cleaning brake pistons - how?

[Wonko The Sane]

So, I've always struggled with cleaning the pistons in the calliper and there are four of the buggers in each of the front ones.

I can get the side with easy access but struggle to get the sides where they're close to the calliper body.

Any tricks anyone would like to share?
____________________
Looking to pass your CBT / Bike tests in Bury Lancashire? try www.focusridertraining.co.uk Would recommend.
They're also on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Focus-Rider-Training/196832923734251

[Pete.]

Cut a strip of cloth about 1" wide and 12" long. Soak it in wd40, fold in half so it's 1/2" wide, feed it around the piston so the folded edge is closest the caliper body and pull the ends around so you get a full wrap around. Use a see-saw motion to scrub the dirt off the piston.

The stitched edge of an old pillow/bedsheet/tee-shirt case works well for it and you don't need to fold it.
____________________
a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[RhynoCZ]

I wouldn't use wd40 as there is a slight chance it will swell your seals. Use a chain cleaner instead (a brake cleaner, if you have it, would be the best).

Also, you may rotate the pots in the caliper.
____________________
'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

[Pete.]

WD40 works just great. If you're worried use a dribble of brake fluid.
____________________
a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[andym]

Probably have loads disagree with my method, but it's worked for me.

Get some white spirit and a toothbrush and scrub what you can, give the lever a couple of presses (since they are off the bike anyway), and repeat, then get a can of brake cleaner and go nuts with the whole can.

If there's a bit of rust then some fine sand paper and pumping them out to almost maximum, then try cleaning the rust off. If you've let your pistons get to that stage of corrosion then it would probably be better to remove them and clean them all with some 1500 wet and dry

[kramdra]

The proper way is always split the calliper and remove the pistons. Extra effort to drain and refill but its only 10 mins or so. And it lets you get the crap out of seal groves.

But today I was lazy, cleaned them in place. I use kitchen roll. cut/rip a 10mm strip either half or whole sheet long. Spray it in brake cleaner and floss the piston with it. Dont let the strip get too dirty or dry, keep replacing it. When you cant see any dirt, you are now half way.. as this has pushed lose dirt upto the dust seal - pushing the pistons back now would be bad.

So you pull brake lever, using fingers to let pistons out evenly another 2mm. There will be a visible line of solid dirt, clean this off and your done. Give pistons quick polish with more brake cleaner/tissue before pushing back in and refit pads.

This is a far easier, nicer, quicker job if you have anodised alu pistons, the brake dust doesn't stick too much and there's no rust.

[mentalboy]

[kramdra]

Not so, there was no corrosion last time. The annodised finish on the pistons and calliper is excellent.

[Rogerborg]

Cable tie your strip of cloth onto the piston. If you do it tight enough that the piston rotates, well, problem also solved.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

My method.

Clean exterior of caliper.
Remove caliper.
https://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m174/howlingterror_2006/DSCF1814_zpsb25d2289.jpg

Carefully pump out each piston, sometimes use a wooden wedge to hold the others in place( see it in the background.
https://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m174/howlingterror_2006/DSCF1807_zps1c9b0a87.jpg

Floss piston,
https://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m174/howlingterror_2006/DSCF1811_zpsc2c9b8a8.jpg

Light smear of red rubber grease and push in.
https://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m174/howlingterror_2006/DSCF1810_zps89bc5ce7.jpg

Sometimes they need a little persuasion with some pipe holders.
https://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m174/howlingterror_2006/DSCF1808_zpse6d9f016.jpg

A short length of gardener's wire or a bungee cord from the caliper to somewhere on the bike takes the strain off the brake line if I need to let go of the caliper during cleaning.
____________________
Diabolical homemade music Bandcamp and Soundcloud
Singer songwriter, Artist and allround good bloke Listen to Andrew Susan Johnston here
The Harry Turner Project

[Beehive Bedlam]

I'd consider removing the calipers from the bike and giving them a full strip down at least once a year particularly coming towards the end of summer. Do it now with the light nights and a nice cold beer.

A seized piston in the middle of winter when it's cold dark and shit is a nightmare.

[DRZ4Hunned]

I've literally just done this, I used a toothbrush and some warm soapy water.

I was going to use WD40 but then remembered that it doesn't go with rubber, so used that instead.

Not seen that cloth idea before, I'll try that next time.
____________________
DRZ400-SM
FZS600

[Itchy]

Pop them, as in split the calliper and take them out the body.

You can always borrow my pistol removal tool. Heh it's been used by about 17 BCFers
____________________
Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[Kickstart]

[kramdra]