Topic: brake caliper pistons

[Dion]

I need new brake caliper pistons for the 750 sohc k2. I have some  6082 t6 and 6062 t6 aluminum stock on hand. I was wondering if I could use one of these to machine new pistons? Has anyone done this? If so, which would be the better material to use?  What do u chaps think?

[RAFster122s]

Seen pistons out of stainless, chromed steel, and phenolic but haven't seen them out of aluminum.
As long as the expansion rate of the t6 is similar to the 3031? of the caliper body it should work.  Is the T6 hard to machine easily?

[Jim F]

I think if you were to make the pistons out of the same material that the bodies are made out of then
you would have to have them plated to prevent the surfaces from galling up.
just my 2 cents worth

Jim

[bwaller]

Jim's right, i've replaced some of my Brembo pistons and they seem to be anodized aluminum.

[Bill/BentON Racing]

+1!!Have to modify one surface for sure, Bill

[Dion]

This is a bit of info about 6082.......

Alloy 6082 is a medium strength alloy with excellent corrosion resistance. Alloy 6082 has the highest strength of the 6000 series alloy. Due to the higher strength of Alloy 6082 it has replaced Alloy 6061 in many applications. Alloy 6082 is typically used in highly stressed applications. If is an aircraft grade material and is also used in marine applications.......

[Jim F]

I would at-least have them anodized or plated with hard chrome
There are some surface treatments  for lubrication that also would work.
In some applications when I use to build plastic injection molding we would sent out
inserts or slides and have these coated with a lubricity type coating that would help with wear

again my 2 cents worth

[turboguzzi]

brembos have anodized pistons indeed, hence doable. more than anything you need surface hardness here and 60XX alloy is welding grade, certainly not the  hardest out there, that would 70XX

[Terry in Australia]

I've got alloy pistons in my CB750 dual disc setup. I bought them on eBay a few years ago from an ex-pat Brit racer who now lives in Spain. I bought 6 of them, they're 6061 T6 that have been hard anodized. They work fine. Cheers, Terry.