Brake piston question
Thread Starter
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 4,762
Likes: 12
From: north jersey
Brake piston question
I bled my rear brake on my 2008 rocker. I took the caliper off and tried to manually push the pistons back in so I could install the new brake pads. The pistons were freaking almost impossible to push back into the caliper. I eventually pushed them in but it was hard man.
My question is this. Are those pistons supposed to be that hard to push back into the caliper after the brakes have been bled?
My question is this. Are those pistons supposed to be that hard to push back into the caliper after the brakes have been bled?
When the piston goes out so far, they can get stuck. Might be what happened to yours. Could have been a little dirt or something hanging them up. But the fact you got them in means they're fine. Reinstall, bleed, and ride. I wouldn't worry about it. Once you get them in a little, they slide all the way back in and push out any remaining fluid.
Thread Starter
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 4,762
Likes: 12
From: north jersey
I see.
Before I bled them I pressed the foot brake a few times and it seemed like only the bottom piston was being pushed out. The top one isn't move at all.
Is that normal?
Before I bled them I pressed the foot brake a few times and it seemed like only the bottom piston was being pushed out. The top one isn't move at all.
Is that normal?
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 193
Likes: 2
From: Not too far up the BC border
Your caliper pistons are full of crap, mine were sticking and grinding all the time.
You get a bootlace and some brake cleaner and floss your caliper pistons. It works like a hot damn and my brakes are now quiet
Here is a link for you to read and and further down the thread (Post 21) is a link to how to clean your brake caliper pistons
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/softa...-question.html
You get a bootlace and some brake cleaner and floss your caliper pistons. It works like a hot damn and my brakes are now quiet
Here is a link for you to read and and further down the thread (Post 21) is a link to how to clean your brake caliper pistons
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/softa...-question.html
Thread Starter
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 4,762
Likes: 12
From: north jersey
Thank you for the link. Useful information but just to make sure. The trick is to get the pistons to stick out as far as possible, douse a shoe lace with brake cleaner and floss it around the pistons?
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 193
Likes: 2
From: Not too far up the BC border
Basically you got the idea. Just don't have the pistons come out too far on one side or they pop out...I just kept on working the stuck pistons with the cleaner soaked lace and a baby toothbrush till I was able to push them in by hand and then squeeze the lever to have them come against the plywood insert I used all at the same time, shined er all up and bobs your uncle.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 66,948
Likes: 4,573
From: TOAK western branch
Your caliper pistons are full of crap, mine were sticking and grinding all the time.
You get a bootlace and some brake cleaner and floss your caliper pistons. It works like a hot damn and my brakes are now quiet
Here is a link for you to read and and further down the thread (Post 21) is a link to how to clean your brake caliper pistons
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/softa...-question.html
You get a bootlace and some brake cleaner and floss your caliper pistons. It works like a hot damn and my brakes are now quiet
Here is a link for you to read and and further down the thread (Post 21) is a link to how to clean your brake caliper pistons
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/softa...-question.html
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,624
Likes: 189
From: Newcastle, Ca.
Yes. Or spray cleaner on the piston which will wash off the brake dust, then floss.
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You left this bit out of your original post. I was right about them being gunked then. The shoelace trick should do the job.
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 193
Likes: 2
From: Not too far up the BC border
Ya.. a good cleaning and you'll see the diffferance. practice on the front caliper first, its much easier to work with than the rear caliper. To do 1 brake you may a well do all the brakes.
I didn't like the spray cleaner so I just sprayed it into a coffee cup with a lid and used that to dunk instead of spraying brake cleaner everywhere but if you wanna poly the bike up, its your buisness.
