dumb cleaning question - brake calipers

[skyline]

Hi all :D

This is probably really obvious but I'm having a thick moment!

I've just looked at this website about cleaning motorbikes;

http://www.motorcycleinfo.co.uk/index.cfm?fa=contentGeneric.efqfogzxxrcwvkgn&pageId=95177

On Step3 about halfway down the page, it mentions squirting brake cleaner "through the calipers" to prevent the pistons sticking.

By this does it mean just spraying the inside of the calipers? And is this ok to do with the pads still in?

Cheers loads everyone

[Dangerous Dave]

Read below

:notworthy:

[yorkie_chris]

I wouldn't do that. Solvent and rubber seals isn't good. Also it'll just wash off any protection the pistons have and let them rust double time.

build calipers properly with rubber grease and don't get any silly ideas about cleaning them.

[Dangerous Dave]

I wouldn't do that. Solvent and rubber seals isn't good. Also it'll just wash off any protection the pistons have and let them rust double time.
Never had any problems, but then thinking about it I do a lot of premature maintenance on the bike.

[yorkie_chris]

Even if the solvent is safe on the seals I still far prefer the pistons to have a good bit of grease on them to keep water and salt out of the seal recesses.

Most siezed calipers have salt and water ingress behind the dust seals which squeezes the seal onto the piston and jams it up.

[vardypeeps]

What he said :D.

[Nicky S]

+1 sv seem very popular with santa :P