AdeyT Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 Going to tackle my front brake calipers this weekend, got all the seals in a rebuild kit and have a good idea how to go about it but just asking for any tips or anything I should be mindful of. The bike is a ZZR600 2001.I understand getting sticky pistons out is a problem and I can try and clamp the free ones while using the bikes hydraulics to remove the sticky ones, also have compressed air at work but would mean the job would be on hold until I get to work Monday.I was planning to use Autosol to clean the calipers and pistons and use red rubber grease just around the outside diameter of the pistons only for lubrication.Thanks in advanceAdrian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlecat Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 Wedge something between the moving pistons to hold them still whilst pumping out the sticky one(s).Soak the new seals in brake fluid before fitting, and also lubricate the pistons with brake fluid before popping them back in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdeyT Posted February 6, 2014 Author Share Posted February 6, 2014 Soak the new seals in brake fluid before fitting, and also lubricate the pistons with brake fluid before popping them back in Thanks for the reply, red rubber grease no good then for lubricating the pistons? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastanglianbiker Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 yes use red rubber grease as it lubricates the seals as well.While you have got the seals out make sure the groove they sit in is cleaned out of all old crud and muck i use something with a fine point on it to make sure i get everything out use tissue to catch it in if needs be and once finished cleaning make sure u get all residue dust out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdeyT Posted February 6, 2014 Author Share Posted February 6, 2014 yes use red rubber grease as it lubricates the seals as well.While you have got the seals out make sure the groove they sit in is cleaned out of all old crud and muck i use something with a fine point on it to make sure i get everything out use tissue to catch it in if needs be and once finished cleaning make sure u get all residue dust out Thanks for the help. I know there is a debate about the red rubber grease contaminating the brake fluid and my apologosies if I'm bring up old arguments. I was planning to just use the red rubber grease around the outside of the piston, that way almost all of it should get pushed out to the outside by the dust seal when inserting the piston, (should give it added protection). I could still use new brake fluid to help put the seals in though. That all sound ok? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klingelton Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 yes use red rubber grease as it lubricates the seals as well.While you have got the seals out make sure the groove they sit in is cleaned out of all old crud and muck i use something with a fine point on it to make sure i get everything out use tissue to catch it in if needs be and once finished cleaning make sure u get all residue dust out Thanks for the help. I know there is a debate about the red rubber grease contaminating the brake fluid and my apologosies if I'm bring up old arguments. I was planning to just use the red rubber grease around the outside of the piston, that way almost all of it should get pushed out to the outside by the dust seal when inserting the piston, (should give it added protection). I could still use new brake fluid to help put the seals in though. That all sound ok? the argument about red rubber grease is fubar. the the seals are working properly, the grease won't get into the system, it will be squeezed out. It will just help things move along a bit smoother. A dash of brake fluid does a similar thing. Important thing is that the seals are nice and moist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stumblebum Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 I know you're doing your front calipers but have a watch of this "> Some very handy hints on there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted February 6, 2014 Share Posted February 6, 2014 If you have access to brake grease/red grease then use this rather then brake fluid if you dont then brake fluid will be fine although there is no need to soak the seals just smear them and fit although red grease will help prevent corrosion behind the seals which is the main problem of sticking pistons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdeyT Posted February 7, 2014 Author Share Posted February 7, 2014 Thank for all the help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 21, 2018 Share Posted June 21, 2018 I cannot seat my seals, old OR new. They seem too big as they seat until the last quarter inch or so and I have slack. Ive cleaned and greased everything. Any tips? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 22, 2018 Share Posted June 22, 2018 How thoroughly have you cleaned them? Use a dental pick or similar (carefully! Don't score!) to get any crud out of the corners. Agree with all of the above about red rubber grease. I always put a light coating around the circumference (leaving a small bit at the base bare) and have never had contamination problems. This also has the benefit of leaving a ring of grease over the dust seals which helps stop any crap getting in behind them..I've had far less issues with sticky pistons since I started using it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
funinacup Posted June 22, 2018 Share Posted June 22, 2018 I've just been through a painful exercise of caliper refurb, but was mainly due to having tricky calipers to bleed, and a bike that has ABS which seemed to hold a bit of air too.My tips would be:Buy genuine sealsDon't pull the pistons out, buy a piston removal tool. Seriously it's just so much easier and safer. Use the red rubber grease. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fastbob Posted June 22, 2018 Share Posted June 22, 2018 I cannot seat my seals, old OR new. They seem too big as they seat until the last quarter inch or so and I have slack. Ive cleaned and greased everything. Any tips? Have you got all the mineralisation out of the grooves ? I use a bamboo kebab skewer as a scraper , less chance of damage . I do use Red Rubber Grease but it is very sticky, have you tried installing the seals using brake fluid instead ? Maybe this will allow them to seat more evenly . Once they are roughly seated , try running a finger round and round inside the cylinder to even out any tension . Most factory manuals state that only brake fluid should be used for seal installation so if you do it "by the book" .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 22, 2018 Share Posted June 22, 2018 Red rubber grease isn't for installing the seals, just a light cost around the piston. I soak my seals in brake fluid whilst I'm taking the caliper apart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fastbob Posted June 22, 2018 Share Posted June 22, 2018 Wedge something between the moving pistons to hold them still whilst pumping out the sticky one(s).Soak the new seals in brake fluid before fitting, and also lubricate the pistons with brake fluid before popping them back in One way of doing it is to take the pads out then put it back on the bike and just pump away until every piston is touching the disk . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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