slide pins.
 
Hello all, first post but definitely not new to the forum - learned a lot over the years here.

I replaced the brakes on my wife's CRV for the first time yesterday and went with OEM pads. Job went smoothly overall but as I was preparing to help my FIL with his brakes in the near future, I read something that now has me concerned.

The OEM pads came with a packet of dark grease. I assumed that this grease was to be used with all components of the brakes (else, why include it?), and I used it to lubricate the slide pins. I've always used Syl-Glide everywhere (including the pins) in the past but, again, figured Honda wouldn't have included it if they didn't want it used.

Since then, I've been reading back and forth that this grease is NOT intended for the slide pins. Ugh...

How bad did I mess up here? Does anyone know what type of grease that is and if it will cause damage to the braking system or any kind of failure? Do I need to get it out of there asap or is it unlikely to cause issues?

For what it's worth, brakes are working wonderfully thus far with a test drive. No noise at all and very smooth. Just feeling a little stressed as this is the vehicle my wife and kids are in daily... would probably care a whole lot less if it was my car.
that grease is for the back of the pads only...
 
Where ? In most cases, you're probably just reading people's opinions.
the direction that came with my oem honda pad kit in the past showed the grease for the back of the pads...
 
The SDS for Molykote M-77 indicates that it is a lithium based grease w/some silicone oil additive along with the Molybdenum disulfide.

1720492300556.webp
 

This is what I used when I installed a set of PowerStop pads/rotors on the back of my Outback recently. They include a packet of synthetic ceramic lube as well.

I've seen plenty mentions of Sil-Glyde over the years, how does it compare to this Permatex stuff?
I found out the hard way that the purple Permatex Ceramic Extreme grease will swell up rubber parts in a few months. Permatex now has an orange-colored Silicone Ceramic Extreme grease that is rubber safe.

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I found out the hard way that the purple Permatex Ceramic Extreme grease will swell up rubber parts in a few months.
I thought this was an old formulation that they've since fixed ? I have used that lube on 2 cars we still have and there's no issues with swelling of the rubber slide pin bushings.
 
I thought this was an old formulation that they've since fixed ? I have used that lube on 2 cars we still have and there's no issues with swelling of the rubber slide pin bushings.
I think you are correct as I just looked up the SDS and it no longer contains petroleum based grease. My jar is from >10 years ago, but the current version (Part No. 24125) is now Ethylene Glycol based which is compatible with rubber. Thanks for keeping us informed.
 
Molykote M77 is silicone based. No worries with the slide pins. I’d use Molykote 111, fka Dow 111 before the Dow-DuPont merger and split or Syl-Glyde. The red/orange grease the Japanese prefer is Niglube RX-2, sold at Toyota as Toyota Rubber Grease. It’s a glycol-based lithium soap grease. Syl-glide is similar. Don’t use that Permatex stuff unless it’s the new orange silicone formula.
 
The packet of it came from Honda, is M-77 paste. M-77 is silicone with MoS2. It does seem to use a lithium base, vs SiO2 solids. I would have left it as it would be just fine. Swapping a moly based silicone for pure silicone, or sil-glyde, which is silicone and castor oil, seems like it’s not worth it. I don’t see how the lithium base would be the driver here vs the silicone oil that is in M-77.
 
Good job...what you did today proactively prevented any damage to the rubber parts. Now that they have been cleaned and re-lubed with Sil-Glyde, no need to worry about the rubber seals swelling in the future.

Doesn’t brake cleaner spray jack up the rubber too?
 
Doesn’t brake cleaner spray jack up the rubber too?
Nope...I have been using various brands of brake cleaner spray on brake parts for decades and never experienced any degradation of the rubber components. However, I would avoid using carburetor cleaner on rubber parts since some of the constituents could damage rubber & plastic.
 
Nope...I have been using various brands of brake cleaner spray on brake parts for decades and never experienced any degradation of the rubber components. However, I would avoid using carburetor cleaner on rubber parts since some of the constituents could damage rubber & plastic.
Brake cleaner (generally some percentage acetone) damages rubber if exposed to it for a long period of time. Its rapid evaporation makes it generally a non-issue, but I still try to avoid getting it in contact with rubber boots and hoses if possible.
 
FWIW, I have several packets of black grease that have been supplied with brake pads over the years and the CAS numbers indicate silicone oil and molybdenum disulfide.
 
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