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Stripping calipers and cleaning?

andirsv1

andirsv1

Joined Jul 2007
3K Posts | 0+
West Lothian, Scotland
Alright all..........:thumbup

I've been on recently with what i thought was brake problems (seems to have turned out that i'm just a big fairy and there's nothing wrong with them!!).

My question today is regarding the removal and cleaning of the calipers. This has nothing to do with my initial (non) problem, i'd simply like to give all three a real good clean before the summer's here. So......after removing the fluid from the reservoir and removing the calipers, i'd like to soak and scrub them in wonder wheels, i'd like to remove the pistons and clean everything up but am wondering about seals etc....would they need replaced??Or am i best just pumping the pistons out as far as safely possible and soaking them without removal?? Is this safe/do-able?? Forgive me if this is a silly question but i have never done this and am not overly mechanically knowledgable but would just like to get more knowledge of the bike and it's parts.

Many thanks guys..........................:thumbup
 
If it was me matey - I'd just pump the pistons out (not all the way) and then get some brake cleaner and a toothbrush and give them a good clean - I personaly wouldn't soak them bud I would be worried about buggering the seals up.

C :thumbup
 
dangleebals said:
If it was me matey - I'd just pump the pistons out (not all the way) and then get some brake cleaner and a toothbrush and give them a good clean - I personaly wouldn't soak them bud I would be worried about buggering the seals up.

C :thumbup
Click to expand...


Aye bud..........kinda thought that would be the case............:thumbup
 
Andi, be very careful with wonder wheels, if you leave it to long it can mark things badly, i would not let it near seals of any kind as it is acidic, it is possible to give the caliper a real good clean in situ with wonder wheels and a toothbrush or similar, i would clean them in situ then take them off once cleaned and clean the inside/pistons etc. with something less likely to damage seals etc, brake cleaner/brake fluid, cut a piece of wood to fit in between pistons so they do not pop out of the seals, if they do you have more work on your hands:thumbup
 
Badger said:
Andi, be very careful with wonder wheels, if you leave it to long it can mark things badly, i would not let it near seals of any kind as it is acidic, it is possible to give the caliper a real good clean in situ with wonder wheels and a toothbrush or similar, i would clean them in situ then take them off once cleaned and clean the inside/pistons etc. with something less likely to damage seals etc, brake cleaner/brake fluid, cut a piece of wood to fit in between pistons so they do not pop out of the seals, if they do you have more work on your hands:thumbup
Click to expand...

Nice one Iain mate..............i'll go for that then.............:thumbup
 
I'd recommend you don't strip the caliper apart at all, it's nigh on impossible to get a hold of replacement seals now.

I used paint stripper on mine and was very careful not to get it near the rubber parts, if you do then wash it off immediately with loads of water.

My rear caliper came up a treat.

Before:
P1010117.jpg

After
P3070106.jpg
 
Cheers Alan...............yeah i'll go steady with the wonder wheels..............:thumbup
 
alan what stripper did you use?
Looks like the caliper was red at one stage, my front ones used to be red but some person in his wisdom painted them gold and very badly done too. your gold finish is that whats left after you stripped them or have you repainted them?

Garv :)
 
garvey2003 said:
alan what stripper did you use?
Looks like the caliper was red at one stage, my front ones used to be red but some person in his wisdom painted them gold and very badly done too. your gold finish is that whats left after you stripped them or have you repainted them?

Garv :)
Click to expand...

No expense spared mate you know me, I used Wickes paint stripper as it was the cheapest as £4.49 for a large tin full. LOL

Some ***** had painted my caliper an off gold colour, all I did was strip it off and that's what you see. Paint free and looking lovely IMO.
 
I cleaned mine a few days ago

If you do it use dedicated breake cleaning spray, it wont damage the seals if you get some on. Just make sure you open the brake fluid tank, otherwise when you press one piston in, the other one will go out :D. Its easy to clean the complete breaking system, with the cleaner you can also spray the brake pads so no dirt is on them and spray the discs, recomendet every once in a while.
 
supertedlover said:
take it the bike still not seen a wash yet :biggrin
Click to expand...

No. BUT.... Had a few ladies over on the weekend, one was... ahem... in the garage and I said I would give her a ride... ON THE BIKE DUDES... she looked at my tool (BIKE...!) and asked me if it would even get her to the end of the road..... :eek:

So.... this week. Its scrap the grime time. :dowhat
 

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