Tip for brake caliper piston removal

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terryjenner
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Tip for brake caliper piston removal

#1

Post by terryjenner »

I tore my brake master cylinder and calipers down today. You need a soft-jawed vise but I only have the aluminum-destroying version of vice jaws. My solution was to clamp a large Jorgensen wood vise into my vise, then clamp the part I was working on into the Jorgensen clamp. It worked great.

In order to keep the piston from flying out as a projectile, I put a block of wood in between the piston top and caliper bracket. As the piston worked its way out a bit, I decreased the dimension of the free space between the piston top and the free world so it wouldn't just shoot out and take me out with it.

If I had my SD card in my camera phone I would have taken a pic, but I can if anyone wants.
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IndianaJohn
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Re: Tip for brake caliper piston removal

#2

Post by IndianaJohn »

I usually just do it on the bike. Unbolt the caliper and let it hang, then just use the master to pump the piston out. Just did this on the 750 a couple of weeks ago. Of course I overhauled the master first.
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Re: Tip for brake caliper piston removal

#3

Post by Cookie »

Some of those are amazingly stuck though. I've had a long sitter just blow the master. I have been lucky enough not to have had to go the grease gun method yet.
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IndianaJohn
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Re: Tip for brake caliper piston removal

#4

Post by IndianaJohn »

Cookie wrote:Some of those are amazingly stuck though. I've had a long sitter just blow the master. I have been lucky enough not to have had to go the grease gun method yet.
Never had to resort to that method either, but I have heard of people doing so. I've used air in the past and decided pumping them out with the master was safer. But if that failed, I might have to go with the grease gun, tho I would dread the clean-up afterward.
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Re: Tip for brake caliper piston removal

#5

Post by Cookie »

Air just made noise on the last couple until I boiled them. The rear took boiling twice. At least I didn't have to deep fat fry them! :-D
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Re: Tip for brake caliper piston removal

#6

Post by milesoffun »

I used the grease method and it was not near as bad to clean up as I thought it would be - 10 minutes and I was good to go.
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Re: Tip for brake caliper piston removal

#7

Post by morganfrmn »

take both apart and use the master cylinder on both at same time... till they get to the end...
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Re: Tip for brake caliper piston removal

#8

Post by DocRoot »

I have been lucky enough not to have had to go the grease gun method yet.
Sprout and I just did mine (barnfind 1100) which were amazingly corroded and stuck, and it was no-muss, no-fuss, well, maybe just a little muss:
GreasyCalliper01.jpg
GreasyCalliper01.jpg (106.69 KiB) Viewed 210 times
Last edited by DocRoot on Sun Jun 16, 2019 5:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Tip for brake caliper piston removal

#9

Post by DocRoot »

We used the banjo and plugged it with a short piece of copper #14 wire with a bit of the insulation still attached, stuffed up the center and then screwed back in.

You can see the amount of grease the two sides took altogether.
GreasyCalliper02.jpg
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Re: Tip for brake caliper piston removal

#10

Post by DocRoot »

The best part of the grease-gun method is that they come apart with no drama. The HUGE pressure of a grease gun is backed up by really low volume so when things let go it is in millimeters, not with a pop or bang... Things ooze, they don't squirt.

Now it's off the the ultrasonic cleaner for some R&R.
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Re: Tip for brake caliper piston removal

#11

Post by pidjones »

I've done grease gun, air, and master. I think my favorite is actually the grease gun. A little kerosene bath for it after...
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tomk1960
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Re: Tip for brake caliper piston removal

#12

Post by tomk1960 »

If air doesn't work, this is the method I use that ALWAYS works, every time. And no greasy mess to clean up afterwards.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHvIA_--BAs
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Re: Tip for brake caliper piston removal

#13

Post by SnoBrdr »

IndianaJohn wrote:
Cookie wrote:Some of those are amazingly stuck though. I've had a long sitter just blow the master. I have been lucky enough not to have had to go the grease gun method yet.
Never had to resort to that method either, but I have heard of people doing so. I've used air in the past and decided pumping them out with the master was safer. But if that failed, I might have to go with the grease gun, tho I would dread the clean-up afterward.
I had to do it.

Cleanup wasn't really that bad.

A can of Brake Kleen easily did the trick.
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pidjones
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Re: Tip for brake caliper piston removal

#14

Post by pidjones »

I'd much rather deal with the grease than more brake fluid.
"Love 'em all.... let God sort 'em out!"
Ex 2006 GL1800 - the Black Pearl SOLD! to make room for:
2021 Can-Am Spyder RT Limited Dark Chalk Metallic
1975 Red GL1000 project - ex Pistol Pete project
1972 Triumph T150V Trident rescue - finished and FOR SALE!
1976 Yamaha RD400c
1978 GL1000 with '75 engine - the Hunley
Ex 1978 GL1000
Ex 1979 GL1000
Ex '79 CB750F rat bike
Ex '86 SEi
Ex '77 GL1000
Ex '76 RD400
Ex '72 Penton 125 set up for flat track
Ex '73 RD250
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Re: Tip for brake caliper piston removal

#15

Post by Rat »

You have to clean them anyway ....

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