greetings again fellow HAMBers! Do any of you guys ( and gals) know what some brake cylinders are lubricated/protected with to prevent rust before the brake system is bled? They sometimes have a clear slightly thick ( viscous?) liquid that is similar to mineral oil coating the functional metal surfaces. Or do you do something different to keep wheel cylinders from rusting before they are filled and bled other than just plug the openings?
Napa Sil-Glyde and other silicone based greases are usually used. I normally take the wheel cylinders apart, verify they are rust free and the pistons are not sticking, clean them up and regrease them. About 20 years ago there was a batch of new wheel cylinders I had and the grease inside had hardened and gummed up. So now I always disassemble, verify parts condition, and grease em up.
I'm still using a pint squeeze bottle of Wagner "brake assembly lube'' I bought in 1968 … recently put a master cylinder back on the line that was rebuilt in the '70s and it's innards were still pristine.
Castrol in England sells "brake grease", sometime on Ebay. Auto stores here really give you a look if you ask for it.
I have a bottle of this McKay assembly lube from about 30 years ago, still use it, it still works fine.
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