Brake Caliper Piston Removal Made Simple
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- tomk1960
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Brake Caliper Piston Removal Made Simple
This is my first how-to video and thought I'd share it here. This is done with a dual piston caliper but the same basic techniques can be applied to the older two-piece single pistons calipers on the GL1000's. I plan to eventually do a video for those, as well as the rear two-piece dual piston calipers on the early Wings.
This was shot on Sunday by my son-in-law who's a professional videographer. He surprised me when he said it was already edited and ready to post this morning. Hope you find it helpful - enjoy!
Tom
This was shot on Sunday by my son-in-law who's a professional videographer. He surprised me when he said it was already edited and ready to post this morning. Hope you find it helpful - enjoy!
Tom
1986 VFR750F Interceptor
1983 Honda CB1100F Super Sport - Red 1123 Resto-Mod
1978 Honda GL1000
1983 Honda CB1100F Super Sport - Red 1123 Resto-Mod
1978 Honda GL1000
- Placerville
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Re: Brake Caliper Piston Removal Made Simple
Tom,
I'd like to be the first to nominate you (and your son-on-law) to be the official NGW "How-To" video guys. That was excellent. Well done with very nice sound quality and video editing. IMHO, our site is in need of some "How-To" videos for the basics and I think you're just the guy to do it.
Maybe some members will jump in with some of their own suggestions for videos they'd like to see. Here's my first one:
Carb Sync
I'd like to be the first to nominate you (and your son-on-law) to be the official NGW "How-To" video guys. That was excellent. Well done with very nice sound quality and video editing. IMHO, our site is in need of some "How-To" videos for the basics and I think you're just the guy to do it.

Maybe some members will jump in with some of their own suggestions for videos they'd like to see. Here's my first one:
Carb Sync
- tomk1960
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Re: Brake Caliper Piston Removal Made Simple
Thanks Placerville - I really appreciate the compliment and will pass it on to Jordan. He's a pro and did this right - with two cameras, proper lighting and he mic'd me for sound. I was impressed with how he got this done so fast. Editing video with a computer takes a fraction of the time it used to take with video tape.
I hope to have many more videos to come, but I'll only do topics that I'm qualified to cover since I don't want to mislead anyone. Topics like fork seal removal and fork rebuilding will definitely be covered, along with more brake-related videos. I have a technique for bleeding front and rear brake systems from scratch (i.e. everything rebuilt, no fluid in lines) to completion in an hour that I plan to show. No special tools are needed and it eliminates the frustration I've read about in several forums. I'm open to suggestions for other videos as well, so send them my way.
Thanks again!
I hope to have many more videos to come, but I'll only do topics that I'm qualified to cover since I don't want to mislead anyone. Topics like fork seal removal and fork rebuilding will definitely be covered, along with more brake-related videos. I have a technique for bleeding front and rear brake systems from scratch (i.e. everything rebuilt, no fluid in lines) to completion in an hour that I plan to show. No special tools are needed and it eliminates the frustration I've read about in several forums. I'm open to suggestions for other videos as well, so send them my way.
Thanks again!
Last edited by tomk1960 on Wed Oct 02, 2013 4:36 pm, edited 2 times in total.
1986 VFR750F Interceptor
1983 Honda CB1100F Super Sport - Red 1123 Resto-Mod
1978 Honda GL1000
1983 Honda CB1100F Super Sport - Red 1123 Resto-Mod
1978 Honda GL1000
- Whiskerfish
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Re: Brake Caliper Piston Removal Made Simple
Subscribed!!!
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"The book is wrong, this whole Conclusion is Fallacious" River Tam
2008 GL1800 IIIA "TH3DOG"
1975/6/7/8/9 Arthur Fulmer Dressed Road bike
1975 Naked Noisy and Nasty in town bike
and a whole garage full of possibilities!!
Psst. oh and by the way CHANGE YOUR BELTS!!!!
- Toehead
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Re: Brake Caliper Piston Removal Made Simple
Perfect video!
For really stubborn calipers (that one in a hundred one)
you can substitute a grease gun for the master cylinder. The bleed screw acts as a zerk, put a bolt to block the brake line inlet, and pump away. This is even more messy!
For really stubborn calipers (that one in a hundred one)
you can substitute a grease gun for the master cylinder. The bleed screw acts as a zerk, put a bolt to block the brake line inlet, and pump away. This is even more messy!

