Buggered seal or just need a clean?

[stevewederell]

Too true Anthrax (I like the band and the bug).

Bad news is that just had another wee play and look. Noticed what I think is soiled brake fluid around the piston (right caliper, top inside one). From that I have thought fuck it and packed up. Not sure if I'm right but I have assumed that this means that the seal is rooted?!

I don't have any in my back pocket so this will have to wait till Monday/Tuesday before I can check out prices around town. Then I'll have to decide if I should tackle putting them in or take the calipers to the shop for them to do. I know I'd prefer to do them myself, just something new to learn.

At least now I know (I think) what the problem is, shit that I can't go riding now though

[Taz]

shit that I can't go riding now though

Bah! course you can!! And you'll ride faster, after all brakes only slow you down!

[Max Preload]

...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.

No. Just depends which has the least stiction.

[stevewederell]

Anyone in Christchurch know where I can get complete new set of seals at a reasonable price?

I need to get a frame number for Hampton crew but he thought they may be ~$15 each, which means 2 callipers, four pistons, two seals grand total of 16 seals

I guess i could just do the one, but it seems dumb not to have them all the same

[Taz]

Just phone them with the frame number then he'll be able to give you a price that's not a guess.

[stevewederell]

Right then - Looks like it will be ~$20 for each PAIR of the top seals and ~$25 for each pair of the bottom ones. Down side is that all tops ones are in stock but only 3 on the bottom ones are.

So my new plan, try and pull all pistons out tonight and clean the bits that are still dirty ready for tomorrow when parts arrive. New bits in, except for one set and hope for the best.

Any extra tips more than welcome...

[vifferman]

I have two (2) tips:
Be patient.
Don't force anything.
Wear gloves that are resistant to brake fluid. That stuff is not good for you.




Alright - three (3) tips.

[FROSTY:Me]

Right then - Looks like it will be ~$20 for each PAIR of the top seals and ~$25 for each pair of the bottom ones. Down side is that all tops ones are in stock but only 3 on the bottom ones are.

So my new plan, try and pull all pistons out tonight and clean the bits that are still dirty ready for tomorrow when parts arrive. New bits in, except for one set and hope for the best.

Any extra tips more than welcome...

what happened that you need seals??

[stevewederell]

Bad news is that just had another wee play and look. Noticed what I think is soiled brake fluid around the piston (right caliper, top inside one). From that I have thought fuck it and packed up. Not sure if I'm right but I have assumed that this means that the seal is rooted?!

Hey Frosty, see above. Looks like just one seal, but i think maybe it's best to do full set - over the top?

[Squiggles]

Do it once and properly

[stevewederell]

Struck one wee prob after I got the calipers off (that bit I'd done before and is well easy). Tried to use my fancy new star shaped screw driver to undo the caliper, too tight! Maybe they've been loctited in place...

New plan v783 - Buy, borrow an air compressor tomorrow night. Blast (gently) those puppies out, old seals out, clean clean clean, rinse out, dry, brake fluid in, new seals in, pistons back in, on to the next pair...then, surely then all will be fine??

Will have to leave one of the lower pairs of seals in until new ones arrive from Japan.

Really need this sorted so I can get back on the road, more importantly to the track on Saturday!

[stevewederell]

Right, have seals will party!!!

First two out and discovered that the "upper and lower" seals, are in fact the other way around..., if I hadn't stopped and thought about it and just tried to jammy them in, who knows what would have happened.

Can't say I'm enjoying this anymore, but at least I'm learning not to trust any fucker and to check and recheck things.

Anyhoo, back to it

[Taz]

[stevewederell]

LOL - thanks for the boost mate...

On to 2nd caliper. Of the two that I need to get out, I can only get one out.

Thinking that even though I don't have four complete sets, i should replace three, but also open and clean the fourth. I mean I don't really need

[stevewederell]

Job done!

Finally managed to get that pesky piston out!!

Home today and back on went the calipers, new pads in, old fluid out, new fluid in, bleed bleed bleed, am I done yet?? Bleed some more. Was getting well worried, seemed to take forever for pistons to engage, thought i had really fucked it somehow!

Anyway, the only small prob now is the pair of pistons I wasn't able to sort out, is sticking very slightly. Thought I might throw old pad in, it's almost new anyway, till I am able to replace that pair of seals.

Thanks to all that have helped with my little mission, and anyone on chch that is looking to do this, don't ask me for help cos I'm well over fucking brakes for a while!