Front caliper grease ?

My 78 650 B2 started making groaning noises when I applied the front brake. I have the caliper off and disassembled now. Cleaned it out good with brake cleaner and now need to know about greasing a few parts.

A few years ago I used Synthetic Caliper Grease on the caliper shafts and I'm not sure I should do it again. This stuff was pretty hard and very sticky upon dis-assembly today. I think it's the reason for the groaning noises, there was no way this was lubricating the shafts at this point in time.

The Kawasaki Official manual says to coat the caliper holding shafts with PBC (poly butyl cuprysil) grease. Clymers manual does not mention doing this at all..
After searching Google, some guy on a car forum said PBC grease is the same as Copper anti-seize. I have some I use on my spark plugs. Should I try it? What about other greases? I have wheel bearing grease, and white lithium grease.

Also, the Clymers manual says to lightly coat the piston and back of pads with "disc brake lubricant". The Kawasaki shop manual makes no mention of doing this. What is "disc brake lubricant"? Is it that stuff in the packet when you buy new pads?

How should I proceed?

Thanks, Kent

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I would stay away from the copper anti-seize, it's not really a lubricant and from what I was told it´s not kind to rubber

Any caliper lube similar to the one Martin suggests should work, can be found at most autoparts stores.

send the bolts to your friendly neighborhood plating shop

Make sure you clean out the groove for the seal with a small wire wheel and a dremmel.

PBC is not the same as copper anti-seize. Nissan brakes also call for PBC; here's the part #

Cut and paste: " www.nissanpartszone.com/parts/nissan-pbc...ase~99990-00939.html "

No copper anti-sieze? It's already on there. I decided to use that stuff and threw on new brake pads too. I didn't see these posts until this morning or I wouldn't have used it.

I went for a 30 miler and it seemed to work. But the rubber shaft booties were torn and I do need a new set. Once I get the caliper rebuild kit I'll find the right grease.

Thanks guys.

Is the use of generic grease a bad idea due to the possibility of the rubber getting fouled?
Could grease end up on the disks decreasing the effectiveness?

Sorry, I did not know to use grease.

What would be likely to happen if grease is not used?

Qdude wrote: Is the use of generic grease a bad idea due to the possibility of the rubber getting fouled?
Could grease end up on the disks decreasing the effectiveness?

Sorry, I did not know to use grease.

What would be likely to happen if grease is not used?

300,000 miles on KZs and I have never used grease or any lube, but then I've never had a caliper fail yet. All mine still work good as new after all these years despite lack of lube.

RonKZ650 wrote:

Qdude wrote: Is the use of generic grease a bad idea due to the possibility of the rubber getting fouled?
Could grease end up on the disks decreasing the effectiveness?

Sorry, I did not know to use grease.

What would be likely to happen if grease is not used?

300,000 miles on KZs and I have never used grease or any lube, but then I've never had a caliper fail yet. All mine still work good as new after all these years despite lack of lube.

I have a mere 50+k miles on my KZ650-C1 and have had the same excellent experience. I've replaced pads once, but never pulled the caliper pins and the brakes work like new, so I guess the original grease must still be working. I guess the issue is that once the pins have been pulled out and cleaned off, or messed with by a previous owner, it makes sense to me to put the original type grease on them since that works so well for those of us who left it alone. However, if they haven't been messed with and still work great, I would not pull them apart. Ed