I've actually taken several apart and cleaned them , then put 'em right back together and they work like new. Brake fluid attracts moisture , and on old bikes you find light corrosion behind the piston seal that holds the piston out , thus wearing the pads out prematurely. They are extremely easy to disassemble , just pull the brake line off , and stick an air nozzle in the hole and pull the trigger. Keep your fingers out of the way , as the piston comes out a little angry , and loves to pinch fingers. Don't ask. Clean and reassemble everything with fresh brake fluid and your golden. