Cleaning brake calipers

[chris___]

Hi, was just wondering what to clean brake calipers with and how to do it as I dont want the calipers on my ZX6 corroding as soon as winter comes.
Cheers
____________________
Yamaha rxs100 > Kawasaki ZZR600 > Kawasaki ZX6R > Honda Hornet 600 > Honda Bros 400 > Suzuki SV650S K2
Bikepics page

[stitch]

First drain the brake fluid off,
Then take the caliper off the bike, they come apart quite easy,
Take the pistons out and wipe them down, be carefull when you do this as more brake fluid pools underneath,
Wipe them over and look for caked on dirt, use a fine sand paper to give them a dusting over,
Then wipe them down again,
When putting the pistons back in the caliper make sure they move freely then reasemble the whole calliper on the bike,

I found using a srynge to force new brake fluid down the pipes is a faster way of bleeding your brakes to.

Most bikes have manuals with them which will tell you all this.
____________________
BAARRR HUMBUG CHRISTMAS IS CANCELLED THIS YEAR
A Vida Suga...
Kawasaki ER5/sold Suzuki SV650S/loving it

[map]

Errr, may sound obvious but brake cleaning fluid works a treat Best buy in a large gallon/ 5 litre tin and one of those sprayers used to water plants. Then you just use what you need. Cheaper than buying spray cans of the stuff.

I take it you'll be riding throught winter? (and I thought summer was just here). If so then a regular spray with cleaner and rub round should keep most of the gunk at bay.

If laying up the bike over winter a trick is to remove the pads, spray with oil and wrap in plastic/cling film. That way the pistons will not (or should not) seize. Just remember to give a good clean with brake cleaner to remove any oil before putting back together and riding.

If you want to remove and clean your brakes then there's several guides been put on here - try a search, I think G and sinkwheel have done things in the past.
HTH
____________________
...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
Gibbs, what did Duckie look like when he was younger?

[chris___]

Ok thanks guys, really helpfull
So if I buy brake cleaner can I just spray that into the caliper without having to take the whole thing apart?
____________________
Yamaha rxs100 > Kawasaki ZZR600 > Kawasaki ZX6R > Honda Hornet 600 > Honda Bros 400 > Suzuki SV650S K2
Bikepics page

[craigs23]

Which parts are you thinking of? The outsides should come up well with a bit of aerosol brake cleaner, WD40 might work too, but be careful not to get any near the piston rubbers or disc surface.

[Jack_Cheese]

The brake cleaning fluid just cleans the much off the surface, but it's all i do. I got some motrax brake dust arrestor and carb cleaner, and that got rid of a lot of gunk, including the fork oil/brakse dust mush that accumulated when my seal went. I got ripped off for the motrax spray, so the large bottles of brake cleaner sound like better value. Meths works well as a cheap cleaner Cillit bang should also work well.

Jack
____________________
www.bikepics.com/members/jackcheese <--- NOW FOR SALE! 51 Plate Cagiva Planet 125
Quacker_boy: "Jack, you really are a dick!"

[chris___]

Was thinking of the inside mate, to stop the pistons seizing up.
____________________
Yamaha rxs100 > Kawasaki ZZR600 > Kawasaki ZX6R > Honda Hornet 600 > Honda Bros 400 > Suzuki SV650S K2
Bikepics page

[JGY6000]

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=22573&highlight=brake+line+guide

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=63228&highlight=brake

[stitch]

Mine had seized up, thats why I took mine apart altogether. Back one which was a drum brake had seized to, now that took more effort than I had so I had to have help.
____________________
BAARRR HUMBUG CHRISTMAS IS CANCELLED THIS YEAR
A Vida Suga...
Kawasaki ER5/sold Suzuki SV650S/loving it

[ZRX61]

[www.125power.com]

Maybe 600-1000grit wet and dry to get really bakes on stuff off...........DO NOT SCRATCH THE PISTONS!!!!!! IT WILL BOLLOX THE SEALS!!!!
____________________
My eBay Items

[stitch]

yeah it was wet and dry I used on mine and the cr@p was baked on, the bike had been left un attended for the best part of the year after my accident, a friend took it out a couple of times over the winter but the brakes had seized with all the salt and stuff, the pistions were very caked, took ages to just pry them out of the casings.

There is nothing wrong with my brakes now and they have been checked over by a bike mechanic who said i had done a good job seeing as it was the first time I had attempted to work on the bike and using a hand that doesnt work anymore. Not ballsed the thing up yet eh
____________________
BAARRR HUMBUG CHRISTMAS IS CANCELLED THIS YEAR
A Vida Suga...
Kawasaki ER5/sold Suzuki SV650S/loving it