Topic: Caliper Piston...Replace ? Pic

[voxonda]

But when does being a mechanic end and being a parts replacement tech begin?

 

[HavocTurbo]

Just being the devil's advocate here, not trying to get in anybody's #$%*;

But when does being a mechanic end and being a parts replacement tech begin?

When I see a drop of brake fluid hanging from the caliper, I'll order the new piston and replacement seal.

Well I'll play with you....

If I see a drop of brake fluid hanging from the caliper I first check my lines. Then my pads. Then I take it off and check the piston and seal before I go down to honda or where ever and replace them.

What's the point in replacing something that can be either reconditioned or still useable with a new or different part? 9 times out of 10 it's the seal not the piston. And on the off chance that it is the piston.... JB weld and sandpaper work as well as getting it tig welded and placed in a lathe for smoothing.

  that work for you? 

[Steve F]

And on the off chance that it is the piston.... JB weld and sandpaper work as well as getting it tig welded and placed in a lathe for smoothing.

Just a side note.....The pistons are chrome plated, and the pits come from the chrome coming off in little flakes.....and cannot be tig welded.  The JB weld would be the best bet if you feel the need to fill the pits.

[HavocTurbo]

And on the off chance that it is the piston.... JB weld and sandpaper work as well as getting it tig welded and placed in a lathe for smoothing.

Just a side note.....The pistons are chrome plated, and the pits come from the chrome coming off in little flakes.....and cannot be tig welded.  The JB weld would be the best bet if you feel the need to fill the pits.

Well then there you go.... Obviously I have never had to rebuild my caliper so.... But the yamaha ones I have suck and have welded them several times.

[Artfrombama]

Just being the devil's advocate here, not trying to get in anybody's #$%*;

But when does being a mechanic end and being a parts replacement tech begin?

When I see a drop of brake fluid hanging from the caliper, I'll order the new piston and replacement seal.

Well I'll play with you....

If I see a drop of brake fluid hanging from the caliper I first check my lines. Then my pads. Then I take it off and check the piston and seal before I go down to honda or where ever and replace them.

What's the point in replacing something that can be either reconditioned or still useable with a new or different part? 9 times out of 10 it's the seal not the piston. And on the off chance that it is the piston.... JB weld and sandpaper work as well as getting it tig welded and placed in a lathe for smoothing.

  that work for you? 

I think we think alike

[HavocTurbo]

You need anything let me know 

[Artfrombama]

You need anything let me know 

I got your back ol' podnuh.

[goon 1492]

well this answers my questions and gets me a giggle ....
I managed to get mine apart after breaking my speedo cable where is mounts to the gearbox...
I largest pit i have in mine is maybe .5mm in dia. I think I will try the jbweld trick because the rest of the piston is goony I mean goody.
Man those Japanese folks even put the "bling" inside the brakes back in the day......

[WrightStuff]

On my first front caliper rebuild, I took a piston in worse shape than pictured to my Honda dealer.  After the counterman told me the price of a new one, and watched all the blood drain from my face, he called the mechanic to the parts counter to have a look.  One glance at it, and he said. "It looks brand new, reuse it!"  (Lawyers might drool over potential liability suits.  But, I think all they would gain is a dry mouth.)

Anyway, I did reuse it, and that was well over 15 years ago.  The front brake caliper has never leaked, and after I switched to S.S. braided hydraulic lines, will squall the front tire if you squeeze the brake lever hard enough.  It's a 550 with a big Jammer fairing on it.

I can't see any compromise in brake performance by reusing the old caliper piston in the condition posted.

Having said that.  I already bought 5 of those Phenolic pistons from Kevin for eventual use in my fleet, as I have a couple pistons corroded beyond service life (determined by the amount of seal distortion in large corrosion pits).  The bad ones don't leak, but they do drag because they won't retract properly. I haven't actually need to install any Phenolics yet.  But, I see no reason why they wouldn't give a lasting benefit due to their anti corrosion characteristics. And, they were cheaper than any other replacement I could find.  I do NOT expect them to improve brake performance.  Only brake durability with time.  So, they may be better brakes in the long term, but probably not in the next 5-10 years.

The high brow argument of spending max money on brakes because it is "safer", is a hollow argument without any reasonable fact to back it up, in this case.  Spend your money where you wish, if it makes you feel good.  If laying a guilt trip on someone else is your thing, I don't see a real benefit to either giver or recipient.

If spending money is the only criteria, then those SUV drivers must be better than the econo drivers in commute traffic too, right?  Perhaps that's an ideal shared by Harley drivers?  More money = a better bike?

Cheers,

TT where did you end up getting your Steel Lines? I'm looking for some now...did you go through cyclebrakes.com?

Thanks!

[TwoTired]

TT where did you end up getting your Steel Lines? I'm looking for some now...did you go through cyclebrakes.com?

I bought mine from South Bay Cycles.  Tom makes them in his shop to customer specifications.
408- 263-2475

Cheers,

[WrightStuff]

Thanks TT, I got them from Tom earlier this week and put them on the bike yesterday. Was hoping for black to keep original look but he needed to cut off 3+ inches on each end to get the fittings on. I just cut off the black coating and am going with a slightly more modern custom look of silver. They were also slightly longer than the originals but seem to fit OK - will need to fix some where under the headlight to keep it from slightly covering my tach. Other than that great, fast service with a good price.

Pic of when I got them...


I'm waiting on the seal and new hard line from Honda and will then install new EBC pads with all the parts cleaned and renewed. I also am repainting the caliper.

TT the front brake rebuild walk through you did several years ago was invaluable. 

[kos]

Bert 96

I gota ask. Where did you get that movie of that women un zipp'n her top? does it go further?


Dirty old man...


KOS