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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Sticking front brake caliper
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Message started by PhantomII on 06/19/13 at 04:39:01

Title: Sticking front brake caliper
Post by PhantomII on 06/19/13 at 04:39:01

I just changed the front brake pads on my 1999 Savage and they seem to be sticking like the caliper isn't releasing correctly. I picked this bike up really cheap and mechanically it is in excellent shape but it looks like the person that owned it before me lived by the beach because it is covered in rust. Is there a way to clean the brake caliper to get a smoother operation?

Title: Re: Sticking front brake caliper
Post by Dave on 06/19/13 at 04:57:27

You can take it apart, clean everything and remove an corrosion on the piston or caliper, then lightly lube things with silicone grease. If the parts are corroded and the plating is gone.....the corrosion will probaby return pretty quickly if the bike is stored outdoors or gets wet often. The only bad thing about taking it apart to clean it.....is you will have to bleed the air out of the caliper when it is put back together.

Title: Re: Sticking front brake caliper
Post by splash07 on 06/19/13 at 06:08:49

you will also want to replace the caliper piston seal. Mine looked decent after I replaced my pads but I couldnt get the piston back in the caliper to save my life, once I replaced the seal it went in like butter.

Title: Re: Sticking front brake caliper
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/19/13 at 08:04:16

That caliper is supposed to "Float" on 2 pins. The piston presses on the back of one pad & at the same time the caliper body moves away from the rotor, pulling the pad on the opposite side into contact with the rotor.
If the caliper cant freely move on those pins, it wont release right. If the piston doesnt easily move in its hole in the caliper, it wont release right.
You should be able to gently pry on the caliper in such a way as to drive the piston on into its hole, creating some slack. If you do that & you cant manually slip the caliper back & forth on those pins, lube them up & work it till you can OR, take it apart & clean them up & lube them. I am a fan of antiseize.

Title: Re: Sticking front brake caliper
Post by heroicseven on 06/19/13 at 12:45:42

my caliper was doing the same thing last week. I opted for a full caliper overhaul. Sounds intimidating but its pretty easy.

I ordered new rubber bits from the internet and new dust seal and o ring.

I found that most of my issue lie under the dust seal. the recess behind my dust seal had corroded terribly and put pressure on the piston not allowing it to slide freely.

so after taking everything apart cleaning it really good with a toothbrush (bristles cut for more scrubbing power) and a mixture of brake fluid and brake parts cleaner. My caliper was working good as new.

Dont forget the caliper grease. If you do youre gonna have a bad time.

P.S I also went ahead and installed a stainless braided line while i was at it. ;D

Title: Re: Sticking front brake caliper
Post by PhantomII on 06/19/13 at 17:42:57

I was able to get it working correctly I took the caliper off the bike and gave it a good cleaning.

Title: Re: Sticking front brake caliper
Post by wambr on 06/20/13 at 06:09:47

636E79646268786E7D6E650B0 wrote:

all of this is correct...but...
in the spring I did a full repair the brake caliper, but a couple of days ago, he gave me like a nasty surprise. disassembly and cleaning not given positive. all the parts work very well, but the brake caliper not release the brake pads. the reason was deformed(very slightly) plate no. 11 on the picture.
http://www.impex-jp.com/assets/images/catalogs/moto/suzuki/9900B-70027-020/1400x0r90/CCF20120920_00077_42.png
this plate is not allowed to smoothly move the brake pads..I carefully lined its surface. why this plate was deformed, I don't.