need help...front brake

[almarconi]

The hardest part of the entire job is getting the snap ring out of the MC. Once you get this out everything just falls out. Clean it up and replace the parts..your done. Caliper rebuilding is also pretty easy..the hardest part is inserting the piston in the bore. Take your time and go slow because if the piston is not square in the bore and you remove it you'll more than likely tear the seal. I used a socket and a vise to press the piston in.

[Nessism]

The hardest part of the entire job is getting the snap ring out of the MC. Once you get this out everything just falls out. Clean it up and replace the parts..your done. Caliper rebuilding is also pretty easy..the hardest part is inserting the piston in the bore. Take your time and go slow because if the piston is not square in the bore and you remove it you'll more than likely tear the seal. I used a socket and a vise to press the piston in.

Piston needs to push in with finger effort or something is wrong. Agree with keeping it square though.

Biggest issue with rebuilding brake systems seems to be getting the master cylinder primed so it will pump. A brake bleeder vacuum pump really helps here. And don't forget to grease the sliding caliper pins with high temp caliper grease - available from better auto parts stores.

[almarconi]

Piston needs to push in with finger effort or something is wrong

That ain't happening on my calipers unless you have fingers like a hydraulic press. With new pistons and seals there is no way I would have the strength to push the piston in until it bottoms in the bores. The MC piston can be put in with finger pressure but not the calipers.

[Nessism]

That ain't happening on my calipers unless you have fingers like a hydraulic press. With new pistons and seals there is no way I would have the strength to push the piston in until it bottoms in the bores. The MC piston can be put in with finger pressure but not the calipers.

Sounds like something is wrong. Not that I'm an expert or anything, but I've done the calipers on about half a dozen bikes and I've never experienced what you are saying. Did you lube the piston and seals with brake fluid before you installed the piston?

[boathead]

The hardest part of the entire job is getting the snap ring out of the MC. Once you get this out everything just falls out. Clean it up and replace the parts..your done. Caliper rebuilding is also pretty easy..the hardest part is inserting the piston in the bore. Take your time and go slow because if the piston is not square in the bore and you remove it you'll more than likely tear the seal. I used a socket and a vise to press the piston in.

where to i start my attack? looking into the mc, i see the piston, but some sort of rubber...i don't want to say gasket...or seal...but it sort of flops around loosely as the piston is depressed.

is this where i start? and how to get that rubber out so i can at least see what i am dealing with with the snap ring?

[almarconi]

Sounds like something is wrong. Not that I'm an expert or anything, but I've done the calipers on about half a dozen bikes and I've never experienced what you are saying. Did you lube the piston and seals with brake fluid before you installed the piston?

I lubed the piston and seals with brake fluid. Maybe the tolerance on some pistons and caliper bores are not as tight. I could start the piston by hand but could not push the piston to the bottom of the bore. I rebuilt both the front calipers and the rear one and all were the same. If the seal was not in the bore you could put the piston in but as soon as the seal was installed it was impossible to push them in by hand. After the calipers were put on the bike they worked fine.