Brakes..

[Renton]

..are the bane of my life!!

Okay, that's a bit much, but they are infuriating none the less.

Back in March this year I was having severe problems with my front brakes sticking. So I fully stripped, cleaned, re-greased and replaced the seals on the two front callipers - refilling with new brake fluid. However, this appeared to be a fruitless exercise, as after only a couple of weeks the sticking reared it's ugly head again.
By that point it was due for a service anyway, so I let the garage take care of them. And a fine job they did (despite forgetting to fully tighten the banjo in the right calliper, which leaked fluid over the disc).

The brakes have worked just fine up until recently. So once again I gave them a good clean and re-grease. Although I didn't completely strip them this time, I only forced the pots out far enough to clean. The sliding pin and the backs of the pads had a good scrub though.

But, once again, they are sticking.



What am I doing wrong?

EDIT:
Something I must confess. Before I took the brakes apart myself, the first time, I took the bike round to a gentlemen from the SV Forum who had kindly agreed to show me how. Well, his method of turning the pots in the calliper was to use mole grips. Yes, he left grip marks on the pots, but thankfully only on the top area that protrudes from the calliper, and nothing below the seal.
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This is my motorcycle. There are many others like it, but this one is mine.
Without me, my motorcycle is useless. Without my motorcycle, I am useless.

[Fizzer Thou]

Are they floating calipers?

Are the sliding pins properly lubricated?

Were the seal lands properly cleaned out when the pistons were out?

Was proper seal grease used on re-assembly?
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Just talk bikes.What else is there?

Always have a 'Plan B'

[0l0dom0l0]

The trick I've found is to remove the seals and use something to clean the seal grooves as these collect shit causing the seals to tighten on the pots meaning the calipers stick.

Take them off the bike and start from scratch by completely rebuilding them.

If you're careful the seals should be good to go again!
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CBT Passed: 30/08/2009, Theory Passed: 31/08/2010, Mod 1 Passed: 6/9/2010, Mod 2 Passed: 13/09/2010. Restriction ended 13/09/2012.

Bikes: 2007 Derbi GPR 50, 1998 Yamaha Fazer 600 (written off), 2002 Yamaha Fazer 600, 1994 CBR 600F, 2003 Triumph Daytona 600, Kawasaki ZX6R J1.....Current: 2006 Yamaha FZ6, 1998 Suzuki TL1000R and a Honda VFR 400 NC30.

[orac]

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/cht161-4-piece-mini-pick-hook-set?da=1&TC=SRC-o ring hook

try using something like this to scrape out the corrosion in the seal seat of the caliper bodies. dont go pushing too hard tho, just hard enough to removing anything that in there.

also if they have the same calipers has the gs500 had (i know some of the SV's did) the pins on the floating side of thing can wear which causes issues, along with worn pad retaining pins. if it is a floating caliper does it move around while bolted to the bike?

[Renton]

Thank you for the replies.