I've got a 1997 Mercury Cougar with the sport package (Lincoln Mk VIII brakes). Anyway, I'm having trouble keeping the caliper pins from freezing up. I put new calipers, pins, and boots on last time I serviced the rear brakes. I'd say that I did that about 15 months ago. Anway, I was in there again yesterday and 3 of the pins were froze up again. I use the Carlson synthetic brake grease on the pins. (In the past I tried using anti-sieze, but that didn't work either.) I fully covered the pins with the grease, but don't put on an excessive amount as I don't want the grease to end up on the pads somehow.

Anyone have any tips on what I may be missing?

On a possibly related note, I'm not 100% sure which way the rubber boots go on. I may have them on upsidedown, although they seem to fit well the way that I have them. Anyone know for sure which way they go?

Thanks!

Mike

Thats a common problem with those brakes. Several other Ford and Mazda cars have that same problem with the slides rusting up too. The best way to fight the problem is to put new boots on and use a caliper lube. I have delt with that problem many times.

Thats a common problem with those brakes. Several other Ford and Mazda cars have that same problem with the slides rusting up too. The best way to fight the problem is to put new boots on and use a caliper lube. I have delt with that problem many times.

Chris,

Yes, I did use the boots and the synthetic caliper lube.

Do you put the lube in the boots also, or do you just lube up the pins?

Thanks!

Mike

I had that issue with my 96' Thunderbird a few years back. I replace the whole caliper assemblies with reman units (which had new pins, boots, yada yada) and pulled the pins and boots off the reman unit (which hardly had any grease) and wiped all the grease off and lubed them up with Moly thread lubricant which is very thick and pasty. 4 years later and I haven't had an issue with them since. If you have any other issues with MN-12's (thunderbird/cougar/mark VIII ) just send me a PM, I have quite a few of these cars.

I had that issue with my 96' Thunderbird a few years back. I replace the whole caliper assemblies with reman units (which had new pins, boots, yada yada) and pulled the pins and boots off the reman unit (which hardly had any grease) and wiped all the grease off and lubed them up with Moly thread lubricant which is very thick and pasty. 4 years later and I haven't had an issue with them since. If you have any other issues with MN-12's (thunderbird/cougar/mark VIII ) just send me a PM, I have quite a few of these cars.

Rancherlee,

I'll give that a try. What brand is the lubricant?

I love the MN-12's also. I've got 170,000 miles on this one. I've done all the service since it was new. Thanks for the PM offer. If you ever have any need of any driveability troubleshooting assistance, send me a PM.

Mike

Chris,

Yes, I did use the boots and the synthetic caliper lube.

Do you put the lube in the boots also, or do you just lube up the pins?

Thanks!

Mike

I missed this topic for a little while. Sorry. I dont really lube the boots and install them in the calipers. But I do lube the inside bore of the boots once they are inside the calipers with a small brush of some kind and lube the pins also.