Reseating brake pistons - grease or brake fluid?

[HD]

Was cleaning up the bandit's front brakes yesterday. Cleaning up the pistons, greasing them and pushing them back in, repeat, repeat etc.

But there was one particularly stuck piston. I was pushing my full weight on it trying to get it back down. After a lot of pushing it finally went in with a jump and a bang as it sent one of the other pistons completely out.

I cleaned up inside there but it was shitty.

I have heard that when you put new seals/piston in, to use brake fluid to seat it properly. I have also heard that red rubber grease is good for brakes as it doesn't perish the seals.

I've decided since one came out, I may as well do all of them. I am aware how to get them out (on purpose )

So, shall I seat the pistons with brake fluid and then pump them in out, while greasing? Or seat them with grease and pump them? Or just pump them in and out with just brake fluid?

Ta
____________________
Rusty '02 Vito Camper + CBR600F3

[stinkwheel]

You only need to put them in once if they're done properly.

Since you're taking them out, I'd suggest doing them properly.

So clean and polish the pistons. Remove the seals and scrape out any corrosion from behind them. Clean both the calliper and the pistons with high flash-point solvent. Refit the seals (or ideally, fit new ones), wet them with brake fluid and push the pistons in. It should only take moderate thumb pressure to do this if you cleaned it all out properly. They are then ready to fit and bleed.

You can apply a small amount of red grease to the outside of the pistons, back of the pads and any sliding pins and clips.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[serlant]

remove all the pistons and see if any of the seals need replacing if they don't red rubber grease the seals and replace them then the pistons you just cleaned.
____________________
04 CBR1000RR, 1995 Husqvarna TE410, 1998 VTR1000(Sold), 1990 XJ600(sold), 1996 KH125(dead and sold)

[Bezzer]

Just use clean fluid to reassemble then wipe off the excess and clean them when you're finished, then use the rubber grease to help protect the dust seals/pistons.
____________________
I used to be indecisive but now I'm not quite so sure.

[orac]

fresh brake fluid. i use wurths brake cleaner for cleaning, but you have to remove all rubber from the area as it destroys it.

dont forget to let any seal that you are going to re-use soak in fresh brake fluid too, this help bring them back to life and stop them from drying out. also rmeber that the seals have to go back into the same place as thye came out of