Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[mark]

Was cleaning front brake calipers and accidentally pushed one of the pistons out too far.  Brake fluid started running from around the piston so I pushed it back in this far. (See pic).  Piston seems crooked and will not go in further.  Got a bike trip coming up this Friday so I need to get this resolved.

[Twolanerider]

Was cleaning front brake calipers and accidentally pushed one of the pistons out too far.  Brake fluid started running from around the piston so I pushed it back in this far. (See pic).  Piston seems crooked and will not go in further.  Got a bike trip coming up this Friday so I need to get this resolved.

It is not as bad as you perhaps think.  Itmight even line up and pop back in as is. If not you will easily find the bolts that hold the two caliper halves together. Separate the two caliper halves, get the piston aligned nice and straight and pop it back in. If separated go ahead and take the piston out completely just to make sure that the two o-rings inside are still flat and straight. If so it is then just a case of pushing the piston back in past the o-rings.


Once the malcontent piston is back in then put the two halves of the caliper back together. There is one small o-ring at the point where fluid passes between the two halves. Make sure that is in place and bolt the halves back together. Then button everything up and bleed.

[Twolanerider]

Just remembered this old. Perhaps some pictures of what is inside will help.


http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=75391.0

[mark]

Thanks.  When I seperate the two halves of the caliper, will my brake fluid drain from the master clyinder?

[CVOStreetglide]

Before you take it apart, see if you can get it resonably lined up above the hole.

Then insert the pad that goes there and use it to apply even pressure to return the piston to where it belongs.

If there is resistance, loosen the bleeder a very little and apply pressure using the pad.

Then add fluid to the resevor as needed. BE CAREFUL it has been known to eat paint if not removed promptly!!

Regards

Jerry

[CVOJIMMYC]

You could put a brake pad worn or new between the pistons, but that will not allow the piston to eject fully ,then slowly and gently apply the brake , this will bring the pistons out to the even surface  of the pad ,thus aligning the cocked piston with it's cylinder.   

[sadunbar]

Thanks.  When I seperate the two halves of the caliper, will my brake fluid drain from the master clyinder?

Yes... 

[mark]

Got it fixed...thanks for the advise.  I took the caliper apart, got the piston out, reinstalled and everything looks good.  I'll bleed tomorrow and take it to the HD shop for the Digital Technictian II final bleed on the ABS.  And if it hasn't been said today...this site is great.

[Twolanerider]

Good to read you got it sorted so quickly.  Well done  .

[SmokeyJoe]

Got it fixed...thanks for the advise.  I took the caliper apart, got the piston out, reinstalled and everything looks good.  I'll bleed tomorrow and take it to the HD shop for the Digital Technictian II final bleed on the ABS.  And if it hasn't been said today...this site is great.

I have yet to have to have the Digital Tech bleed the brakes.  I have just bleed the brakes the old fashion way with zero issues, even after doing what you just did.