2012 Golf TDI, fast and frugal oil burner
1980 CX500C, All around road warrior (Sold)
1975 TS125 (Sold), old smoker
1977 naked GL1000, Highway cruiser
'81 GL1100 14,000 (reconditioned and sold)
'81 GL1100 50,000 miles (under construction)
2X 1981 CM400 beginner bike (sold)
1980 CB750C (sold)
1994 Virago 750 (Wifey's bike)
'76 GL1000 Sulphur Yellow (Megasquirted efi build) http://www.ngwclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=59774
1980 CX500C, All around road warrior (Sold)
1975 TS125 (Sold), old smoker
1977 naked GL1000, Highway cruiser
'81 GL1100 14,000 (reconditioned and sold)
'81 GL1100 50,000 miles (under construction)
2X 1981 CM400 beginner bike (sold)
1980 CB750C (sold)
1994 Virago 750 (Wifey's bike)
'76 GL1000 Sulphur Yellow (Megasquirted efi build) http://www.ngwclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=59774
- mikenixon
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Re: Brake Caliper Piston Removal Made Simple
Nice job, Tom!
Mike Nixon
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https://www.motorcycleproject.com/text/lies_ether.html
www.motorcycleproject.com
https://www.motorcycleproject.com/text/ ... _carb.html
https://youtu.be/CDnzwDWhN24
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- Roady
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Re: Brake Caliper Piston Removal Made Simple
I think you're on to something there. Great quality, brief and to-the-point.
BRAVO!
Looking forward to more.

Looking forward to more.
- wog
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Re: Brake Caliper Piston Removal Made Simple
Execellent video.
Thanks to you and your son-in-law.

Thanks to you and your son-in-law.
Great to keep these old 'Wings flying on down the road.
- sunnbobb
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Re: Brake Caliper Piston Removal Made Simple
Excellent, Could one of the web moderators move it to the Shop Talk?
You should see the powder coating Tom did for me on the No Quarter.. it is wow. Highly recommend his work.
You should see the powder coating Tom did for me on the No Quarter.. it is wow. Highly recommend his work.
I found the end of the internet
---- Bradshaw Bikes custom polishing for your wing. Visit us on facebook!
1978 Learning Experience
1980 County Road Hauler "Brain Damage"
1978 Cafe Custom Gl1000 "Vyper"
1977 Bulldog Inspired "Vaincre"
1981 Street Fighter GL1100 "No Quarter"
1983 Supercharged Street Drag "Anubis" (in worx)
1983 gl1100 mint restoration "Kristen"
1985 Aspencade..pondering.
---- Bradshaw Bikes custom polishing for your wing. Visit us on facebook!
1978 Learning Experience
1980 County Road Hauler "Brain Damage"
1978 Cafe Custom Gl1000 "Vyper"
1977 Bulldog Inspired "Vaincre"
1981 Street Fighter GL1100 "No Quarter"
1983 Supercharged Street Drag "Anubis" (in worx)
1983 gl1100 mint restoration "Kristen"
1985 Aspencade..pondering.
- Placerville
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Re: Brake Caliper Piston Removal Made Simple
tomk1960 wrote: SNIP... "Topics like fork seal removal and fork rebuilding will definitely be covered"



