Rebuilding front calipers?

[upjeeper]

After removing and replacing the front wheel on my wife's HD Sportster I've found the front brake won't let up - meaning it's in the permanent braking position. I'm going to have to pull and clean it

Makes me wonder about my valkyrie. I've been hearing some brake noise up front like the pads are rubbing. Good idea for me to remove my calipers, clean them up real good, replace and seals and put it back together or is that something to have a pro mechanic do?

If it's for me, can you guys please tell me what specific parts you recommend I replace?

I'm thinking probably I'll do #1 (the seal set) and I'll go with speed bleeders while I'm in there. Any other recommendations?

[hubcapsc]

I did it, you can do it.

It is likely that you'll have to blow out your pistons with compressed air to get them out...

On the one hand you don't want one of them to come out like a bullet, on the other hand you
don't want just one to come out, cause then the other one is stuck in there, and the compressed
air has nothing to push on.

I jambed in a couple of one-bys, blew them out some, removed one of the one-bys, blew them out
some more, and then they were mine... Should probably wear safety glasses, some brake fluid will probably
spew out in unexpected directions on the first blast or two of compressed air... not good for eyes, and
eats paint.



Clean everything up, put it back together, you'll be happy!

-Mike

[Colin]

When you are putting them back together add a light smear of anti-seize to the pins and the rear of the pads. Helps stop squealing and allows everything to settle back into place.

[hubcapsc]

When you are putting them back together add a light smear of anti-seize to the pins and the rear of the pads. Helps stop squealing and allows everything to settle back into place.

I put anti-seize on the threads of the pins and on the threads of the little pin cover too, I had big
trouble getting one of those covers off once because it was like glued on... there's some lube for
the slidey part of the pins...



-Mike

[Ricky-D]

Speed bleeders only seem to work when there is little to no air in the system.

Any appreciable amount of air and it will not blast out, overcoming the spring pressure built into the speed bleeder.

***

[Bugslayer]

Another way to remove the piston's (other than compressed air) is to use a c-clamp. Use the clamp to keep one piston from coming out while you gently pump out the other.  Go back and forth between the two piston's moving them a little at a time until you can remove them by hand.  (make sure you don't scratch the piston's.)