Do you need to grease back of brake pads?
Christopher Davis
Updated on May 20, 2026
Brakes must be correctly lubricated for them to function properly. Although grease should never be applied to the actual brake pads there are a large number of moving parts in the system that require lubrication. Brake grease ensures these parts can move freely when called upon.
Should you put grease on the back of brake pads?
Use lube sparingly between the caliper and pad shim or on the back of a bare pad. Never apply any lubrication to the friction surface of a brake lining. To lubricate hydraulic components, such as the piston seals inside wheel cylinders and calipers, use silicone-based brake lube.What kind of grease do you put on the back of brake pads?
Super LubeĀ® Silicone Lubricating Brake Grease can also be used to dampen vibrations between disc brake pads and caliper pistons. It should NOT be applied between the pads and any noise suppression shims. Use it sparingly on the back of a bare pad or between the pad shim and caliper.Should you grease brake pad slides?
Use special grease for ceramic brake pad assembliesBut they don't dissipate heat as well, and that high heat can degrade the grease in caliper and pad slides. So it's critical that you use synthetic high-temp brake pad grease to lubricate the caliper pins, pad abutments and pad slide hardware.