- tomk1960
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Re: Brake Caliper Piston Removal Made Simple
Jordan and I spent a good 4 hours shooting 4 new videos yesterday and it went pretty smoothly. One of the videos covers removal of the pistons from a rear caliper of a GL1000. I'm sure a lot of you know how to do this, but for those who don't, it will be an easy job once they watch the video. The other three videos cover:
Master cylinder disassembly and rebuilding. (from a CB1100F, but procedure is very similar for all of them)
Dual piston caliper rebuilding (like the calipers on the second generation GL's)
Master cylinder sight glass removal and replacement (found on various Honda master cylinders)
He's going to need a couple weeks to edit these, but once they're up on YouTube I'll let you all know. I can't wait to see how they come out.
Master cylinder disassembly and rebuilding. (from a CB1100F, but procedure is very similar for all of them)
Dual piston caliper rebuilding (like the calipers on the second generation GL's)
Master cylinder sight glass removal and replacement (found on various Honda master cylinders)
He's going to need a couple weeks to edit these, but once they're up on YouTube I'll let you all know. I can't wait to see how they come out.
1986 VFR750F Interceptor
1983 Honda CB1100F Super Sport - Red 1123 Resto-Mod
1978 Honda GL1000
1983 Honda CB1100F Super Sport - Red 1123 Resto-Mod
1978 Honda GL1000
- sunnbobb
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Re: Brake Caliper Piston Removal Made Simple
Cool beans, thanks for your efforts Tom!
I found the end of the internet
---- Bradshaw Bikes custom polishing for your wing. Visit us on facebook!
1978 Learning Experience
1980 County Road Hauler "Brain Damage"
1978 Cafe Custom Gl1000 "Vyper"
1977 Bulldog Inspired "Vaincre"
1981 Street Fighter GL1100 "No Quarter"
1983 Supercharged Street Drag "Anubis" (in worx)
1983 gl1100 mint restoration "Kristen"
1985 Aspencade..pondering.
---- Bradshaw Bikes custom polishing for your wing. Visit us on facebook!
1978 Learning Experience
1980 County Road Hauler "Brain Damage"
1978 Cafe Custom Gl1000 "Vyper"
1977 Bulldog Inspired "Vaincre"
1981 Street Fighter GL1100 "No Quarter"
1983 Supercharged Street Drag "Anubis" (in worx)
1983 gl1100 mint restoration "Kristen"
1985 Aspencade..pondering.
- NewWinger
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Re: Brake Caliper Piston Removal Made Simple
Tom,
Great job, I used a similar technique for the front Gl1000 calipers. I was going to rebuild my Front master so I took it off,and mounted it in a vise, and used a short banjo bold hose and pushed them out the same way you did.
I could not get both pistons out of the rear caliper that way (77 GW). So I split the halves and used a grease gun to get the second one out. I did not want to do it that way however. Am looking forward to you other videos.
Am subscribing.
all the best.
Great job, I used a similar technique for the front Gl1000 calipers. I was going to rebuild my Front master so I took it off,and mounted it in a vise, and used a short banjo bold hose and pushed them out the same way you did.
I could not get both pistons out of the rear caliper that way (77 GW). So I split the halves and used a grease gun to get the second one out. I did not want to do it that way however. Am looking forward to you other videos.
Am subscribing.
all the best.
Kenny
Illegitimi non carborundum
'77 GL1000 my first bike @58
Illegitimi non carborundum
'77 GL1000 my first bike @58
- ericheath
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Re: Brake Caliper Piston Removal Made Simple
Nice vid. I look forward to the others. Growing up in Cow Hampshire and going to college in Mass, the accent was like music to my eahs.
Whatever I suggest here should be given ample time for a moderator to delicately correct. I apologize in advance.
77 WING, 1200 engine with 77 heads, cams, gl1100 foot pegs, Magna V65 front end, 764A carbs, [-gone Suzuki M109 monoshock--, replaced with gl1100 shocks] gl 1200 swing arm, gl1500 final drive, wheel and rear brakes Valkyrie seat, Meanstreak tank, Sportster pipes, Power Arc ignition off crank.
77 Wing. black
83 Wing, in pieces
"Continuing education is important even if the subject matter is fairly useless (as in this case)."---Greg Foresi
77 WING, 1200 engine with 77 heads, cams, gl1100 foot pegs, Magna V65 front end, 764A carbs, [-gone Suzuki M109 monoshock--, replaced with gl1100 shocks] gl 1200 swing arm, gl1500 final drive, wheel and rear brakes Valkyrie seat, Meanstreak tank, Sportster pipes, Power Arc ignition off crank.
77 Wing. black
83 Wing, in pieces
"Continuing education is important even if the subject matter is fairly useless (as in this case)."---Greg Foresi
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