Back brake pistons (at wits end)
 

Right- short of buying a new caliper and pistons, can anyone recommend a wzy of getting a very seized piston out?

I've killed a pair of Sealey piston pliers and compressed air won't do it. Managed to get one out from pumping the system, but the other is stuck fast.

Many thanks...

Re: Back brake pistons (at wits end)
 

Blimey those piston pliers lasted less time than mine did!!!!!!!

As for the stuck piston if compressed air or pumping the brake didn't get it out you may have to just get some new pistons and butcher that one to get it out

Re: Back brake pistons (at wits end)
 

Just had the exact same trouble mate with my new GSXR calipers. In the end i put the calipers in really hot soapy water and left them for a few hours. Then i used my own version of a drain plug. Easy to make with a few washers some rubber and a decent sized bolt.

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u...048528x396.jpg

Make sure the washers fit inside the piston. Push the rod in tighten up the nut therefore compressing the rubber making a strong grip and pull like crazy and pop. I was celebrating like a prat when i got one out :smt101. Make sure you dry them off first before using this system otherwise you'll have no grip.

HTH Rich

Re: Back brake pistons (at wits end)
 

Is it the right or left hand piston that's stuck?

Re: Back brake pistons (at wits end)
 

DD- yeah- it's well shafted! They're not that robust, are they?!

Pete- It's the back piston (left if you're sitting on the bike).

Since calming down a little (was effing well sipped off earlier!), I've got another plan.

I got the other piston out by putting it back on the hose, bleeding the system and pumping it- the left piston came out a bit, but as the right piston came right out, it was leaking fluid and therefore an open system, so the (well) seized piston didn't have a chance to come out proply, like.

So- My last ditch attempt is to clean the other piston, get it back in the system and tape it down somehow so it (hopefully) won't move. Then prime the system and try once more to pump the well seized one out with the brake lever.

Otherwise it's a call to SV Spares and hope they have a reasonable priced A1 rear caliper.

I now realise the wisdom of overhauling the calipers twice a year!

Cheers for your help guys.

D

Re: Back brake pistons (at wits end)
 

Pete had the same problem. He used zip ties to stop the piston moving out.

There is this one on e bay
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Suzuki-SV650-S...QQcmdZViewItem

Re: Back brake pistons (at wits end)
 

Cable ties! GENIUS!!!! I was wondering what to use.

Cheers for the link- that looks well different to the caliper I've got sitting next to me. Hmmmm. SV Spares list them at £45. I'll see if they've got one with less seized pistons if tommorow's swearathon doesn't go well...

Nice one Lissa!

Re: Back brake pistons (at wits end)
 

I use a small g-clamp to hold the piston/pistons I don't want to move.

But if I had a really troublesome SV caliper, I'd get another one, they're pretty cheap (though of course the replacement might also be fubared) My original caliper needed new seals, I bought a used Busa caliper for ?10, it even came with good pads :mrgreen: SV caliper in bin.

Re: Back brake pistons (at wits end)
 

Nice. Are the Busa rear calipers a match, then? Or do you need to mod them/make an adaptor plate?

I have limited tools in the flat and apparently even less patience!

Re: Back brake pistons (at wits end)
 

The busa caliper is the same as the sv i think the gixxer srad caliper is the same as well

Re: Back brake pistons (at wits end)
 

Yup. And also I think some of the oilboilers, so probably some Bandits too. But Busa is a good choice since they tend to see less winter miles etc.

Re: Back brake pistons (at wits end)
 

G Clamp much better than cable ties, that way you could use all the hydraulic pressure you need.

Re: Back brake pistons (at wits end)
 

Don't have a G clamp, so will have to make do with ties- will use 2 or 3 to reduce snapping/ensure there's enough holding power.

Mind you- then I've got to clean the b**ger! The salt that's in the seal grooves of just 1 piston could preserve a dead horse for a good month! Oh well- an SV owner's job is never done!

Re: Back brake pistons (at wits end)
 

I have just serviced my brakes and found that one of the sliding pins on the front was totally seized with salt. I sprayed GT85 down each side of the rubber and left for a couple of minutes. I then worked it out and out the rubber sleeve popped. The amount of salt in that one chamber was strange really as none of the others had any problem at all. Cleaned out the salt, red rubber greased the rubber sleeve and replaced it.

Re: Back brake pistons (at wits end)
 

Had a similar thing last week- DirtyDog kindly spent 5 hours helping me do my front calipers. One side wasn't too bad but the nearside caliper was in a right state. Again, 1 slider socket was really caked.

We also found with the pistons that 1 was really well stuck in there but the other wasn't so bad. I guess it's the front facing piston that gets the worst of it all.

Re: Back brake pistons (at wits end)
 

But then that calipers pistons were pretty knackered as well though good job i ahd my old calipers for some donor parts :smt003

Re: Back brake pistons (at wits end)
 

Too right! And the pad retaining pins! Hence I ordered a full set this week and still owe you a few beers, I reckon for all that!

Fortunately, at least one of the pistons so far isn't to done

Re: Back brake pistons (at wits end)
 

Stop dithering and get it sorted! :D

Re: Back brake pistons (at wits end)
 

Huzzah!

SECOND PISTON IS OUT.

I REPEAT.

SECOND PISTON IS OUT.

Now to clean the b*gg*r up!

Ah- so patience is a virtue.

Re: Back brake pistons (at wits end)
 

Tis done. All back together and the little bleeder's been bled!

Cheers for your advice guys.

the d

Re: Back brake pistons (at wits end)
 

+1! ... G-clamp is essential kit for callipers 8)

Re: Back brake pistons (at wits end)
 

Zip/cable ties are really strong especially in the more chunkier sizes.

Re: Back brake pistons (at wits end)
 

Where can you get stainless pad retaining pins?

Re: Back brake pistons (at wits end)
 

A g-clamp is re-usable and helps push stubborn pistons back in ;)

Re: Back brake pistons (at wits end)
 

Agreed but if you've done the job properly they should just push in by hand. :p

Re: Back brake pistons (at wits end)
 

I got mine off ebay a while ago now. I had a check earlier and cant find who sold them although i spose if you've got some tools you could even make some yourself from some 5mm stainlees steel rod the awkward bit will be drilling the hole for the r clip to go through

Re: Back brake pistons (at wits end)
 

Indeed, is it really necessary to upset the end like on the standard one?

If so then could turn down a stainless bolt to shape. Which will be a bugger, but oh well.

Re: Back brake pistons (at wits end)
 

If you don't push them in 100% true, they can jam ... Mr G-Clamp sorts that 8)

Anyway, yes hold it back with anything, but I like using a g-clamp 8)

Re: Back brake pistons (at wits end)
 

I'm conducting a survey. Which bleeding method did you use mate?

Re: Back brake pistons (at wits end)
 

Mityvac. Just took it in turns front and back bleed nipple.

The Mity is quite good- but can be a little hard to tell if the pipes not on the nipple too well as it pulls air in around that as well as from the brake system.

I suppose a bit of ptfe tape might help that (Gah! Now I think of that), but the ensuing froth can make it hard to check the condition of the fluid. Though this is more of a problem on the back bleed nipple once the brakes bolted on again, as it's more awkward to get to.

Still- having had to bleed the system 3 times to get both pistons out and re install the caliper, I can confirm that it does help the whole operation.

2 people and a 1 way valve bleed system (just a little pipe with a ball bearing in it) is also pretty good- this is how DirtyDog did the front calipers last weekend. In fact, 2 people doing it really makes a difference.