sticking front brakes

[DiverRay]

DOT3 is good. I usually use the Castrol GTX brake fluid.

[Ken Talbot]

Originally posted by STEPPENWOLF
I should be able to handle it if I take my time.

That's the spirit! Relax and take it step by step. If you get into a bind, help is not far away here on the forum.

[STEPPENWOLF]

Thanks for the support. One thing I did before I put it all back together was after I put the reservoir back in place was to put the screws back in to make sure I was exactly in place before I put the fluid and cover back on.It did leak a little at first so I really tightened the cover down,more than I thought was necessary but it stopped. Thanks all!!

[prometheus578]

"A day without name callin' is like a day without sunshine."

Now to put in my three-cents worth(I'm a big spender)
DOT 3 is good, DOT 4 is better. The difference is that DOT 4 has a higher boiling point. (I don't think that anyone here races their bike in a manner that would require DOT4.) Dot 5 is silicone based and will not mix with the other fluids. (If you want to see brake fluid jell really fast, go ahead and mix them) If your whole system is clean, you can run DOT 5, but in my opinion, you'd be just wasting your time.
When you put the screws back in on the res. cover, put a little anti-seize(or at least some axle grease on the threads, so that the metal screws don't electro-chemically weld themselves to the aluminum master cylinder. I have to deal with messed up screwheads all summer long. (especially when that screwhead didn't lube his screws)
The only hard part concerning rebuilding the calipers is in removing the piston from the caliper itself. I take the caliper completely off, and by """GENTLY""" putting compressed air in through the brake line hole, """SLOWLY""" force the piston out, being ever mindfull to have my fingers out of the way when it pops out.
Others take the caliper offa the fork, and just let it hang free, and by pumping the brake lever, force it out that way. Be sure to keep the resevoir full of fluid, and have an old kitchen pan under the caliper as when the piston comes out, so will all the brake fluid in the master cylinder.
Clean out the crud in the caliper, and if you have aluminum corrosion(due to water), clean up the piston and the bore with some real light grit sandpaper or emory cloth.(600 grit is ok). Be sure to flush the grit and such out afterwards.
Use your thumb nail to clean the hardened brake fluid from the square-sided O ring, and as mentioned by others, clean the groove where the O ring lives. Slide the pison in and out of the caliper(without the o ring in place) to ensure that it moves smoothly. Lube everything with clean brake fluid and reassemble.
Bleed the system.
Nothing hard here, Steppenwolf.... just takes time. Fire up the coffee pot... put on a little Mozart or Pink Floyd, and have at it! (MRO might let you borrow his "New Kids on the Block" CDs)
And speaking of MRO... That was a capital idea of using a shop vac as a vacuum bleed source. I need to try that! (Why is it that all the simple ideas come from simple... ?)
Steppenwolf... I just reread your earlier post.

I just don't know what I am doing when it comes to brakes...I don't want to make a mistake.........

Squeeze the brake lever... it pushes fluid... that pushes a piston. Can't get simpler than that.
After you've done it once, you'll be a brake system Guru, willing to give advice, or hurl insults and mockery, at others.
(Ok, not the insults and such. I had to go to school for that)

[HobbyMan]

off topic...
Mozart>Silence
Pink Floyd > Mozart
Jimi Hendrix > Pink Floyd
Jimi Hendrix > everything
Listen to Hendrix man.
"Scuse me while I kiss this guy"
on topic... If you are going to remove the caliper by using the air method (which is the best if I migh add) you may want to put a rag in the caliper to stop the piston. It also helps to catch any residual brake fluid that shoots out.
Sorry kid, I just had to. (John )

[John]

caliper piston removal

If you cannot remove the piston by using compressed air, or by pumping it out using the M/C, then I have a sure fire tip for ya...Use a lever action grease gun. Begin by removing the break line from the caliper. Take a small piece of paper towel, wad it up, and stuff it in the end of the banjo bolt (the bolt that attaches the line to the caliper) and reinsert it in the caliper, leaving the brake line off. Next, loosen the bleeder screw a turn or two, and attach the grease gun to the bleeder screw. It will take quite a bit grease to fill the caliper bore, but it will work. I did my brakes about a month ago, and this method worked well. I have doing this for years with good results everytime.

[mro]

"A day without name callin' is like a day without sunshine."

