Rebuilding brake calipers

So, what's the best way of getting the pistons out if you don't have
access to an air line?

 

Obviously, when one doesn't still have the lever connected to the
caliper...

 

Block banjo bolt vhole with solid bolt.
Apply grease gun to (opened) bleed screw.
Apply pressure with grease gun.
Use wood blocks (or WHY) to hold back first piston that moves until others
catch-up.

 

This only works if the greasegun is full of grease, that's the point.

You will have to clean the grease out of the calipers afterwards but then
you were rebuilding anyway...

 

Ahah, now a greasegun I do have. Unfortunately, it's filled with
grease. Another thing to clean out.

 

What he said, but slightly alternatively: I've molished[0] an adapter so
I can attach the grease gun to the banjo bolt hole.


[0] At least, I think I remember molishing an adapter; I can't remember
where it is now.

 

If you're feeling *really* pikey, you can scrape most of the grease out
of the calipers and re-use it. I wouldn't use it anywhere important,
mind, since it'll be contaminated with brake fluid.

 

I'm having a Friday Afternoon Blonde Moment. Thanks Dave.

 

Drop it round to Champ. He *loves* rebuilding calipers.

 

Yeah, but they're not 6 pot Tokicos.

They're 4-pots ones

 

IIRC you're a cyclist? I've used a track pump for that job.

Cheers

nickw

 

So it will still have the gaylord purple hoses on then....?

 

Big pliers have always worked for me[1], with a bit of old innertube to
protect the piston.

[1] At least they did before I got a compressor.

--
Krusty

'03 Tiger 955i
'02 MV Senna (for sale) '96 Tiger (for sale)
'79 Fantic Hiro 250 (for sale) '81 Corvette (for sale)

 

As I said in the email, that's pretty much my plan for these first.

Apparently they've got a new master cylinder as well as new discs, so
with a bit of luck that should cure the sponginess.

If not, then I'm sure I have Lozzo's email address round here
somewhere...

 

On Fri, 29 May 2009 06:58:10 -0700 (PDT),

Oh, yeah, good plan. That should fit over the bleed nipple nicely and
blocking off the banjo as Dave suggested with a bolt should do the
trick.

 

Well, I thought that but having seen the price of new pistons, I
really didn't want to risk scratching them.

Mind, they may already be fucked.

 

Heh - wuss.

Aye, if you stick to the bit that never meets the seal, you can beat
the **** out of it without any problems, as long as you don't leave any
lumpy bits that might catch the caliper bore.

--
Krusty

'03 Tiger 955i
'02 MV Senna (for sale) '96 Tiger (for sale)
'79 Fantic Hiro 250 (for sale) '81 Corvette (for sale)

 

Why?

I've rebuilt a fair few calipers and not really had any problems. I
think the worst was drilling out a corroded pin in a rear Bandit
caliper.

Never done a 6 pot caliper though.

 

I've got a mityvac somewhere if you have problems when you reassemble.

 

You've obviously never re-built a Tokico 6-pot.

Ha! Luxury!

I've got two pairs here that you can practice on. One of the pairs might
best be described as "slightly bent", so if you get to the inevitable
stage of wanting to throw the cheap and nasty piece of shit at the
garage wall, there's no harm done.