Hope silicon lube

TimC7

Ovine Assaulter
Apr 22, 2023
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UK
No it's something that was common knowledge when I was in the motor trade and an engineer I know tells me that any silicone on jobs means he has to throw away the cutting bits as it knackers then up. Similar with car spraying as the silicone is almost impossible to remove and the paint won't stick properly.
Also brickwork needs to be pointed and in good order before applying silicone waterproofing as you can't repoint it properly afterwards.
Sounds like a function of the lubricating properties rather than damaging the actual metal. I have used it on a motorbike as a water dispersant and rust protection for years without seeing any "damage" to steel or aluminium alloy parts whatsoever. Common knowledge sounds more like rumours and anecdotes . .
 
Last edited:

Bones

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Apr 3, 2020
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Sounds like a function of the lubricating properties rather than damaging the actual metal. I use it on a motorbike as a water dispersant and rust protection for years without seeing any "damage" to steel or aluminium alloy parts whatsoever. Common knowledge sounds more like rumours and anecdotes . .
From the internet
Silicon is detrimental to surface quality in low carbon steels, a condition that is especially magnified in low carbon resulfurized steels.

Silicon is detrimental to tool life in machining as it forms hard abrasive particles which increase tool wear and thus lower the steel’s machinability.

Bottom line, on plain carbon and alloy bar steels, silicon contents of 0.10, 0.15-.35 weight percent are typical; On resulfurized , and resufurized and rephosphorized free machining steels, silicon analysis above 0.02 wt % is
 

TimC7

Ovine Assaulter
Apr 22, 2023
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UK
From the internet
Silicon is detrimental to surface quality in low carbon steels, a condition that is especially magnified in low carbon resulfurized steels.

Silicon is detrimental to tool life in machining as it forms hard abrasive particles which increase tool wear and thus lower the steel’s machinability.

Bottom line, on plain carbon and alloy bar steels, silicon contents of 0.10, 0.15-.35 weight percent are typical; On resulfurized , and resufurized and rephosphorized free machining steels, silicon analysis above 0.02 wt % is
Source? URL?

Silicon is not silicone.
 

Mikerb

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
May 16, 2019
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Weymouth
Do not use Isopropanol. No confusion or wriggle room here.
I have cleaned the brakes using IPA for more years than I can remember and zero issues....but to reiterate.....the cleaning process I described goes nowhere near the seals.
 

RustyIron

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Funny you found the supposed info off the internet fast enough

The internet is overflowing with bollocks.
I could machine some steel while spraying the work with a can of silicone spray.
In fact, I'll do it and shoot a video if someone wants to send me a case of silicone spray.
One minute video for one case of silicone: A small price to pay to see the truth.
 

RustyIron

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Silicon is detrimental to surface quality in low carbon steels,

Silicon is detrimental to tool life i

on plain carbon and alloy bar steels, silicon contents of 0.10, 0.15-.35 weight percent are typical

Please read this entire thread from the beginning.
Silicon is not silicone.
What you said is not relevant to the conversation.
 

Hattori-Hanzo

Well-known member
Apr 10, 2023
404
526
UK
Yeah, my post was referring more to a caliper overhaul. You can still apply it to an exposed piston to keep it lubricated, same as you would the silicone, but for best results the seals need to be covered in it.

As a side note

 

golfatha

Active member
Jan 17, 2023
45
126
Northumberland
Hi I use this hunters silicone lube I regular clean mud and grime off my Hope tech 4 calipers sand pistons and I use the block inserted to allow one piston to come out at a time and lube each piston Hope say this is more to lubricate the piston seal as much as the piston my brakes work a treat using this all 4 pistons coming out evenly I got mine for £10.99 from total bleed solutions in Normandy Middlesbrough
 

EMTBSEAN

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Feb 20, 2020
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Sheffield
Hi I use this hunters silicone lube I regular clean mud and grime off my Hope tech 4 calipers sand pistons and I use the block inserted to allow one piston to come out at a time and lube each piston Hope say this is more to lubricate the piston seal as much as the piston my brakes work a treat using this all 4 pistons coming out evenly I got mine for £10.99 from total bleed solutions in Normandy Middlesbrough
Many thanks for your reply golfatha, I bought some blocks from R3Pro but like a plank I forgot to buy the one your on about, thanks for the heads up mate 👍
 

