Hi Gang:
If you don't mind, I'd like to ask a question about my other car. I trust
the mechanical prowess and judgment of others on this Digest, and I'm
figuring that someone will have some good ideas for me.
The front brake calipers on my Mitsubishi Mirage are of the floating type.
To maintain pad centering, the caliper itself floats laterally on a pair of
pins. So picture it, the caliper has a pair of bosses, inside of which
there are rubber bushings. The bushings slide over a pair of hollow pins
that get bolted to the steering knuckle. The caliper can then slide left
and right to accommodate any runnout in the rotor or wear in the pads.
Here's the problem: After a short time, the rubber bushings freeze to the
steel pins. And after that happens, the calipers no longer float. Instead,
the outboard pad gets held against the rotor and wears out prematurely. I
just lost a really nice set of Akebono ceramic pads to this issue.
I've tried lubricating the pad/pin contact surfaces liberally. And that
works well for a short while. But eventually, the grease seems to get
absorbed by the rubber and you get the sticking problem back. I've tried
lithium grease, silicone brake grease and molybdenum grease all with the
same result. Works great for a short time. Wait too long between checks
and your great Akebono pads get munched. I think the real solution is to
have someone make a set of delrin or nylon bushings to replace the rubber
ones. But I don't have the time or resources to do that right now.
Does anyone have any ideas on what I could try here? I'm wondering if there
might be some other lubricant that might work. And as always, thanks for
your indulgence.
Rich Wagner
Montrose, CO
(That will soon change to Seattle vicinity, Montrose, CO and parts
elsewhere.)
'82 GTV6
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