Should I grease calliper bolts?

[JayGee]

Hi,
Just had the front wheel off to check that the noise from a new front tyre that I had fitted wasn't a wheel bearing about to expire. I know this is a bit anal of me on a bike that's not yet a year old but I just wanted to be sure. Well, all looks good but I notice the tyre fitters had put a gold coloured grease on the calliper bolts, pinch bolts etc. I always thought these should not be lubricated and have never put anything on them on previous bikes, so my question is:-
Is it good to lube the calliper bolts etc and if so what do you use? I have previously had bolts seaze in the alloy fork lowers so maybe I should have been lubing them!
Also, is the same true for the rear wheel studs?
Cheers

 

[thornley]

Always use a touch of copper slip or similar high temp grease. Steel and ali alloys don't like being together and can seize.

 

[JayGee]

Cheers, I have just re read the manual, it's seems it's only the rear wheel studs that should not be lubricated. Guess I should have done what I've told loads of nupties at work to do i.e. RTFM,

 

[cookie]

If you lube them you'll need a lower torque range than in the book, or just do them by hand.

 

[madmartin]

Torque up as normal. As in the manual.

 

[Pukmeister]

My bike dealer (Bahnstormer) bollocked me for using grease on my rear wheel bolts. I presume they've seen loose wheels because of it. I just dry torque them now without issues.

As for brake caliper bolts, I prefer a low strength threadlock. Allows easy removal but prevents unwanted loosening: Evidence of rear calipers going through spokes somewhere on this site if you search.

 

[Oilcracker]

If you feel the wheel bearing is the cause of the noise , with the wheel fitted to the bike raise the front wheel off the ground and gently turn the wheel by hand. You will feel the bearing rumbling if it is gone. My tyre fitter picked up a failed front wheel bearing when balancing a tyre.

 

[Gargy]

If a torqued bolt has been lubricated, you need to multiply the torque value by 0.7.

I got this information from a Aircraft fitter, and have always adhered to it.

Good luck.

 

[cookie]

Torque up as normal. As in the manual.

But the manual doesn't say to grease them, does it?

All torque values given are dry, unless specifically given otherwise. That is standard practice.

 

[ianboydsnr]

You should really use thread lock on caliper bolts,

Having said that I always use copper slip, and
I never use a torque wrench on my own caliper bolts, risk taker that I am,

At work we would use thread lock and a torque wrench on customers vehicles,

We often get vehicles is with grease on the wheel bolts, wheel bolts should be fitted dry!

 

[AberdeenAngus]

At work we would use thread lock and a torque wrench on customers vehicles,

Of course you do.

 

[iftikartaxis]

Grease

Love grease I grease all nuts and bolts
I even use petroleum jelly on the battery terminals
I spray terminals with WD40 or something similar
That's what I was shown
I use to see cars vans trucks just been serviced never seen a oil can corrosion all over the place
Fine when everything is new
5 years down the line rusted bolts and seized

 

[madmartin]

If a torqued bolt has been lubricated, you need to multiply the torque value by 0.7.

I got this information from a Aircraft fitter, and have always adhered to it.

Good luck.

Ahh i see. So you apply less torque to a given fastener if lubricated. e.g. 42nm torque value x 0.7= 29nm.
Should i apply this method to all lubricated bolts or just the brake caliper bolts? Thanks.

 

[madmartin]

But the manual doesn't say to grease them, does it?

All torque values given are dry, unless specifically given otherwise. That is standard practice.

Exactly...mr Cookie. Torque and apply fastener as stated in the manual.

 

[boxer]

Are not the bolts plated to prevent corrosion?

 

[D6]

Ahh i see. So you apply less torque to a given fastener if lubricated. e.g. 42nm torque value x 0.7= 29nm.
Should i apply this method to all lubricated bolts or just the brake caliper bolts? Thanks.

unless stated otherwise that's the method I was taught and have practiced with no probs for over 30 yrs,
remember studlock etc, is a lube until dry also

 

[madmartin]

unless stated otherwise that's the method I was taught and have practiced with no probs for over 30 yrs,
remember studlock etc, is a lube until dry also

Well i think thats f*****g dangerous and i wouldnt want you workin on my bike.

 

[WindyChuffer]

Never had an issue with not using lube on caliper / wheel / pinch bolts.

Don't see why you need it. Lube in these bolts just doesn't sound right.

What do BMW dealers do? My money is on thread lock not lube.

 

[telbenj]

Always use a touch of copper slip or similar high temp grease. Steel and ali alloys don't like being together and can seize.

Same here I use copper slip have done for years I use it on any bolt I remove regularly, anything else a bit of loctite.
But I still tighten to the specified torque.

Terry