Brakes - Help! - SV650.org

11-04-05, 09:17 AM

Hi All. New to the forum but thought I'd better seek some advice before making any expensive mistakes.

I haven't ridden the SV for a couple of months and while it's been in the garage the front brakes have started binding (they've rubbed a bit for a while but not like this!)
I pulled the pads out at the weekend and gave everything a thorough clean - I hate road salt - which helped, but when I reapply the front brake it doesn't release properly and starts to bind again.

So to the questions...
The good old Haynes manual says I probably need to strip and clean the calipers, which sounds sensible but I've never done it before. Any handy hints? Am I likely to end up with brake fluid all over the floor? And do I need any bits other than new seals, copper grease and a pot of brake fluid?

Could let a garage do it, but I'm keen to learn and mechanics seem to be a bit hit and miss with brakes - feel OK off the service and then within a week they're rubbing again (old CB500, not the SV.)

Thanks!

11-04-05, 09:40 AM

I had this problem twice in 3 months.
There is a build up of salt between the dust seal and inner seal. If you pump the front lever until 1 piston pops out, then jam it up and pop the other piston out untill you can remove them by hand. Remove it from the brake lines for ease. The dust seal will also come out, so you need to clean the seat where is sits in and the piston. A toothbrush is very helpfull. Once everything is clean put the old or new dust seal back in, push the piston in half way then grease it up with copper slick. Once everthing is done put it back on the line and bleed the brakes. Once one side is bled and working you can remove the other side and repeat the same procedure.

11-04-05, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hooligan

then grease it up with copper slick

Isn't coppaslip bad for the seals?!

11-04-05, 10:47 AM

If you push the piston half way back in then the coppa slip will not go on the inner seal, it will sit between the inner seal and dust seal. This way it keeps the inside of the piston fresh rather than getting road slat in and corroding it.

11-04-05, 12:11 PM

Thanks Hooligan, I'll give it a go.

11-04-05, 02:04 PM

copaslip is a big no for the seals. you need to use silicone grease only, as this is the proper lubricant for seal material. i have been servicing my brakes regularly for three years and they work perfectly. see my post on the absolute cure for brake pin woes

Sid Squid · 11-04-05, 07:33 PM

Don't use copper grease on the brakes seals, doing as described above will result in grease contaminating the pressure seals.

11-04-05, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raymond smith

copaslip is a big no for the seals. you need to use silicone grease only, as this is the proper lubricant for seal material. i have been servicing my brakes regularly for three years and they work perfectly. see my post on the absolute cure for brake pin woes

Link to the post

11-04-05, 09:17 AM	#1
Yokel Guest Posts: n/a	Brakes - Help! Hi All. New to the forum but thought I'd better seek some advice before making any expensive mistakes. I haven't ridden the SV for a couple of months and while it's been in the garage the front brakes have started binding (they've rubbed a bit for a while but not like this!) I pulled the pads out at the weekend and gave everything a thorough clean - I hate road salt - which helped, but when I reapply the front brake it doesn't release properly and starts to bind again. So to the questions... The good old Haynes manual says I probably need to strip and clean the calipers, which sounds sensible but I've never done it before. Any handy hints? Am I likely to end up with brake fluid all over the floor? And do I need any bits other than new seals, copper grease and a pot of brake fluid? Could let a garage do it, but I'm keen to learn and mechanics seem to be a bit hit and miss with brakes - feel OK off the service and then within a week they're rubbing again (old CB500, not the SV.) Thanks!

11-04-05, 07:33 PM	#7
Sid Squid No, I don't lend tools. Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Skunk Works, Nth London Posts: 8,680	Don't use copper grease on the brakes seals, doing as described above will result in grease contaminating the pressure seals. __________________ If an SV650 has a flat tyre in the forest and no-one is there to blow it up, how long will it be 'til someone posts that the reg/rec is duff and the world will end unless a CBR unit is fitted? A little bit of knowledge = a dangerous thing. "a deathless anthem of nuclear-strength romantic angst"

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11-04-05, 09:40 AM	#2
Hooligan Guest Posts: n/a	I had this problem twice in 3 months. There is a build up of salt between the dust seal and inner seal. If you pump the front lever until 1 piston pops out, then jam it up and pop the other piston out untill you can remove them by hand. Remove it from the brake lines for ease. The dust seal will also come out, so you need to clean the seat where is sits in and the piston. A toothbrush is very helpfull. Once everything is clean put the old or new dust seal back in, push the piston in half way then grease it up with copper slick. Once everthing is done put it back on the line and bleed the brakes. Once one side is bled and working you can remove the other side and repeat the same procedure.

11-04-05, 10:47 AM	#4
Hooligan Guest Posts: n/a	If you push the piston half way back in then the coppa slip will not go on the inner seal, it will sit between the inner seal and dust seal. This way it keeps the inside of the piston fresh rather than getting road slat in and corroding it.

11-04-05, 12:11 PM	#5
Yokel Guest Posts: n/a	Thanks Hooligan, I'll give it a go.

11-04-05, 02:04 PM	#6
raymond smith Guest Posts: n/a	copaslip is a big no for the seals. you need to use silicone grease only, as this is the proper lubricant for seal material. i have been servicing my brakes regularly for three years and they work perfectly. see my post on the absolute cure for brake pin woes