Getting pistons out?

**Mole_C** · 13th November 2006, 18:49

Im trying to replace some seals and do some cleaning but already have my brakes off so can't use the brakes to push the pistons out. Is there any other easy way to get them out without reconecting and filling with brake fluid again?

Thanks

**paturoa** · 13th November 2006, 19:29

compressed air, but be real careful cos it will come out a million miles per hour

if u dont have a compressor, then even the old lung power is normaly enough, don't drink the brake fluid, its poisonous (sp?)

**Mole_C** · 13th November 2006, 20:01

Yea i tried blowing through a hose and using a hand pump but didn't work, think i even broke the pump with the pressure

Im assuming that u put it in the hole where it connects to the brake line normally?

**paturoa** · 13th November 2006, 20:04

Yeah where the brake line goes into the caliper.

were they working OK before?

Otherwise take the caliper and a rag to wrap around it to the nearest garage and get them to blow it out with compressed air. Make sure that it is wrapped well as the piston will make a fast exit if it is jammed in there!

**Mole_C** · 13th November 2006, 20:21

yea they were working fine, might just take them in to cycletreads. Thanks for the help anyway

**Mole_C** · 14th November 2006, 16:15

I did it myself at home in the end, reconected them and pumped away. Took me a while but they work brilliantly now

Even got the front to slide when i was testing them. Im happy now

**paturoa** · 14th November 2006, 18:34

So you replaced the seals? and checked for pitting?

**Satch** · 14th November 2006, 21:08

Yeah mate, this is worth doing, just did them on Sallo's bike not long ago and it improved the braking 5 fold, they were real stuk, took a bit of getting them out tho, just used a rag in the caliper to "catch" them and compressed air to get them moving

i can give you a hand if you want

**The Stranger:Me** · 14th November 2006, 21:16

Originally Posted by Mole_C

I did it myself at home in the end, reconected them and pumped away. Took me a while but they work brilliantly now

Even got the front to slide when i was testing them. Im happy now

Um, you have a torque wrench and loctite aye?
We don't want a repeat of the great caliper hunt.

**scumdog** · 14th November 2006, 21:59

Originally Posted by CaN

Um, you have a torque wrench and loctite aye?
We don't want a repeat of the great caliper hunt.

Yeah, had that happen once, the BIG bolt holding the two halves together kinda unwound itself, first warning was the brrrrrrrr noise of the head of the bolt hitting the spokes of the front wheel!!!!!

The pump-jockeys at the gas stations freaked out when they saw the caliper tied to the handle-bars with a crescent taped between the disc-pads to stop them popping out if I used the front brakes.
(I was too scared to use them)