Servicing brakes...
 

Right, as I have been planning on doing it for a while, I am going to take my brakes appart this weekend....

a few questions for those that are in the know....

do I have to replace the dust seals or the fluid seals ?
Or can I get away with re-using the same ones ? as long as they are undamaged that is....

anything else I need to look out for?
Im giving myself two days to sort this out.. so should have enough time! :lol:

The calipers are pretty crudded up at the moment... are they supposed to be cleaned with brake fluid?

any advice ? cheers!!

New seals every time, new pistons if you can afford it, or they are damaged in any way (Do they all move when caliper is off the bike?)

Clean calipers with a stiff brush and brake cleaner
Scrape all the gunk out of the seal wells with cotton buds, tooth picks etc make sure that the calipers are clean, and that where the pistons and seals go, is spotless, brake fluid would be good and a can of air(or air line if you have one)

Other than that, i would add new bleed nipples if you want, but not a necacity(sp?)

:D

:shock:

I cant afford to replace all the seals... they are over a £5 a pop on my bike.. and theres 8 pistons on the front in total :?

There goes that idea! :lol:

I thought the seals on an SV were about £20 a set. I replace the seals about every 2 years

Viney is right when he says new seals. However, it is not a necessity. I have used the same seals twice now. So long as the seals are in good condition with no perishing or splits in them, you can re use them. It's obviously not the best practise but still OK to do so. Especially if you service your brakes as often as I do. Three times last year and already done them once this year. Would get extremely expensive then.

He dont ride a SV, hes one of those wierdos 4 pot rider types...but then again, he is welsh!

Oh one of those funny bikes you have to rev like crazy to get to any decent speed, then have to pay a fortune to stop!

Yes.. One of them bikes ;) Rev like mad.. goes like stink :lol:
where the pads on the front alone cost £80 :shock: could do all the pads on the SV for £60 :?

Will try and re-use the same seals, and just order new ones for those that are done for...

cheers lads!

Same here, mine have been serviced twice and they seem totaly fine, but then they are calipers from a K4 bike not a K2. I think you have my front ones.

DO WOT?? To correctly service brakes Yup ya need to replace the seals. BUT to do a general tidy/clean up you dont need to.
Stuff you'll need is Clean brake fluid,compresssed air,rubber lube, 2000 grit wet and dry sandpaper and a G clamp.
Pull one caliper off and pads out
Put the g clamp on one piston so it cant move and pump the brake lever a couple of times--The other piston will move out. You can clean off all the brake crud and corrosion off using water and the wet n dry paper.
Be generous with the water
blow all the crud away with compressed air. Smear the piston with rubberlube and push it back into place.
Repeat that for all 4 and the brakes will be heaps better.
I'm sure ya aint stupid but in case --Do not use oil anywhere near the brakes.