Stuck caliper piston - with picture!

[Guest]

Hey gang,

I am having a having a hackuva time removing this piston from the caliper (81 GS400).

Any suggestions?

THanks.

[Baatfam]

Compressed air? That's what I've used.

[BassCliff]

Hi,

Yes, compressed air works the best. Carefully put the caliper in a vice, so that you don't damage it. Use a rubber tipped air nozzle in the brake line hole making sure the bleeder hole is closed tightly. Put a rag or something around the caliper so that the piston doesn't go shooting across the garage.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[cowboyup3371]

Compressed air does work but I had a heckuva time doing it. I just used a couple of flat bladed screwdrivers and some blocks for pivot points and was able to move it up that way.

[chuck hahn]

I wrap a rag around the body and clamp it in a vice.Then i take my channel locks and grip the lip and twist and pull at the same time..that has always gotten them out for me. Sometimes they are just so tight that compressed air wont budge them...been there and done that. Also once you get it out use a dremel and the small wire wheel to clean the groove the seal fits into. Once you remove it you will have chunks that will prevent it from seating properly again so the groove must be cleaned well.

[BassCliff]

Hi,

If you have the right fittings, your grease gun will work too. It's a bit of a messy cleanup though.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[Jagir]

Hi,

Yes, compressed air works the best. Carefully put the caliper in a vice, so that you don't damage it. Use a rubber tipped air nozzle in the brake line hole making sure the bleeder hole is closed tightly. Put a rag or something around the caliper so that the piston doesn't go shooting across the garage.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

GAGAGAAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGAGA-----
POP!

Thanks again everyone!

[chuck hahn]

I sure hope thats just crappy brown brake fluid on there and not rusty pits!!

[Jagir]

nope, rusty pits. dang.

[BassCliff]

Hi,

I'm sure you'll want to get a new piston. But as long as the groove for the seal in the caliper is good, it can probably be cleaned up and reused.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[Jagir]

It will get cleaned up and re-used but not in my brakes. It will become a piece of cargo for my son's train set.

I'm now wondering about honing the cylinder.

[Adler]

There is no real point in honing the cylinder. The sealing point is between the rubber seal and the piston (also the rubber seal and the back of the groove). Just use a wire wheel in the groove to make sure its cleaned out and you're good to go.

[Don-lo]

Air pressure will not always work, and can be dangerous. Hydraulic pressure is much stronger, with no explosive discharge. Just hook it back up to the master cylinder, bleed it out, and push it out. To save time and fluid, push it out before you separate it from the line. With dual calipers, one will come out first, so you run it out just before separation, stop it's motion with a c-clamp, and then run out the other to separation.