James in Brum

I have disassembled, cleaned, wire brushed, cleaned, painted, cleaned and now reassembled my front brake callipers

Brake fluid are some of my painting but I am happy for now. Hopefully find time tomorrow to learn to refit and bleed them I’m really happy with this

View from my allotment with the kids and Mrs in Brum this evening. I planted up one of my curcurbits, a couple of kale, weeded the brassica tent, shouted at the kids for being kids, sewed (I don’t if this I the right spelling for plants) hoed and had some cups of tea.

I hope to rebuild later when I am not required to parent. I will have to learn how to bleed them tomorrow. I think Tuesday is going to be carbs day now.

Gotcha I’ve cleaned the paint off the bits that touch

Does the fluid not only push against the back of the pistons?

I don’t feel criticised or ought Very happy to be told where I f**k up Should there be a gasket of Some sorts between them then? It seemd like it was just metal on metal and the fluid communicates through the little holes where there is a rubber seal. My (I now know but don’t understand) logic was that the inner part apart from the little holes that have a rubber washer between them and the cylinders were just carcass and not doing much. Happy being told what best to do, it would be ace to understand as well.

Okay I’ll take that paint off [embarrassed smiley] thank fully only did a couple of halves. Out of curiosity why not?

Going to press on

Thanks [mention]Mickly[/mention] Do I only paint the outside of the callipers or is inside okay to paint if I cover the cylinders and where the fluid pumps between sides?

Outsides done

Where do I and don’t I paint? Can I stuck some bog role in the cylinders and just let rip all over or really no James don’t do that?

Empires are ruled by emperors, kingdoms are ruled by Kings, Sheikhdoms by sheikhs Alas we live in a Country

As always thank you for your input and support

Thanks, waiting for Halfords to text to say come and get your stuff. Will try to do a good job this time around so will paint.

Halfords does not have DOT 3 break fluid, a quick google says dot 4 is compatible. Any advice?

I bought mine for 1100 and it is in good condition all round. The brakes I am doing to learn not because they need it, the carbs had a bit of muck in probably but otherwise sound. At least until I was driven into. If they are usually as bad as you say I feel very lucky, 30 years old and 16000 miles when I bought it. I shall be cautious if I have to replace it.

Spray satin paint okay or does it need to be high temp?

Get the Haynes manual, it has a Maintainance schedule in the front of it

I think that mine is only good on tarmac but seems to do everything that needs doing on tarmac/road.

If it is not a necessary job I will do that next time I take them off

Photos of the callipers after a thorough scrubbing in Screwfix degreaser. I’m inclined to have a go at the cyclinder (not piston but the hole they go in) with the aerosol brake cleaner and then reassemble. I don’t like that they don’t look like new but I don’t know how to make that happen.

I know to remove and replace seals and clean with brake cleaner. It’s the body of the calliper that I am unsure about.

This is where I am at right now... A few questions. There is an unpleasant patina on the callipers. Is that a problem? If so what do I do? Do I do some more aggressive cleaning and paint them? If so what with? Also any advice on what to do next?

Run out of oil? My zzr recently began topping it up by itself! It only had petrol to use unfortunately but none the less very considerate attempt at independence.