brake cleaning

tommymac · 07-15-2011, 08:07 PM

Seems my front brakes are starting to stick, most likley sped up by riding on and off the jobsites, I hosed it down today and there was dirt/concrete in a lot of places. I noticed it seemed like the front wheel wasnt rolling as freeley as it should. I thought i may have messed up the wheel bearings but I removed the calipers and the wheel spun freeley.

think its something I could clean with brake cleaner or the calipers need a rebuild?

Particle Man · 07-15-2011, 09:47 PM

How many miles on 'em, Tommy? I usually just save myself the aggravation and just rebuild so I don't have to bother going through the entire exercise twice in case a cleaning doesn't fix them.

fasternyou929 · 07-15-2011, 10:40 PM

I had the same issue last year. If you spun my front wheel with everything you had, it'd rotate 1/4 - 1/2 a turn and stop.

I pulled the pistons out of my calipers this winter, cleaned them with a wire wheel, and replaced all the seals. It works great now, and I even got a comment today (after 8 track days) from the guy doing my tech inspection that my brake pistons were pristine.

Rangerscott · 07-16-2011, 12:32 AM

Brake cleaner. Brake dust turns into a sticky powder type mess. Just unbolt them and get a bucket. Slide a caliper in the bucket and go to town on it. Do your best to not hose down the brake line or the rubber boot/s too much.

tommymac · 07-16-2011, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Particle Man

How many miles on 'em, Tommy? I usually just save myself the aggravation and just rebuild so I don't have to bother going through the entire exercise twice in case a cleaning doesn't fix them.

60k miles.

Next question is where to buy a kit?

Particle Man · 07-16-2011, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tommymac

60k miles.

Next question is where to buy a kit?

that I can't help with

tommymac · 07-16-2011, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Particle Man

that I can't help with

So what good are you, its not like you even have good beer in the fridge

Particle Man · 07-16-2011, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tommymac

So what good are you, its not like you even have good beer in the fridge

There will be

I'm gonna raid that local specialty beer place I found near my house. Lots of good stuff there

fasternyou929 · 07-16-2011, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tommymac

60k miles.

Next question is where to buy a kit?

I bought seals for mine here: www.powersportspro.com

Dirt cheap "rebuild" and the brakes work as good as new.

marko138 · 07-16-2011, 10:28 AM

I've cleaned mine before. I use a biodegradable bike wash. Unbolted the caliper, squeeze the lever just enough to expose clean piston and scrub those babies. Worked great.

07-15-2011, 08:07 PM	#1
tommymac Moto GP Star Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 11,022	brake cleaning Seems my front brakes are starting to stick, most likley sped up by riding on and off the jobsites, I hosed it down today and there was dirt/concrete in a lot of places. I noticed it seemed like the front wheel wasnt rolling as freeley as it should. I thought i may have messed up the wheel bearings but I removed the calipers and the wheel spun freeley. think its something I could clean with brake cleaner or the calipers need a rebuild?

07-15-2011, 09:47 PM	#2
Particle Man Custom User Title Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Central NY Moto: 2003 SV650S Posts: 14,959	How many miles on 'em, Tommy? I usually just save myself the aggravation and just rebuild so I don't have to bother going through the entire exercise twice in case a cleaning doesn't fix them.

07-15-2011, 10:40 PM	#3
fasternyou929 SFL Expatriate #2 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Raleigh, NC Moto: CBR1000 Posts: 2,043	I had the same issue last year. If you spun my front wheel with everything you had, it'd rotate 1/4 - 1/2 a turn and stop. I pulled the pistons out of my calipers this winter, cleaned them with a wire wheel, and replaced all the seals. It works great now, and I even got a comment today (after 8 track days) from the guy doing my tech inspection that my brake pistons were pristine.

07-16-2011, 12:32 AM	#4
Rangerscott Viff6N Mutated Warrior Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Texas Moto: '01 Honda VFR 800 & '09 ER-6N Posts: 8,704	Brake cleaner. Brake dust turns into a sticky powder type mess. Just unbolt them and get a bucket. Slide a caliper in the bucket and go to town on it. Do your best to not hose down the brake line or the rubber boot/s too much.