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Brake Piston Removal Tools


jaycee

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I currently use a set of these, http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00487UO1G/?tag=hydra0b-21&hvadid=9550942389&ref=asc_df_B00487UO1G , but' Ive been struggling to get the smaller pistons out of my SRAD's calipers and I'm having to resort to heat and violence.

I remember reading in Bike or Classic Bike about some sort of fancy piston puller set, but I can't find that magazine. I think it may have been Rupert Paul's column actually.

has anybody an idea of what I mean?

Please help before I blow up the whole garage block when I resort to FIRE

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All that is needed is a cut down anchor bolt.

bolt-anchor.jpg

They work a treat. to make em bigger just wrap rag round the end if needed.

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For that much it'd be better to pay someone to take the pistons out!

Its easy enough to pump out the pistons while the system is still connected, just stick a spanner where the brake pads would go to stop the pistons coming out too far.

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That's what I always do, the spanner thing and its usually worked, but these 2 pistons, one in each caliper did not budge. I did eventually get one out by using ignorance and brute force ( don't ask, no really, dont ask!) and the dust seal was twisted around 360o !

Anyway. over time, the kit will pay for itself in reduced stress, less wasted time and bonus man-points for having specialist tools that no-one else has :D

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Actually spend the money on an air compressor instead and use that to blow them out.

I have a compressor, but there 2 issues: currently its still at my old place and the new place doesn't have power in the garage :( .

A small, quiet generator is a current* object of desire.

*unintentional pun :getmecoat:

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Hi,

I endured the misery of a few caliper re-builds on my RD500.......... so some things that I learned (I'm not a mechanic so I'm sure there is better advice around)..........

I used a manual foot pump with a beach ball inflator attachment (or whatever its called) - I just pressed the attachment into the bleed nipple hole and applied pressure until the piston came out - obviously for multiple pistons you'll have to free each one off a bit at a time and secure the others each time to stop them coming out or taking the effective pressure off of the piston you're trying to remove - hope this makes sense ? Be very careful though - they can still come out with quite a bang - I padded the caliper with old cloth to stop any damage - or the pistons flying out and smashing into anything of value.

BTW for those using the plier type piston removers I found that the grip on the piston wasn't as good as I'd hoped for and if the piston doesn't budge that you can scratch the surface where the pliers grip so I think its probably best to put some lead strip or something around the inner circumference of the piston for the pliers to grip onto. I also think the raw bolt idea above looks pretty good as well so I'm going to try that on my next re-build. I'm not sure the laser piston remover will be any good on billet type calipers that can't be split ?

I found that after re-building the RD500 calipers that bleeding the brake system was in a whole new league of misery and frustration compared to piston removal !! :)

Hope this helps.

Cheers

Paul

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I found that after re-building the RD500 calipers that bleeding the brake system was in a whole new league of misery and frustration compared to piston removal !!

For that little problem I have a Mityvac, prior to that, for years I used a big syringe

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I' ve always found the compressed air method works.

I cut end off a banjo bolt and welded an air coupling onto the end and turn comp up to foll wap mode. I DID have 1 set that wouldn' t shift. Couple of days soaked in diesel and took it round to my mates and plumbed direct into his trailer compressor. Came out after about 5 minutes @ 300psi. Took longer to find the piston.

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Method a mate uses is a socket with a latex glove wrapped round it (only good for calipers that are already split)

Not tried it myself, I strip my Tokico 6 pots on a monthly basis to keep them good...

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Anyway. over time, the kit will pay for itself in reduced stress, less wasted time and bonus man-points for having specialist tools that no-one else has :D

Can I borrow it once you've purchased..

GD

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For that little problem I have a Mityvac, prior to that, for years I used a big syringe

I'm going to get one of these some day - I think they're probably an essential piece of kit.

BTW for any RD500 or YPVS owners who are having brake bleeding problems - the secret is to hold the whole right handlebar brake assembly vertically - with the brake lever at the top - just unbolt the whole right handlebar handlebar to achieve this - it must be something to do with bleed ports inside the master cylinder ? - I also found it better to fill the master cylinder reservoir by syringe from the caliper bleed nipples - combined with the vertical handlebar this reduced brake bleeding from about 3 days to 3 minutes ! :) - however its got to be better still with a Mityvac priming the whole system.

Cheers

Paul

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Well it arrived today and I really wish I had bought one of these years ago. 2 pistons that would not budge were removed in under 2 minutes. That includes building up the puller.

Very chuffed

So if I'm not busy on call tomorrow (I've just cursed myself), I'll get the new seals in, get the Mityvac out and bleed the buggers. Then its just number plate light, brake pedal switch, new indicators and she should be ready for MOT.

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I have one of those Lazer kits. Also paid about £60 for it - worth every penny IMO and takes up a lot less room than an air compressor.

I also have an air compressor.

:getmecoat:

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Compressed air isn't working for me and now they are really stuck. I need something to expand from the inside of the piston to do it that doesn't cost the £60 that tool does, any ideas?

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Do they grip the piston well? I'm guessing you just put them in the piston recess and clamp untill tight, then pull?

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Quick tip for those nasty seized pistons that just wont budge. Make up/ask Kayla to make up an adapter to fit a grease nipple to your caliper banjo bolt hole.

Even cheap simple lever type grease guns can generate in excess of 30/40 x the pressure of your average air compressor. ;)

Oh, and keep your fingers out of the way ...

HTH :)

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My manager told me he used to use a grease gun for exactly that!I never did get round to trying it.

Yes mate,i ground the ends so they had a little more bite on the inner surface of the pistons then usually rotated them and pulled.Works on all pistons apart from old bikes with solid pistons or ceramic inserts.

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