That's something that happens a lot up north in the "Land of Wet".
Makes one wonder how p rometheus manages to keep his fire lit

originally posted by WOOFY
so I really tightened the cover down more than I thought was necessary

Two things that "newbie" wrench turners like to do.
Tighten too much,
then after they break one or two don't tighten enough.
Get yourself a torque wrench... and can then tighten a few nuts and screws with it, then check em with a regular wrench or screw driver to get a "feel" for it. Can save you from having to learn the "mechanics vocabulary" all at once.............

"New Kids on the Block"???
I had to look that one up.


mro

[prometheus578]

I was gonna say "Britney Spears", but now she looks to much like that Irish broad, "Skinhead O'Connor".
Not that there's anything wrong with dome-headed women.(I recall that babe from the first Star Trek movie.)

[STEPPENWOLF]

Crank up some Villiage People..YMCA...naw not going to happen. Who else would I play..STEPPENWOLF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Printed out a bunch of the helpfull hints given here. Hopefully I will get to where I keep my bike on Sunday and get started but my partner gets back Sunday morning and I'll have to see what kinda time I have to deal with her:-( I do a lot of wrench turning in my work,I know the mechanics library of words:-) I have just never done brake work before,never had an interest in it so wish me luck.
Thanks all..........

[TopCatGr58]

A Musical Musing! Not Xactly Punny?

Hey Bill,
Yes, Men @ working on brakes can be Abbad idea if they don't know what they are doing. And if you take it to a Bad Company that's not aCCRedited, you couldn't begin to Guess Who would end up working on them, possibly some Foreigner Who wouldn't have their Heart in it, and so you would end up KISSing a lot of Bread goodbye! Would it matter if they had experience working on Cars, Fleetwoods, Mac trucks, or even Vans, Hale No!!! All man are not Brothers, and Wars have been started by Kings and Queens over much less!

But your Journey into your brake system can be the Genesis of something better. U2 can open The Doors of opportunity, learning to fly with the Eagles and become the Cream of the crop. As long as you don't RUSH the work, you won't find yourself in Dire Straits getting stuck out in the Styx somewhere between Boston and Chicago cleaning out a Grate full of Dead Beatles from your spooge hole, and leaving you with the Moody Blues.

And when you've done them right, it won't feel like you're driving an old jELOpy. It won't take nerves of Steel. Y?Dangerous environments like gravel roads won't make you feel like you're riding on Rolling Stones. And if you're like Prom, you'll get a buZZ Topped by toking fat Doobies while you chat with a SuperTramp that's a member of a Blue Oyster Cult. Just use protection, hope she's not AC/DC, you might catch the Clap.Tons of trouble could have you taking the Grand Funk Railroad home. But you won't have to worry about feeling the Sting of The Policeman's baton as long as you don't do these things INXS.

[prometheus578]

"And it starts again..."

Here it is, TEN YEARS AFTER retiring from the army and I'm battling T.C.
Yes, the 1100 is a fine machine, but to be a true MOTORHEAD, there are several things one needs to know.
Carburation is key. Don't buy low-grade fuel, that's a CHEAP TRICK. Stick with CLASSICAL GAS. In winter, (The worst of THE FOUR SEASONS)you might need an additive to absorb water in the tank. Usually comes in a yellow bottle, but any brand of CANNED HEAT will suffice. The last thing you want your bike to do is go "iggy IGGY POP pop pop" as it starves for gas. Check your fuel line for THE KINKS, too.
Riding through wooded scenery is nice, but don't be a DICK, DALEs and forested glens are nice, but watch the roads for stray animals. If you run over a TOAD, THE WET SPROCKET you will get. Be cautious of other animal hazards, too. THE BYRDS, especially A FLOCK OF SEAGULLS can cause you to lose control. Even ground birds are dangerous, such as THE YARDBIRDS and any member of THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY. Keep you jacket zipped, lest you get hit by B. BUMBLE AND THE STINGERS. Road hazards are nothing to MONKEE(S) around with. NINE INCH NAILS can puncture tires whether the rims are aluminum or STEELER'S WHEEL.
I don't want to raise a BLACK FLAG, but when you go on your many VENTURES I suggest you be armed. There are many DRIFTERS about, and MISFITS looking for SEX. PISTOLS are great to carry, I suggest a DERRINGER. If you ride with a female, remember, GUNS AND ROSES always impresses them. (Don't carry guns if you have SUICIDAL TENDANCIES)
Always protect your groin in a fight. Someone can sneak up and kick you on the SLY, AND THE FAMILY STONEs will be hurtin'
Riding at night in the mountains can be a treat, for as the DEEP PURPLE falls over the hills, it's like being transported into THE FIFTH DIMENSION. I put it in neutral when going down hill, as do others. THE COASTERS are fun, but stay alert. If you wreck, all the king's horses and all THE KINGSMEN can't help you.(You'll just lie in the road moaning "(L)ouis, (L)ouis" . ((( The Kingsmen: Louis, Louis)))oh, that's bad!
Sorry, where was I? (It's three in the morning.. way past THE LETTERMEN and Leno)
A nice ride in the state parks is very relaxing. Lots to see and do. I usually park close to the trees, JUST IN TIMBER, LAKE in view. I should retire out there, be a regular COUNTRY JOE, AND THE FISHing is great! If you don't like fishing, you can just sit by the river and CHUCK BERRY's into the MUDDY WATERS.
Well, it's late.. time fer sleep.
Just remember, when riding, be your real self. No one likes the "posers" and THE PRETENDERS.

