Dow Corning is supplying Molykote D-708 anti-friction coating to a major brake producer for decreasing noise from the brake-pad clips. Currently, Tier 1 suppliers have found this dry-film lubricant useful on disc-brake systems of many vehicles.
Dow Corning’s technical service expert and application engineer for Molykote lubricants, Matt Hagemeyer, stated that this anti-friction coating reduced the noise produced during caliper vibration tests, by decreasing the friction coefficient between retainer clips and brake-pad backing plates. He added that comprehensive testing of coated brake clips showed that the less friction can reduce noise and also potential roughness and wear from unreliable brake-pad movement.
As said by Hagemeyer, the Tier 1 brake supplier chose a dry lubricant rather than wet grease. Besides noise reduction, a dry anti-friction coating (AFC) can offer further brake-clip lubrication strength, having more resistance to potential oxidation, extreme temperature, water washout and road pollutants.
Lubrication experts from Dow Corning in partnership with customer engineering, tested the performance of the Molykote coating for consistent lubrication of metal-to-metal between spring-loaded retainer clips and brake-pad backing plates. Coating specialists sprayed this AFC to a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) lubricating solids film in order to control noise and friction.
Tier 1 suppliers found that Molykote coating can be used on disc-brake systems in several different vehicles like light-duty trucks and passenger cars. This coating provides clean assembly of brake-caliper elements to the brake manufacturer.