Cleaning brake calipers

[bikemonkey]

Found my front brake calipers to be sticking, and I at first thought it would ease off after using the bike as it had been sat for ages. Wrong.

So I've stripped the calipers over the past two days after work and they were pretty damn dirty, were black as hell and the pistons were complete twats to get out. But I got them out none the less and got the seals out too.

The seals were all gunked up with brake dust and brake fluid crystals so I bought a full set for each caliper from david silver (have to say, awesome service).

Now I'm wondering whats the best way to clean out the piston bores?

They currently look like this



I've already got the brake dust and crap off from around the bores, now its just the inside of the bores where the seals sit.

Not sure how good quality the photo is, but they're pretty dirty.

Any tips?

[lizard821000]

i used a small plastic fine edged tooth pick sort of thing, or cable tie etc....dont want to damage the seats for the seals. dont forget the red rubber grease on re-instilation too. polish the pistons up too.

i also put some tissue paper into the bores so crud wouldnt fall down near the holes. time and paitents

[oldgreyandslow]

i used a small plastic fine edged tooth pick sort of thing, or cable tie etc....dont want to damage the seats for the seals. dont forget the red rubber grease on re-instilation too. polish the pistons up too.

i also put some tissue paper into the bores so crud wouldnt fall down near the holes. time and paitents

As he said.

Tooth pick, cotton bud, plenty, and I mean plenty, of brake cleaner and patience. Lube seals with new brake fluid, red rubber grease on the dust seal, clean and polish the pistons, any nicks or scratches that won't polish out means a new piston is needed, pattern ones available from Rick O, or e-bay.

[bikemonkey]

Cheers guys.

What about brass wire brushes/wheels, would they work?

[Deviant400]

i used a i tiny brass wire wheel (bout the size of a 10p) on my dremmel it just slotted into the groove perfect , cleaned up nice

[bikemonkey]

i used a i tiny brass wire wheel (bout the size of a 10p) on my dremmel it just slotted into the groove perfect , cleaned up nice

Something like one of these?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Proxxon-Wire- ... 875wt_1270

[Deviant400]

yep

[bikemonkey]

Awesome, that'll help alot.

I'm not massively impatient, but when this bike keeps needing tlc and I've only ridden her 4 times since I passed my test and got her on the road a month ago, the less time it takes to get her happy and sorted, the better :)

[Deviant400]

2min job with the wheel , just need to give it a lite blip round to take any corrosion off , job done

[hardnutdvd]

+1 for the Dremmel. works a treat. :)