Grease gun to remove stuck piston - Friggin' Awesome !

[Courtney]

So after hacking myself up all day yesterday trying to get a piston out of my front caliper I gave up. I had tried silicone spray in behind the piston (through the banjo hole) and two screwdrivers in the ridge of the piston to no avail. After losing enough blood to force myself to have a big rum and coke, I called it a night. Next morning went up to Canadian Tire and bought a M10 X 1.25 bolt, I put it in the banjo hole to seal that, and then teflon taped the bleeder screw. I got out the trusty grease gun, snapped it over the bleeder valve and pumped her full of grease. What a treat watching that piston just slowly rise up outta that caliper!! This was Crazy Steve's suggestion in a thread on rebuilding calipers, and I gotta tell you if I'd done this first, I wouldn't have bled all over the place. I vote Crazy Steve as guru of the day! Beers here waiting for you Steve.

[snakedriver]

That's a great tip. I keep an old master cylinder and hose off of a CR125 hanging on the wall for freeing up stuck pistons. Just hook up the banjo bolt to the stuck caliper, fill the master cylinder with fluid, bleed it and presto, the stuck piston moves again.

The grease gun trick sounds easier though.

[DeanR]

Compressed air is a bit less messy but glad the grease worked.

[tbschupsky]

I used compressed air which worked well also. Just got to aim it at something soft because it will come out like a ballistic missile without warning.

[DeanR]

I used compressed air which worked well also. Just got to aim it at something soft because it will come out like a ballistic missile without warning.

Thin piece of wood placed behind the pistons prevents this 'flying across the room' scenario.
The pistons just slam into the wood.

[DGXSER]

I just use a rag instead of wood, but yep, something softer than metal, that isn't any part of your body, to absorb the impact.

[dpotter58]

The first time I used air I almost crapped when it shot out...

[crazy steve]

Compressed air is a bit less messy but glad the grease worked.

Yeah, but compressed air doesn't always work. I've run into more than a few where it didn't budge them. The grease trick works every time...

[Rasputin]

I used to swear by compressed air. I would always push the caliper in before applying the air to it. I also used to surround it with old pillows or blankets to avoid any disasters with the jet propulsion of the piston from the caliper.
Then I ran into one I could not get out with the compressed air, so, reluctantly I tried the grease gun method that most members said worked better on one that was stuck badly.
Yes it is a bit messy, but damn it works great and is easy to do. No danger involved or anything damaged. I will still give her the one time quick try of blowing it out, but if it does not move right away I go to the grease gun in a hurry. Great tip! Not everyone has a compressor but most have access to a grease gun.

[clcorbin]

Yeah, but compressed air doesn't always work. I've run into more than a few where it didn't budge them. The grease trick works every time...

And as one who generally uses the compressed air method, I do have to admit that with grease being incompressible (ok, it only compresses a LITTLE bit with a LOT of pressure....), the whole piston launching event is MUCH less than with air behind it. Of course, it is not NEARLY as exciting either...

[fredintoon]

I used to swear by compressed air. I would always push the caliper in before applying the air to it. I also used to surround it with old pillows or blankets to avoid any disasters with the jet propulsion of the piston from the caliper.
Then I ran into one I could not get out with the compressed air, so, reluctantly I tried the grease gun method that most members said worked better on one that was stuck badly.
Yes it is a bit messy, but damn it works great and is easy to do. No danger involved or anything damaged. I will still give her the one time quick try of blowing it out, but if it does not move right away I go to the grease gun in a hurry. Great tip! Not everyone has a compressor but most have access to a grease gun.

Hi Rasputin,
everyone should own an air compressor. Any strong willed person can fight off obsessive airtool collection once they have bought the basics.
But the reason a grease gun works better is that air compressors put out 125psi and even a cheap nasty grease gun puts out way over 1,000psi.
Safer too.
I'd rather mop up a grease spill than play "dodge the missile" if my safety padding didn't work.

[jetmechmarty]

How to make a spark plug into a "Greaseplug"

I did this to free a very stuck V8 Chevy. I just found the cylinder with the valves closed and a hand held grease gun did the trick in short order.

[Bonz]

I am a bit late to this party... Did the caliper not want to give up the piston by using the brake lever while still on the bike?

[Courtney]

I am a bit late to this party... Did the caliper not want to give up the piston by using the brake lever while still on the bike?

Well Bonz, it's like this see? Some dumb s**t took the caliper off before he pumped the piston out with the brake lever. I wonder who that coulda been?

[Courtney]

How to make a spark plug into a "Greaseplug"

I did this to free a very stuck V8 Chevy. I just found the cylinder with the valves closed and a hand held grease gun did the trick in short order.

Now that is friggin' brilliant as well. I could have unstuck a VW engine that way instead of trying 2nd gear with some serious pushing up and down the driveway.