Brake caliper seal change/cleaning

[Trackdaze]

Sorry no pics on this one.

Get the bike up on your stands and remove the brake calipers and brake lines. Get the calipers up on a nice clean work bench.

You will need a bunch of long zip ties.
A compressor
plenty of brake fluid
simple green cleaner (don't use brake cleaner)
a tooth brush
lots of shop rags/towels

Zip tie around 3 of the pistons so they can't come out, then use your compressor to blow air into the brake line hole. Put a rag in the caliper so the pistons are protected, keep your fingers clear, the one piston you did not zip tie will pop out with some force.

Now spray it up with simple green and clean everything with the tooth brush or some scotchbrite pads. Use a small screwdriver to remove the seals, they pop out real easy. Clean everything again inside with the simple green.

Now install the new seals and slide the piston back in.

Zip tie this clean piston, remove the zip tie of 1 other and repeat.

When all done, re-install the calipers, brake lines and fluid, bleed the system and enjoy a better working brake system and probably much more free spinning wheel.

[Jay2]

Good write-up. I always remove all the pistons, seal, and bleeders to completely clean the caliper of old fluid. Then use a good caliper assembly grease or new brake fluid to re-install the new seals and pistons. Sliding dry pistons onto dry seals can be tough. Also check the cleaned pistons for scarring or signs of "hanging up" in the caliper and replace them.

[klutch_r]

Crap...would this fix the notchy feel of my brakes? I've taken the fronts apart to clean the pads/calipers with generic brake cleaner, and now I notice the front lever feels real 'notchy' - like more pressure applied progressively on the lever moves it in "steps" and scares the shit out of me in corners. I'm now assuming this has dried the seals behind the pistons? Can they be revitalized with this Permatex witchcraft, or am I going to have to shell out for new ones?