Binding front brakes
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- Posts: 79
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- Location: Renfrew, Scotland.
Re: Binding front brakes
Noted. All good advice as usual.
Cheers for all the tips/advice.
Cheers for all the tips/advice.
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- zxr400 oc member
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Re: Binding front brakes
Corosion can build up in the groove that the piston seals sit in the caliper. This causes the pistons to stick
The only really effective way to fix this is to remove the pistons and seals.
I use a small rotary wire brush with my Dremmel that just fits nicely in the groove and cleans them out till they shine
If you managed not to damage the seals thay can be cleaned in water (NOT solvent of any kind) and reused but it's better to fit new ones (dead cheap anyway)
Getting the pistons out can be done useing the brake lever and the hydralics but you need to ease them out together as once one is out then the fluid is gone............and then you'll need a compressor...........or a garage airline.
The only really effective way to fix this is to remove the pistons and seals.
I use a small rotary wire brush with my Dremmel that just fits nicely in the groove and cleans them out till they shine
If you managed not to damage the seals thay can be cleaned in water (NOT solvent of any kind) and reused but it's better to fit new ones (dead cheap anyway)
Getting the pistons out can be done useing the brake lever and the hydralics but you need to ease them out together as once one is out then the fluid is gone............and then you'll need a compressor...........or a garage airline.
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- Posts: 79
- Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2007 12:02 pm
- My Bike: ZXR400H2
- Location: Renfrew, Scotland.
Re: Binding front brakes
I'll see how I get on cleaning the 5mm of piston that was suggested, before taking
the whole lot apart. Failing that a full piston removal/clean is on the cards. Dremmel
is on stand-by.
the whole lot apart. Failing that a full piston removal/clean is on the cards. Dremmel
is on stand-by.
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- Posts: 79
- Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2007 12:02 pm
- My Bike: ZXR400H2
- Location: Renfrew, Scotland.
Re: Binding front brakes
Might have inadvertently used some spirit to clean all the gunge/salt etc off
the calipers. Could that have had a go at the seals? Seeing as how you've
said only to use water near the seals?
the calipers. Could that have had a go at the seals? Seeing as how you've
said only to use water near the seals?
- RedexRobB
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Re: Binding front brakes
If its a water based spirit then it should be ok. You should use a can of brake cleaner anyway.
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- Posts: 79
- Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2007 12:02 pm
- My Bike: ZXR400H2
- Location: Renfrew, Scotland.
Re: Binding front brakes
Getting a feeling that it'll not be a quick clean up job after all.
Think I used bog standard white spirit, not sure if that's water based or not.
May even have thrown some meths on as well to try and shift the crap, so
looks like I've dived in head first again.....
Think I used bog standard white spirit, not sure if that's water based or not.
May even have thrown some meths on as well to try and shift the crap, so
looks like I've dived in head first again.....
- masterofinsanity
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Re: Binding front brakes
never thought of that cheers! next time Gems pistons stick i'll look at that.cargo wrote:Corosion can build up in the groove that the piston seals sit in the caliper. This causes the pistons to stick
Don't forget people there is more to the zxr400 than this forum... check out www.zxrworld.co.uk also.
- RedexRobB
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Re: Binding front brakes
well, personally id go get some brake cleaner and carry on. If its gotten worse then you know they are now ruined and time to start stripping. for the tough bits a use a flat tipped screwdriver to shift them off, just dont press too hard.
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- Posts: 79
- Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2007 12:02 pm
- My Bike: ZXR400H2
- Location: Renfrew, Scotland.
Re: Binding front brakes
Just nipped out and got some brake cleaner and rubber grease. Guy behind the counter
can't have been wearing his mask, cos he just charged me £1.50 for a sachet of grease!
I'll keep on the cleaning route and see how I get on. No point in taking the whole lot apart
to find the seals are ok after all.
Not looking forward to completely stripping the brakes down, given the increased opportunities
for me to break something
Also, one of the pins that go through the pads is completely jammed in the blind hole. No
amount of coaxing/wd40/etc could shift it, so the new pads had to be fitted by splitting the
caliper.
can't have been wearing his mask, cos he just charged me £1.50 for a sachet of grease!
I'll keep on the cleaning route and see how I get on. No point in taking the whole lot apart
to find the seals are ok after all.
Not looking forward to completely stripping the brakes down, given the increased opportunities
for me to break something
Also, one of the pins that go through the pads is completely jammed in the blind hole. No
amount of coaxing/wd40/etc could shift it, so the new pads had to be fitted by splitting the
caliper.
- masterofinsanity
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Re: Binding front brakes
bit of heat and a lot of wriggling should shift them pins.
Don't forget people there is more to the zxr400 than this forum... check out www.zxrworld.co.uk also.
- RedexRobB
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Re: Binding front brakes
On all of my bikes, ive dabbed the end of the pin in copper grease so it never gets stuck again!
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- Posts: 79
- Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2007 12:02 pm
- My Bike: ZXR400H2
- Location: Renfrew, Scotland.
Re: Binding front brakes
Funnily enough, I was worried about the rubber seals when I was applying the heat.
Didn't give them a 2nd thought when dousing liberally with every chemical in the
shed!!!
Didn't go in too hard when trying to shift that pin, for fear of breaking it altogether.
The one on the back brake was stuck too.
Didn't give them a 2nd thought when dousing liberally with every chemical in the
shed!!!
Didn't go in too hard when trying to shift that pin, for fear of breaking it altogether.
The one on the back brake was stuck too.
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- Posts: 79
- Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2007 12:02 pm
- My Bike: ZXR400H2
- Location: Renfrew, Scotland.
Re: Binding front brakes
Put a wee drop of high temp grease (only stuff I had) on the end of the pin that I did
manage to get out for the future.
manage to get out for the future.
- RedexRobB
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Re: Binding front brakes
Good stuff, any grease should do i guess, long as it prevents the corrosion between the pin and the caliper
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- Posts: 79
- Joined: Mon Jul 16, 2007 12:02 pm
- My Bike: ZXR400H2
- Location: Renfrew, Scotland.
Re: Binding front brakes
Tried cleaning and greasing the pistons, but they're not going anywhere
quickly. One of them caam out easy enough using the brake lever, but
is a bugger to go back in, so it looks as if the seals will need replacing.
One question though, do the pistons on the outside of the caliper travel
further than the ones in the inside? The outside ones seem to be doing
most of the moving.
cheers
quickly. One of them caam out easy enough using the brake lever, but
is a bugger to go back in, so it looks as if the seals will need replacing.
One question though, do the pistons on the outside of the caliper travel
further than the ones in the inside? The outside ones seem to be doing
most of the moving.
cheers