[mro]

Not Xactly Punny?

Well......being the New Kids on the Block , I seem to have fallen into some Bad Company here. Guess hanging with literary bikers is better than 10,000 maniacs or a bunch of Angry Somoans.
The last Motley Crue I was riding with gave me the he-be Bee Gees.

On this site it helps to know who’s Who. Of course ya gota be careful that the Talking Heads (TC & Prom) don’t use up all the Air Supply and let you put in your own 10cc’s worth. This might go over like a Led Zeppelin, but with a Wings and a prayer might get you a Nickelback.


It does help being a Motorhead if your going to be riding these old XS Iron Maiden’s. Don’t get in a Rush and resort to Cheep Tricks wenching on your scooter. Yes, it is fun to twist the right grip and soar with the Eagles, but you better have used every Lovin’ Spoonful of care fixing your breaks. You’ll open Pandoras box of Hard Knox which could lead you to need a Spinal Tap to help relieve the Pain of a bad fall.



mro

[STEPPENWOLF]

Dang, you guys are a bunch of butt kickers when it comes to music also:-) Some great stuff you guys made up.Did not have time sunday to look at the brakes,had a few minutes today,I took a ride instead,just what I needed!!!!!!!!!! It felt good. Brakes worked fine but still need to do the calipers. Off topic......wore my full face helmet today because it was cold out,could not get the dang thing off,the chin strap just would not release.........finally got my partner to pull the strap from the lock thingie.....didn't want to walk around with a helmet on the rest of my life:-)Seems there is a little trick to it..........:-)
The brakes were free going forward but sticking a little going backwards...
Can't come up with any musical interludes for your listening pleasure so put the hammer down and head on down the highway......let the 1100 take you away...................

[KJK]

Maestros, Maestros!! If I may interrupt.

I have just removed both my front calipers in order to clean them. I used compressed air at about 60 PSI and could not remove the piston. Should I use more pressure, or use a different method?

[TopCatGr58]

Hey there KJK,

I've never tried the compressed air technique, so I can't comment on that. I can say that the part of the piston that makes contact with the brake pad CAN be grabbed with a pair of channel locks or other large gripping pliers, and I heated up the caliper housing with a hair blower(could use a heat gun), to get it to expand. I also (in my then ignorance used penetrating fluid not recommended for rubber parts) to get it to loosen up, and slowly rotated the piston in the caliper, and then applied a pulling pressure while rotating it and was able to eventually slide the thing up and out! I then cleaned and washed the O-ring to remove the petroleum based lube, it did not suffer any swelling damage, and cleaned up the piston, caliper and put it all back together. The pliers made some teeth marks around the outside lip of the piston, but did NOT damage the inner groove where the dust seal sits, and the marks don't have any affect on the contact with the brake pads. I was careful NOT to grab below that lip, so as not to damge the inner piston surface.

John is a proponent of the grease gun method, since grease/fluids don't compress like air do, and will provide a much stronger pushing force! I have a "little" concern with using GREASE, has been mentioned about not using petroleum based products within the brake caliper housing, but I'm sure with enough application of brake parts cleaner the oil residue can be removed effectively! Good luck, hopefully others with "air" experience will chime in?
T.C.