Kawasaki Concours Forum

Concours 1400 (C14) FAQ => C-14, aka Concours-14 GTR 1400 => Brakes - ABS/Non ABS => Topic started by: gonzosc1 on May 13, 2011, 01:46:21 PM

Title: caliper cleaning
Post by: gonzosc1 on May 13, 2011, 01:46:21 PM
how often do you clean the calipers, talking about pistons and boots.
do you use brake cleaner spray?
Title: Re: caliper cleaning
Post by: JoeR on May 13, 2011, 02:18:57 PM
When I replace the pads, yes I use brake cleaner.  I spray inside and outside the brake caliper and use a toothbrush to clean the pistons off without removing them from the caliper.
Title: Re: caliper cleaning
Post by: B.D.F. on May 13, 2011, 02:26:58 PM
Whenever the pads need to be replaced. I never push the pistons back into the caliper and install new pads- I take the calipers off the bike, take the pistons out and clean both the calipers and pistons. Pushing the pistons back into the caliper also pushes a line of crud that has built up on the pistons back past the seals and is a major source of failed piston seals in my opinion. Motorcycle brakes seem to be much more delicate than auto brakes, at least regarding the seals and dust boots, so cleaning the piston thoroughly seems to be more important than it is on auto brakes.

Brake cleaner is fine for cleaning any / all brake parts. Just use a small amount of brake fluid or bettery yet caliper grease when installing anything into a seal, such as a piston, to lubricate it.

Brian


how often do you clean the calipers, talking about pistons and boots.
do you use brake cleaner spray?
Title: Re: caliper cleaning
Post by: stevewfl on May 13, 2011, 02:31:19 PM
> 32,000 miles and I've never cleaned mine, but KiPass is on top of things (http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j180/stevewfl/avatars/iconhammer.gif)
Title: Re: caliper cleaning
Post by: gonzosc1 on May 13, 2011, 03:08:24 PM
ok thanks, I was just wondering if I should have done it when I changed the tires 2 weeks ago.
Title: Re: caliper cleaning
Post by: VirginiaJim on May 13, 2011, 03:23:50 PM
Whenever the pads need to be replaced. I never push the pistons back into the caliper and install new pads- I take the calipers off the bike...
Brian

How do you keep the brake fluid in the lines?
Title: Re: caliper cleaning
Post by: stevewfl on May 13, 2011, 03:31:06 PM
How do you keep the brake fluid in the lines?

+1

but if he goes through all that maybe he takes the master cylinders off too (http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j180/stevewfl/avatars/dunno.gif)
Title: Re: caliper cleaning
Post by: VirginiaJim on May 13, 2011, 04:47:02 PM
I hardly think so, Steve, but one never knows...
Title: Re: caliper cleaning
Post by: B.D.F. on May 13, 2011, 05:22:24 PM
I do not keep brake fluid anywhere in the system- I drain the calipers, lines and M/C. Just to go that extra step further, I also take the calipers apart to clean them- there are only two bolts and it is a lot easier to clean the caliper halves w/out having to work down in a well.

By the time my brakes need changing, the system could use new fluid anyway and it also gives me a chance to inspect the piston seals for any weepage before they leak like a sieve.

But that is just me and I realize that most people just push the pistons in and replace the brake pads.  ;)

Brian


How do you keep the brake fluid in the lines?
Title: Re: caliper cleaning
Post by: B.D.F. on May 13, 2011, 05:26:58 PM
Nah, not the master cylinders. Only the calipers. But I do change the fluid whenever I change the brake pads (see other post).

This is one of the very few areas I am particularly careful about. One other area is wheel bearings; I check the seals every time I remove either wheel but especially the front. I will be changing my front seals this weekend and it is the second set on the bike in 62K miles. The seals no longer bear against the bearing spacers and that will allow water into the wheel hub and that will contaminate and corrode the bearings and THAT is always believed to be a bearing failure. Clean, lubricated bearings rarely fail or simply wear out and I think if you checked 100 motorcycles that had more than 15K miles or were more than two year old you would find a lot of the front wheel seals had failed to seal- maybe 20 at a wild guess. A lot of the front wheel seals I have checked were bad but it had not been noticed or even checked.

Brian



+1

but if he goes through all that maybe he takes the master cylinders off too (http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j180/stevewfl/avatars/dunno.gif)
Title: Re: caliper cleaning
Post by: xKLR on May 13, 2011, 09:47:46 PM
These calipers don't appear to have dust boots, so as the brake pads wear the pistons get exposed to the elements. Before pressing the pistons back into the caliper I'll clean them with purple stuff, water, and an appropriate brush. Then I'll flush the brake fuid. At 15k miles the brake pads are shot and will be replaced at the same time as my front tire. A new PR3 is in the mail.

-RC
Title: Re: caliper cleaning
Post by: B.D.F. on May 14, 2011, 08:19:22 AM
No dust boots but they do have dust seals, which look like an additional piston seal.

Brian

These calipers don't appear to have dust boots, so as the brake pads wear the pistons get exposed to the elements. Before pressing the pistons back into the caliper I'll clean them with purple stuff, water, and an appropriate brush. Then I'll flush the brake fuid. At 15k miles the brake pads are shot and will be replaced at the same time as my front tire. A new PR3 is in the mail.

-RC