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Stuck pistons... any unusual tricks?

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technophobe
Borekit Bruiser



Joined: 07 May 2009
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PostPosted: 17:02 - 19 Jun 2009    Post subject: Stuck pistons... any unusual tricks? Reply with quote
As per the title really. I've got a couple of stuck pistons, 3 in total (1 whole caliper & 1 piston from the other caliper).

The calipers are off the bike, this rules out using the brake lever obviously.

I know of the compressed air trick, and I'll be calling at a friends garage to use their air line tomorrow. I also know about splitting the caliper & drilling the piston to use grease - but I'd rather not do that.

I'm hoping covering it with brake cleaner & using the air line will work.

Do any of you know any other tricks that I could try?

Ta.
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Kickstart
The Oracle



Joined: 04 Feb 2002
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PostPosted: 17:11 - 19 Jun 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
Hi

What bike?

Air line is easiest (just watch for the pistons going off like heavy air pistol pellets), but could well be worth reconnecting the calipers to the system and using hydraulic pressure (even if you use an old spare m/c, random hose and just water instead of fluid at this stage).

There are tools available to grip the pistons and pull them out, but they are not cheap.

All the best

Keith
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ms51ves3
Super Spammer



Joined: 07 Jun 2007
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PostPosted: 17:31 - 19 Jun 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
A small 12v air compressor that you plug into a car would also get the pistons out. That's what I used.
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Coxyzxr
Brolly Dolly



Joined: 22 May 2008
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PostPosted: 17:37 - 19 Jun 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
I had to heat my calipers with a blow lamp for some time but it made piston removal considerably easier by being able to grip the edge of the piston with some rubber nosed mole grips and pulling it out.

Worked a treat and believe me when I say these were 'stuck'.
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technophobe
Borekit Bruiser



Joined: 07 May 2009
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PostPosted: 20:20 - 19 Jun 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
Kickstart wrote:

What bike?


SV650S 2006 - front calipers.

Water in the brake lines... interesting idea. That's got to be worth a shot tomorrow. Smile

Thanks all. Smile
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Blue_SV650S
World Chat Champion



Joined: 27 Nov 2008
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PostPosted: 20:46 - 19 Jun 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
technophobe wrote:
Kickstart wrote:

What bike?


SV650S 2006 - front calipers.

Water in the brake lines... interesting idea. That's got to be worth a shot tomorrow. Smile

Thanks all. Smile


Although it might work and prolly save you 99p of brake fluid, I am not sure that is such a bright idea ...

If you put water in there, you are going to be lucky to get the lines and M/C all perfectly dry again aren't you?

Brake fluid is hygroscopic, the last thing you need is residual water in the lines ... you will end up 'wasting' more fluid flushing the system than just using it in the first instance Wink

...

Anyhoo, I am another vote for re-attaching the brake lines and pumping them out (with brake fluid) use a G-Clamp (or clamps) to hold in the keener piston from poping all the way out before the other is near too! good luck Thumbs Up
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Frost
World Chat Champion



Joined: 26 May 2004
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PostPosted: 20:49 - 19 Jun 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
Take one caliper off, get the pads out, clamp some mole grips on one of the pistons to hold it into the caliper and put the lever. If the piston doesn't move, bleed the air out of the system and it will, trust me! Laughing

You can repeat the above the pump a piston out at a time, just be ready for a BIG fluid spill once it comes out.
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Kickstart
The Oracle



Joined: 04 Feb 2002
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PostPosted: 09:33 - 20 Jun 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
technophobe wrote:

SV650S 2006 - front calipers.


So twin piston sliding calipers.Probably the easiest setup to pop the pistons out of. Connect them back up. put something in the "jaws" of the caliper to stop the pistons flying and and pump the pistons out. Likely one will move far easier than the other so that will reach whatever you have put in place to stop the pistons and then likely the other will move. Once both out to that extent then remove what is stopping them and pump gently. With luck they will both slide out about equally, otherwise you might need to hold one to let the other catch up (G clamp will do the job nicely).

technophobe wrote:
Water in the brake lines... interesting idea. That's got to be worth a shot tomorrow. Smile


Blue_SV650S wrote:
Although it might work and prolly save you 99p of brake fluid, I am not sure that is such a bright idea ...

If you put water in there, you are going to be lucky to get the lines and M/C all perfectly dry again aren't you?


I said using a spare master cylinder and line (not sure about you but I have quite a few random spare lines and master cylinders, and pretty much any working ones would be fine for this), not using the ones you intend to use on the bike.

All the best

Keith
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Blue_SV650S
World Chat Champion



Joined: 27 Nov 2008
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PostPosted: 12:14 - 20 Jun 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
Kickstart wrote:

I said using a spare master cylinder and line (not sure about you but I have quite a few random spare lines and master cylinders, and pretty much any working ones would be fine for this), not using the ones you intend to use on the bike.

All the best

Keith


Yes I do (don't know if OP has?) ... but if they work, then I'd like to keep them so that I could use them for 'real' if needs be one day ... hence being kept as a 'spare' ... sticking water in them will ... well, not kill them, but potentially cause more grief at a later date than the small amount of brake fluid is worth to me ...

Just my Penny Coin Penny Coin
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technophobe
Borekit Bruiser



Joined: 07 May 2009
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PostPosted: 13:14 - 20 Jun 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
All sorted using air & a little elbow grease. Smile

The old seals suffered badly from oxidisation, but what do you expect when it's first caliper strip is at 41k miles? Embarassed

Incidentally, yes, I do have spare master cyl. & lines. Smile
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Kickstart
The Oracle



Joined: 04 Feb 2002
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PostPosted: 13:51 - 20 Jun 2009    Post subject: Reply with quote
Blue_SV650S wrote:
but if they work, then I'd like to keep them so that I could use them for 'real' if needs be one day ... hence being kept as a 'spare' ... sticking water in them will ... well, not kill them, but potentially cause more grief at a later date than the small amount of brake fluid is worth to me ...


Maybe, but by the time they have sat for a couple of days the water in there will be gone anyway, no more than they would have got from the atmosphere just sitting there.

Water isn't going to wreck the seals (unlike various oils might) and is free, and doesn't make a mess when it spills out nor require a trip to A&E if it squirts into your eyes.

All the best

Keith
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