'How to' change the calliper seals

Mr Haynes suggests this is a four spanner job - difficult, suitable for experienced DIY mechanic - and I've always seen myself more as a two spanner sort of a chap - fairly easy, suitable for a beginner with some experience - so what are the chances of me pulling this off?

[Stu]

Originally Posted by Spiderman

Not sure if there is a step by step anywhere on the site at the moment. The long awaited "knowledge base" is still a work in progress so for the time being a Hyanes manual might be a good answer.

I've done mine a couple fo times now and the biggest problem has always been getting hold of the gold dust like red rubber grease.

A few months back i put in a call to Castrol's technical helpline as i couldnt find anyoe near me who stocked it, not a single person on their list of "local stockists" had it.
A very nice chap called me back and we had a very nice chat during which he told me this... the red rubber grease is a vegetable based compound that will not interfere with or contaminate the brake fluid where as the other products are mineral based and may do. He went on to ask me if i knew the difference between vegetable based and mineral based to which i honestly answered NO. he said anything vegetable based would keep the seals in good condition and not contaminate the brake fluid...ANYTHING.
I thought i'd be funny and said i'd get the olive oil out then and use that. he laughed and said "got money to burn have you? Why use fabcy olive oil when chip fat will do I wanted to make sure he wasnt just humouring me and he said that he was being deadly serious and there would be no issue. So i did and there hasnt been any problems at all.

He also said that if i ddint feel comfortable about that then there is a guy on ebay who buys in bulk from them and resells it in small zip bags. he actually did a search in ebay for me while we talked and sad "i'll tell you what not to search for and thats "red rubber" cos you'll find lots of off topic things that will keep you amused but wont help fix your brakes, lol.

HTH

I got a nice big tub for free from LukeMillar when he emigrated. HTH

(I'll treasure it all the more now that I know how scarce it is)

Originally Posted by Lozzo

Have a look at ebay item number 250208714966

I've just bought a tub.

Blimey, are you rich, then? I think I paid half that for a white tub of the stuff, allegedly made by Morris Lubes. My local motor factor stocked it. As he said; it should last me the rest of my life!

Originally Posted by Tiger 55

Mr Haynes suggests this is a four spanner job - difficult, suitable for experienced DIY mechanic - and I've always seen myself more as a two spanner sort of a chap - fairly easy, suitable for a beginner with some experince - so what are the chances of me pulling this off?

If I'm honest I'd say you were better being supervised whilst doing the first time. We are talking about a major component of the bike in regards to safety. No strike that. We are talking THE major safety component on the bike.

As much as I think it is easy, it is also easy to do something wrong if you have never done it before. Once you have done it once, you'll re-categorise those 4 spanners to probably 1.

If your at all nervous about doing it, find someone that has done it before (preferably correctly) and let them watch over your shoulder. Once you've done it once, you'll have no fear of doing them again. (so long as you did it right the first time )

Originally Posted by BigApe

If I'm honest I'd say you were better being supervised whilst doing the first time.

Darn. I knew that really but I was just going to jump in unless somebody told me not to.

I consider myself told...

Originally Posted by BigApe

If I'm honest I'd say you were better being supervised whilst doing the first time. We are talking about a major component of the bike in regards to safety. No strike that. We are talking THE major safety component on the bike.

As much as I think it is easy, it is also easy to do something wrong if you have never done it before. Once you have done it once, you'll re-categorise those 4 spanners to probably 1.

If your at all nervous about doing it, find someone that has done it before (preferably correctly) and let them watch over your shoulder. Once you've done it once, you'll have no fear of doing them again. (so long as you did it right the first time )

This is my first attempt too- but I'm fairly certain on what I'm doing now (having read much on it) and am just going to take the plunge- luckily, I live in a quiet road, so I can test the brakes fairly gently first without too much worry...

I got help from the great Viney when doing the fronts, well to be honest he did most of the work. I just pumped the leaver and watched keenly, but I have since done the back break, as if I stuff that up I still have the fronts while I take it to someone who knows better.

[Viney]

Originally Posted by thedonal

This is my first attempt too- but I'm fairly certain on what I'm doing now (having read much on it) and am just going to take the plunge- luckily, I live in a quiet road, so I can test the brakes fairly gently first without too much worry...

Before you even attempt to ride the bike, you must have a firm lever in the brake department, if its floppy, then you are not going to stop.

*Waits for the 'Ive changed my seals but i cant bleed the brakes' posts

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Red-Rubber-Gre...QQcmdZViewItem

Originally Posted by thedonal

am just going to take the plunge

Go for it! That's the spirit!

Don't say BigApe didn't warn you though!