Front brake caliper overhaul...
 

So after I did the front fork oil change on the SV, I though 'while I have the front up, I suppose I could service the front calipers'. I've seen it written on this forum about yearly overhauls and thought 'nah, that's ott innit - I don't do enough miles, rarely get wet and never salty' and they seem to work just fine. Bike's only done 8500 miles. But on the other hand, I haven't done them yet, the bike is 15 years old and the previous owner didn't say he had serviced them...

Wow! I found one seized piston, a whole tube of copper grease had been used and the calipers were full of jelly - looked a right mess. I suppose I should have done it when I changed the brake lines.

So new piston and a set of seals ordered, brake fluid and RRG in stock, will be interesting to see if they feel different when reassembled.

The moral of this story is: This forum is great for advice - take it! =D>

Re: Front brake caliper overhaul...
 

Whoaa! Yeah i had a look at mine to try to get rid of that squeaking but mine seem ok phew!


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Re: Front brake caliper overhaul...
 

The only place copper grease should be used is on rear of pads - even then proper Molybdenum grease is better, proper silicone brake grease should be used on gaiters , slide pins and seals, normal greases made from hydrocarbon base will cause seals to expand and will damage them.

Re: Front brake caliper overhaul...
 

Silicone grease isn't great when used in a metal on metal situation such as the slide pins, I'd pack them with RRG.

Re: Front brake caliper overhaul...
 

Red rubber grease is for rubber to rubber and rubber to metal, not metal to metal, it is just a non-petroleum (vegetable and silicone) base grease , not really a good metal lubricant - when I ordered new slide pins for my car brakes they came with a sachet of white silicone brake grease. If you want to really get it right use a ceramic or molybdenum loaded PTFE grease on slide pins, but I have used TRW silicone white brake grease on cars and bikes for years and never had a problem.

Re: Front brake caliper overhaul...
 

This looks like a decent deal that covers all bases:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Castrol-Re...oAAOSwL0NXENbH

Re: Front brake caliper overhaul...
 

How much is a rebuild kit (seals & piston), out of interest please?

Re: Front brake caliper overhaul...
 

Silicone grease is fine to use in a metal to metal situation except when a high melting point grease is needed, not sure were you got that information from buts its wrong.

Re: Front brake caliper overhaul...
 

I to use silicone grease on the slide pins/bolts & on the caliper seals when fitting them no problems here either.

Re: Front brake caliper overhaul...
 

@Craig380 - £46 for a stainless steel piston and four sets of seals. From now on the cost will just be grease and brake fluid as the calipers will not be getting in such a state.

What about Lithium Grease chaps? Is that petroleum derivative based?