Cleaning all around the rear wheel / swingarm / rear brake caliper

Originally Posted by Camel

That is normally what I would do, but I bought the bike as a bit of a project. I go it pretty cheap, but I also wanted to get to grips with maintenance etc.

Plus it was "proper minging"!! I dare say yours has never been that bad! I should have taken some before pictures too!

Yeah mine isn't too bad to be honest, but i've never really gone round it in that much detail either to check it all over properly, which i should, good for learning too like you say! I think some quality time in the garage is in order...

Originally Posted by TheStudent

Wooooo!? You guys do a damn site more cleaning than me!?

Normally i just clean it from the outside if you know what i mean, wash, polish, pressure wash where necessary, grease the chain etc. How often do you folks strip everything down like that? Feel bad, my poor curvy!?

ditto +1

Just given mine the deep clean...again - the full 'wheels off, all bodywork off' type clean.

If you're worried about the condition of the rear brake pistons, leave one old brake pad in and pump them out a little way before removing the pad and scrubbing them with a toothbrush and WD40. If you see nasty rust pits on the pistons then it might be time to replace the pistons and seals. If not, clean the dirty WD40 off with brake cleaner, dry with a clean rag and regrease the inside of the caliper with a smear of red rubber grease before pushing the pistons back and fitting the new pads.