Mikerb

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
May 16, 2019
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Weymouth
I reckon maintaining brakes would be a lot easier if the position or orientation of rear calliper was changed. I rarely have to touch my front calliper because it is vertical and somewhat protected by the fork leg. Meanwhile the rear calliper is horizontal and the top open to all the trail debris thrown up by the rear wheel. Maybe some sort of cover would also help protect the pistons and pads......can't remember seeing such a device though.
 

EMTBSEAN

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Feb 20, 2020
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I reckon maintaining brakes would be a lot easier if the position or orientation of rear calliper was changed. I rarely have to touch my front calliper because it is vertical and somewhat protected by the fork leg. Meanwhile the rear calliper is horizontal and the top open to all the trail debris thrown up by the rear wheel. Maybe some sort of cover would also help protect the pistons and pads......can't remember seeing such a device though.
I saw something like this on GMBN where one of the presenters put some gaffer tape on the top of the rear calliper, maybe some clever person could 3D print some kind of cover and patent it 😉
 

TimC7

Ovine Assaulter
Apr 22, 2023
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UK
I saw something like this on GMBN where one of the presenters put some gaffer tape on the top of the rear calliper, maybe some clever person could 3D print some kind of cover and patent it 😉
Be easy to make a thin platic shield held in place by the split pin holding the pads . .
 

Mikerb

E*POWAH Elite World Champion
May 16, 2019
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Weymouth
I saw something like this on GMBN where one of the presenters put some gaffer tape on the top of the rear calliper, maybe some clever person could 3D print some kind of cover and patent it 😉
I think a plastic or rubber clip on cover would be better than tape.....but yes it would need to be properly formed and probably bespoke to each calliper brand. Hope afficanadoes would want them in a range of loud colours🤣
 

Arminius

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Jul 26, 2022
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Rhein-Ruhr Delta, Germany
In fact thats basically plumbers stuff. I use silicon grease on my espresso machine and Gardena stuff. In Germany its called „Hahnfett“ (tap grease, not to mix with cock grease!). E.g. on the great river - hope it is multilingual: Amazing Zone
 

veryoldfart

Member
Oct 1, 2020
68
73
Suffolk
A few light years ago, my first Hope disc brakes were minis . They totally fried on any serious downhill.

But, Hope did recommend using a small dab of silicon ( which was supplied in a small tub with the Hope service kit) to ensure their phenolic pistons moved in and out smoothly. Over the 5/6 years I used them, I must have used 3 dabs ie cotton bud size amounts of the silicon. 30 ml will see you out, 250ml will be gift to your great great grandchildren
 

EMTBSEAN

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Feb 20, 2020
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Sheffield
A few light years ago, my first Hope disc brakes were minis . They totally fried on any serious downhill.

But, Hope did recommend using a small dab of silicon ( which was supplied in a small tub with the Hope service kit) to ensure their phenolic pistons moved in and out smoothly. Over the 5/6 years I used them, I must have used 3 dabs ie cotton bud size amounts of the silicon. 30 ml will see you out, 250ml will be gift to your great great grandchildren
After reading this it’s made me realise what I was worrying about buying the Hunters silicon for +-£10, I thought I’d need loads of the stuff for my brakes 🙄 thanks buddy 🫡
 

E-MAD MALC

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Nov 16, 2021
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EAST SUSSEX
Have been told never to use IPA due to the risk of chemical damage to the seal.
IPA Or Rubbing Alcohol is safe to use on plastics and rubber
Getting techy here
  1. Chemical structure: Isopropyl alcohol has a different chemical structure compared to ethanol and methanol. It has a three-carbon chain with a hydroxyl (-OH) group, whereas ethanol has a two-carbon chain and methanol has only one carbon atom. This difference in structure affects their interactions with other substances, including plastics and rubber.
 

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