Buggered seal or just need a clean?

**stevewederell** · 10th April 2009, 15:59

Struck my first wee issue. I don't have a star shaped driver (like a six pointed phillips). This means till I get one, the callipers are staying assembled.

Today I've only managed to clean the four brake pins, they were caked in brake dust which seems to have been cooked on. I attacked this with 400 grit sandpaper and autosol and now they're looking sharp and feel smooth, rather than rough cardboard!

It's right now I wish I had an air compressor too, might be a wee easter gift to myself

**FJRider** · 10th April 2009, 16:08

Defitely sounds like a dam good clean was overdue... but new seals are still a good idea...

**stevewederell** · 10th April 2009, 16:20

Which was first though, chicken or the egg?

Was it dirty/buggered which caused pad to wear excessively, or has wear made it stick and then wear more...?

Oh, also sheared the drive change thing from my socket set clean in half

**stevewederell** · 10th April 2009, 20:30

Well only managed to clean down one caliper today. If I can get a good deal tomorrow I'll nab an air compressor and some more tools tomorrow and pull them totally apart.

**FJRider** · 11th April 2009, 01:38

Simple quick jobs... eh !!!

**FJRider** · 11th April 2009, 01:42

Originally Posted by stevewederell

Which was first though, chicken or the egg?

Was it dirty/buggered which caused pad to wear excessively, or has wear made it stick and then wear more...

As with all motorcycle "issues"... no direct cause may be proved... but merely factors in the result...

**FROSTY:Me** · 11th April 2009, 09:51

Like your ollution to the piston back problem

**stevewederell** · 11th April 2009, 10:14

Originally Posted by FROSTY

Like your sollution to the piston back problem

Just got to work with what you've got eh? Hey thanks for all your help to Frosty, very much appreciated.

Today I need to do LH calliper and check the right, still seems to be sticking a little. Once I'm happy with all that I'll throw new fluid in, bleed bleed bleed, new pads and hope for the best.

If I can't seem to stop the sticking I'll buy a compressor and driver and take her totally apart. Hope I don't need to do that though.

**FROSTY:Me** · 11th April 2009, 10:28

Originally Posted by stevewederell

Just got to work with what you've got eh? Hey thanks for all your help to Frosty, very much appreciated.

Today I need to do LH calliper and check the right, still seems to be sticking a little. Once I'm happy with all that I'll throw new fluid in, bleed bleed bleed, new pads and hope for the best.

If I can't seem to stop the sticking I'll buy a compressor and driver and take her totally apart. Hope I don't need to do that though.

you might want to focus on the one sticky piston -pump it further out and get it all shiney again

**FJRider** · 11th April 2009, 12:43

Originally Posted by FROSTY

you might want to focus on the one sticky piston -pump it further out and get it all shiney again

what he said...

**stevewederell** · 11th April 2009, 17:16

Autosol good or bad for pistons?

**stevewederell** · 11th April 2009, 18:24

Well lets hope it's not bad.

Decided not to pull calliper fully apart. Both callipers and all pistons nicely cleaned up, pins all shiny again, new pads in, brakes bled. Time for a beer.

I thought I had cleaned the pistons, then I used the autosol - now they sparkle, in a manly way of course!!

Did have a wee issue with my bleeding hose falling off and fluid pooling at bottom of tire

, nearly shat when I noticed

. Wasn't there for long but cleaned up and I'll just hope for the best on that one.

No time to ride the brakes in, hopefully tomorrow before a wee ride the the CHCH crazies.

Pic of the piston after autosol, far better.

**FJRider** · 11th April 2009, 20:30

Originally Posted by stevewederell

Autosol good or bad for pistons?

Autosol is an abrasive, as long as it is all removed with a clean cloth... all should be well..... A bit of soap and water on that tyre where brake fluid touched...

**stevewederell** · 12th April 2009, 11:23

Well brake lever is a lot more "solid" now, no real movement sideways from pads but they all slide up and down a little when pushed.

Another dumb newbie question, do the top (most forward) two pistons push against the pads more than the bottom two? I noticed this when I was pumping them out to clean them. It was the same for both callipers also, so I assumed it was normal.

Incredible day, must get out on the bike rather than fixing her