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850G front brake caliper axles

  • Thread starter Thread starter subforry
  • Start date Start date
S

subforry

Guest
Hi all,

I am still working on the front brakes on my 850G. My hypothesis is that the front calipers are not remaining close to the rotors. When I release the brake lever the calipers open up too far.

I suspect the axles jointing the piston side (outboard) and the rigid side (inboard) are not moving freely enough.

I greased all the axles but the lower ones with the rubber are very sticky. I ordered new lower axles and they didn't come with rubber. The parts fiche shows only the axles no rubber.

Are my new axles missing the rubber? Is the rubber not needed? Is there some replacement for the rubber? What should I use to lube the axles?

Thanks.
 
My '80 850 had that problem. The rubber had swollen up, probably from absorbing fork oil. Maybe even brake fluid, I dunno. Maybe a PO had used the wrong grease. Plenty of things were leaking up front when I got it. That was enough to make the caliper stick.

I also ordered a new caliper axle to find that it doesn't include the rubber. I needed to replace a caliper anyway, so I made sure I got a new caliper axle bolt with the replacement caliper from eBay. I don't think I have a spare, or I'd send one to you. I remember seeing a lot of GS caliper bracket sets on eBay for not much money, so you shouldn't have too much trouble going that route.
 
its an 1981.

Dogma, thanks for the info and tip. The axle boots were swollen and sticky (have since been replaced). Think whatever chemical damaged the boots also damaged the axle rubber.
 
So has anyone found a solution to this front caliper axle rubber problem? Or a replacement rubber ring for it?
My 850G has the same problem....the rubbers are swollen and they seize in the slide bore.
I just bought new pins and they don't come with the rubber sleeves.
 
I've found through reading other threads the front rubber sleeves are prone to swelling when the wrong grease of cleaning agent is used.
I read there was a recall at some point and the rubber sleeves were replaced with a metal sleeve with a slit in it that you pry slightly open and pop on the caliper axle.
It still leaves me needing the rubbers or replacement sleeve. Dang.
Another member said they put a number (5-7) ish o rings on the caliper slide pin and it worked.
Once again, if anyone knows of a solution for this , let me know. It seems to have been a problem with the 80 and maybe up to 83 ish 850G's.
 
Sorry loud et, I have no advice but definitely have the same issue. If anyone can help please do!
 
I've experienced swelling of rubber parts before because they absorbed hydrocarbons. In this case a large O-ring for a fuel tank sending unit on a car. Washing off the O-ring and baking it at low temperature drove off the absorbed chemicals in the part and it shrunk back down to normal size. It may be a hail mary but you might try washing the plastic bushing and baking them for a few hours at 150F or so to see if you can reduce the swelling.
 
raygun said:
Sorry loud et, I have no advice but definitely have the same issue. If anyone can help please do!
Click to expand...

Yes, to be sure, we are talking about the rubber sleeve on the lower caliper slide? The rubber is about 1/2" diameter tube by 3/4" long?
 
loud et said:
Yes, to be sure, we are talking about the rubber sleeve on the lower caliper slide? The rubber is about 1/2" diameter tube by 3/4" long?
Click to expand...

Absolutely. I did the same thing as you, ordered an axle (odd name) from a parts site that didn't include the rubber bushing. So I've been looking for other options. Baking the rubber may be a good place to start but I'd still like new ones. These are brakes after all. Mine are not as bad as yours but they are a little swollen.
 
Switch to using the Tokico twinpot Caliper. All the parts are available to rebuild those.... ;)
 
salty_monk said:
Switch to using the Tokico twinpot Caliper. All the parts are available to rebuild those.... ;)
Click to expand...

Don't poke the bear Dan. Lol
When I started my 850 project I considered your twin pot upgrade.....I just cant.....New fork Springs and brake lines are next. Someday I'll do the conversion.
 
loud et said:
Don't poke the bear Dan. Lol
When I started my 850 project I considered your twin pot upgrade.....I just cant.....New fork Springs and brake lines are next. Someday I'll do the conversion.
Click to expand...


Same. Poor grad student here. Gotta make do with what I have.
 
I'm in the same boat. Luckily nothing is anywhere near seizing but the rubber is badly shook looking. They're sitting in silicone grease now.
The reason for rubber on one only got me thinking. Must be something to do with having a little give in the system that won't rattle for when the forks twist and the caliper heats up. I'm not breaking a sweat about it.
 
Little update:
Part is called : Axle Bushing
Suzuki Part # 59313-45200

Out of stock in USA
Dealer said they were NOT discontinued and are on backorder from Suzuki Japan with no known date of availability.
 
loud et said:
So has anyone found a solution to this front caliper axle rubber problem? Or a replacement rubber ring for it?
My 850G has the same problem....the rubbers are swollen and they seize in the slide bore.
I just bought new pins and they don't come with the rubber sleeves.
Click to expand...
I used a piece of Viton tube for that - it lasted well enough, but the main defect was some little wear in the sliding pins and most wear in the bores they go into. Short of sleeving the bores, there's nothing much to be done with them - a real safety-critical part like that wouldn't fill me with confidence if it was repaired with a sleeve because there's not all that much material there. In short, once they reach worn-out stage, they're scrap.
However, there are thousands of LH and RH caliper mount brackets still extant from low mileage bikes being, or yet to be, broken. At the moment they're still cheap, grab a couple.
 
I agree with your take on it. Grab up some extras.
I tell you what I did since I posted this was boil the two rubber sleeves.
Full boil for 20 minutes on the stove. Within a minute a pool of oil and solvents formed on the surface of the water. White and brown globs of petroleum products. I had hand washed them thouroughly with dish soap beforehand and the parts were squeaky clean.
I reinstalled the rubbers with the proper caliper grease and they move nicely now with no slop and no sticking.
The boiling released the absorbed oils and let them settle to a more original firmness and shape.
I'm not saying it's the best solution but it worked and I feel good about how they feel in the bore. All I can do is ride and monitor my caliper slide occasionally to assure it's free.
I will buy a few sets of axle bushings when they become available again.
 
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