How To: Clean Brake Calipers

[kawasakininjazx6]

As requested by YamahaFan, Ive done the calipers myself, and documented it. This would be using a 1992 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6D with two front 4-piston calipers.

 

First you will start off with a caliper looking something like this:

 

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j259/gjchappie/DSC03584.jpg

 

This is a typical brake caliper, in this case its a 4 piston (two on each side) caliper setup. My front brakes.

 

First thing you will want to do is make sure you have the correct tools and chemicals. Including:

Proper allen wrench to take the caliper off the rotor, and the proper wrench to take the caliper apart. Also a screwdriver to take the plate off the brake pads themselves, as well as to take the resivor top off. I use DOT4 Prestone Brake Fluid, brake cleaner, and a little bit of WD-40 in this process if things get messy.

 

And in this picture you will see a Syringe, and a cut in half water bottle, this is what i use to suck fluids, and/or add fluids to the main resivor. Not pictured at the moment is clear tubing i use when bleeding my brakes so I can see the color of the fluid coming out.

 

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j259/gjchappie/tools.jpg

 

And the chemicals and brands I used:

 

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j259/gjchappie/chemicals.jpg

 

Ok, now start off by taking the caliper off of the rotor using the main two screws that attack it to the front forks and examine your caliper and how you get the brake pads off. In this case its just two screws and a metal plate I take off. BUT DONT TAKE THE BRAKE PADS OFF YET

 

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j259/gjchappie/calipertop.jpg

 

This next step will save you quite a bit of trouble if you do it before hand.

What you will want to do is put a rag between the brake pads and pump the brakes MAKING SURE YOU FINGERS ARE NOT IN THE WAY and make sure all the pistons are as far out as they come. Leaving the brake pads on allows you to adjust with a wooden tool (by simply sliding it between the brake pads and prying them apart) if your brake pads are coming out unevenly

 

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j259/gjchappie/clothincaliper.jpg

 

Next you will remove the brake line from the caliper and make sure you hang on to the two metal washers on top and bottom like so:

 

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j259/gjchappie/brakeline.jpg

 

And this is what it should look like after:

 

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j259/gjchappie/pistonsinsidecaliper.jpg

 

Now is the fun part. Make sure you have plenty of rags down on the ground, and around any painted objects or anything you dont want to get brake fluid on (the stuff is nasty!) And open the calipers through the four screws using your correct allen head wrench.

 

Your caliper should look something like this at this point:

 

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j259/gjchappie/splitcaliper.jpg

 

Now you should be simply able to pry the pistons out of their socket with your hands, and if not you can use an air compressor to blow them out through the main inlet (but your brake caliper needs to be bled of fluid first, and put back together need be) So you should end up with something looking like this:

 

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j259/gjchappie/caliperandpistonsout.jpg

 

And as you can see... the inside of my calipers were very nasty. Sadly I didnt get an end shot of the inside cleaning, but its normally very shiny silver. And not the yellowish gunk you see now.

 

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j259/gjchappie/dirtycaliper.jpg

 

Now you basically just clean the inside of the caliper, and all around the piston until you get all the gunk and grime out. Use only a lint free cloth or cotton t-shirt and Q-tips to remove the gunk and grime. Liberally use brake cleaner on anything you need to get clean, this stuff works wonders and evaporates pretty fast after your done with it.

 

Also be very sure to make sure your o-rings and seals go back to where they were previously, and you MUST replace any orings that may have been damaged or fallen apart during the cleaning.

 

Now put the caliper back together like so:

 

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j259/gjchappie/caliperfinished.jpg

 

Then replace the brake pads and brake pad metal cover plate.

 

After that, put the brake like back onto the caliper and make sure its the same way you had it before hand (pictures work very well if your not familiar with doing this!) Then mount the caliper back onto the rotor carefully replacing all screws.

 

Last step is to bleed the system making sure your resivor never runs dry so air dosent get back into the system

 

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j259/gjchappie/brakeresivor.jpg

 

 

And there you have it! All done and you saved what a mechanic would have charged you $60+ along with anything extra he felt the need to add on.

 

And as a final side note: If your going to clean your calipers, make sure to do both of them if it applys to your bike, no point in only cleaning one side ^^ Want even brake pressure dont ya!

[Andox]

Good writeup with pics..................upzzzz

[bernardk]

Oh Gosh... Thanks for all the info. So when is the rear brake part going to come HAHAHA.

[Phang]

Solid, well done!

 

http://www.fsu.edu/~crimdo/images/clapping.GIFhttp://www.fsu.edu/~crimdo/images/clapping.GIFhttp://www.fsu.edu/~crimdo/images/clapping.GIF

[jasonyeo123]

OMG NICE thread ... mind if we have a meet up session to clean those calipers together??? i scared i duno how to put them back together

[kawasakininjazx6]

Thanks alot guys ^^

 

As for rear caliper hahaha... Soon enough.

 

And to the post above, calipers are very simple design ^^ Not very many moving parts or things that are able to remove. Nothing like the carbs >

 

Id be more then happy to help ya lol but I live in the US! o.o

 

The biggest thing if you are new, and that ive learned fast... TAKE PICTURES BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING! Just remember where all those washers and orings went, and replace any erroded ones or you will have one leaky caliper !

[bernardk]

Thanks alot guys ^^

 

As for rear caliper hahaha... Soon enough.

 

And to the post above, calipers are very simple design ^^ Not very many moving parts or things that are able to remove. Nothing like the carbs >

 

Id be more then happy to help ya lol but I live in the US! o.o

 

The biggest thing if you are new, and that ive learned fast... TAKE PICTURES BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING! Just remember where all those washers and orings went, and replace any erroded ones or you will have one leaky caliper !

 

O.O WAT!!!! You are from the States? How do you get to knw this thread? Wow gosh.... Great to have you here dude. Anyway yeap i agree with you its best to replace any erroded washers orings or screws once you have it remove. Cos you never knw when it cross thread ITS A PAIN!

[kawasakininjazx6]

Google shows everything XD! Im on a few motorcycle threads, but figured people accross seas could have more knowledge seeing as how 99% of sport bikes come from overseas XD.

[jasonyeo123]

Google shows everything XD! Im on a few motorcycle threads, but figured people accross seas could have more knowledge seeing as how 99% of sport bikes come from overseas XD.

 

OMG that is sooo cool where u live in the states ?? hmmm anyway great help there..... really....

[bernardk]

Google shows everything XD! Im on a few motorcycle threads, but figured people accross seas could have more knowledge seeing as how 99% of sport bikes come from overseas XD.

 

Then we should ride over to your home to service out brake calipers muahahaha.

[kawasakininjazx6]

lol. yup, i hear if you get going fast enough on land, you can drive all the way accross the ocean just jump the waves! XD XD... Nah, but I live in Florida ;O

 

And thanks again for all the comments ^^

[bernardk]

lol. yup, i hear if you get going fast enough on land, you can drive all the way accross the ocean just jump the waves! XD XD... Nah, but I live in Florida ;O

 

And thanks again for all the comments ^^

 

hohoho i think we should all thank you for your contribution instead buddy.

[wkf_82]

nice...

[Pandoras Kitten 3]

Thread necromancy WIN.

 

This should be stickied somewhere...

[natgw]

does this technique applies for monobloc calipers?

[HaiR1]

it's even better if TS can diy with us...

 

Kopi on me.....

 

 

anyway, upppzzzz for the good write-up...