Front brake caliper overhaul...

[Blapper]

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!

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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[SV650rules]

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.

[tom_e]

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

[SV650rules]

Originally Posted by tom_e

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

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.

[Blapper]

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

[Craig380]

Originally Posted by Blapper

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.

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

Originally Posted by tom_e

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

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.

Originally Posted by SV650rules

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.

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

[Blapper]

@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?