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MarkT Exhaust
Valkyrie Riders Cruiser Club > General > 1500 Tech Board > Cleaning Brake Pistons
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Author Topic: Cleaning Brake Pistons  (Read 1548 times)
Gangman036
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Terre Haute, IN
« on: September 20, 2011, 05:08:19 PM »
I have read here to only use alcohol with cleaning them as to not ruin the seals and other rubber pieces.......however, how the heck to ya get the underneath side of the pistons without taking the caliper apart?  Thanks !!!
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Valker
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Wahoo!!!!

Texas Panhandle
« Reply #1 on: September 20, 2011, 06:59:31 PM »
With something between the piston and the free, open outside world, apply some air pressure to the upper hole in the caliper (make sure to cover your eyes as residual brake fluid will fly) and they will pop out.
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I ride a motorcycle because nothing transports me as quickly from where I am to who I am.
Jeff K
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« Reply #2 on: September 20, 2011, 07:12:20 PM »
Quote from: Valker on September 20, 2011, 06:59:31 PM
With something between the piston and the free, open outside world, apply some air pressure to the upper hole in the caliper (make sure to cover your eyes as residual brake fluid will fly) and they will pop out.

That would be taking them apart...
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Valker
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Texas Panhandle
« Reply #3 on: September 20, 2011, 07:43:53 PM »
Without removing the pistons completely (the only part that disassembles) you might try filling the caliper about halfway with alcohol, plug it, and shake well.
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I ride a motorcycle because nothing transports me as quickly from where I am to who I am.
Gangman036
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Terre Haute, IN
« Reply #4 on: September 20, 2011, 08:33:12 PM »
Thanks !!
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RonW
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Newport Beach
« Reply #5 on: September 20, 2011, 08:51:43 PM »
Quote from: Gangman036 on September 20, 2011, 05:08:19 PM

.......however, how the heck to ya get the underneath side of the pistons without taking the caliper apart?


a way that's done is to stick a shim between the OLD pads and squeeze the front brake lever so the pistons extend a millimeter or two further out from their cylinders. The thickness of the shim should be slightly LESS than the thickness of the brake rotor.
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2000 Valkyrie Tourer
Tropic traveler
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Livin' the Valk, er, F6B life in Central Florida.

Silver Springs, Florida
« Reply #6 on: September 20, 2011, 09:07:49 PM »
Removing & reinstalling the pistons from the caliper is not that hard. The reseal kits from Honda are cheap & easy to install. Just make sure you get both the pistons about ready to fall out of the bore equally. Do NOT take one out while the other is still firmly in the bore. Don't ask me how I know!  Embarrassed  You can't get the piston truly clean without removing it completely from the caliper. I polish them up with 1000 grit sandpaper or a ScotchBrite pad to clean all the varnish from them. Same with the bores of the caliper.  cooldude
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RonW
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Newport Beach
« Reply #7 on: September 21, 2011, 06:36:59 AM »
Are you trying to clean the entire brake piston? I don't see the necessity unless you have a lot of mileage.
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2000 Valkyrie Tourer
hubcapsc
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upstate

South Carolina
« Reply #8 on: September 21, 2011, 06:44:18 AM »

I take mine off and blow the pistons out every couple of tires. I clean the pistons like
new with the same kind of brake fluid I'm putting back in and some of that 1500 grit
wet/dry sandpaper, and I clean the outsides of the calipers up with the wire brush
or whatever works...



I'm a big proponent of somehow cleaning the pistons before adding new brake shoes, else
you'll mash some of the old-nasty-previously-exposed piston back into the caliper when you
put on the new thick pads...

-Mike
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Tropic traveler
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Livin' the Valk, er, F6B life in Central Florida.

Silver Springs, Florida
« Reply #9 on: September 21, 2011, 06:21:36 PM »
Quote from: hubcapsc on September 21, 2011, 06:44:18 AM

I take mine off and blow the pistons out every couple of tires. I clean the pistons like
new with the same kind of brake fluid I'm putting back in and some of that 1500 grit
wet/dry sandpaper, and I clean the outsides of the calipers up with the wire brush
or whatever works...



I'm a big proponent of somehow cleaning the pistons before adding new brake shoes, else
you'll mash some of the old-nasty-previously-exposed piston back into the caliper when you
put on the new thick pads...

-Mike


Good advice. A Valk that sat for a while will need a caliper clean up as well!  cooldude
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'13 F6B black-the real new Valkyrie Tourer
'13 F6B red for Kim
'97 Valkyrie Tourer r&w, OLDFRT's ride now!
'98 Valkyrie Tourer burgundy & cream traded for Kim's F6B
'05 SS 750 traded for Kim's F6B
'99 Valkyrie black & silver Tourer, traded in on my F6B
'05 Triumph R3 gone but not forgotten!
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