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Cleaning up a rear brake caliper

Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2015 1:04 am
by Sandblaster
First and foremost.... Ignore every thing I say.
I am not a professional mechanic, I have no training, and generally I ride stuff that is completely unsafe and I do things that should never be done.
I just thought you might appreciate a emergency brake clean up.
I recommend that you get a service manual and follow the instructions to the letter.

A buddy of mine has to go riding tomorrow and of course he waits until today to bring me his brake.
I have no pads or seals to rebuild this rear brake caliper.
Therefore I will do the best I can with what I have to work with.
In the mean time I have ordered him caliper and master cylinder rebuild kits and new pads....
To start with we have to start disassembling this mess.
It's best to clean your brake BEFORE you start but whatever I'm in a hurry and I'll do it wrong anyway..
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OEM-CYCLE.COM BRAKES 103.JPG (89.31 KiB) Viewed 12837 times
To do what I want I have to disconnect the brake hose.
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OEM-CYCLE.COM BRAKES 102.JPG (89.38 KiB) Viewed 12837 times
When you disconnect the brake line you open up a direct path to the inside so I plug the hole with a bolt so I can continue cleaning without contaminating the insides.
OEM-CYCLE.COM BRAKES 101.JPG
OEM-CYCLE.COM BRAKES 101.JPG (117.29 KiB) Viewed 12837 times

Re: Cleaning up a rear brake caliper

Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2015 1:06 am
by Sandblaster
Next I removed the caliper mount.
This style is easy, just pull them apart.
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After removing the mount I removed the two pad pins... What a mess...
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I removed the bolt that is in the hose mount because I need to blow compressed air down that hole to remove the piston.
What a mess...
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OEM-CYCLE.COM BRAKES 106.JPG (106.58 KiB) Viewed 12836 times

Re: Cleaning up a rear brake caliper

Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2015 1:07 am
by Sandblaster
When using compressed air to move the piston I like to use a shop rag to make a barrier to keep the piston from shooting across the room.
Yes, they will shoot across the room :lol:
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Put your rubber tipped nozzle in the brake hose hole and give short bursts of air.
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Typically they will shoot out with a noticeable pop..
If you don't use a rag to keep the piston from shooting out, be sure to aim it in a safe direction because the piston will easily shoot out 12 or more feet even under fairly low air pressure.
This one oozed out because the piston and seals were completely gummed up.
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Re: Cleaning up a rear brake caliper

Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2015 1:08 am
by Sandblaster
Disgusting.
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OEM-CYCLE.COM BRAKES 110.JPG (98.57 KiB) Viewed 12836 times
I clean the bleeder valve with a guitar string.
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OEM-CYCLE.COM BRAKES 112.JPG (80.7 KiB) Viewed 12836 times

Re: Cleaning up a rear brake caliper

Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2015 1:09 am
by Sandblaster
I make sure that the guitar string can go all the way in with no obstructions.
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Whatever it takes... get it clean.
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Ooooohhhh Purdy...
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OEM-CYCLE.COM BRAKES 115.JPG (46.89 KiB) Viewed 12836 times

Re: Cleaning up a rear brake caliper

Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2015 1:10 am
by Sandblaster
If I had my way I would replace the seals, pads, and pad pins.... but... I don't have replacements so he is gonna get what I give him and like it...
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Again, I clean everything..
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OEM-CYCLE.COM BRAKES 117.JPG (113.08 KiB) Viewed 12836 times

Re: Cleaning up a rear brake caliper

Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2015 1:10 am
by Sandblaster
Assembled.
OEM-CYCLE.COM BRAKES 118.JPG
OEM-CYCLE.COM BRAKES 118.JPG (34.26 KiB) Viewed 12836 times
Because the pads are wide open I give the caliper a quick shot of air down the hose hole and they snap shut.
If yours is slow to close, better give it a complete rebuild...
OEM-CYCLE.COM BRAKES 119.JPG
OEM-CYCLE.COM BRAKES 119.JPG (33.56 KiB) Viewed 12836 times
Half done...

Re: Cleaning up a rear brake caliper

Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2015 10:03 pm
by Roostius_Maximus
Aren't you supposed to hold that caliper with your fingers in the pad location and nails towards the piston before using the blow gun?

:o

seen it happen :lol:

Re: Cleaning up a rear brake caliper

Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2015 11:01 pm
by Sandblaster
If you do, please take pictures... :lol:

Re: Cleaning up a rear brake caliper

Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 3:25 pm
by Sandblaster
I ordered some rebuild kits so I will do some complete rebuilds for the front master and the calipers...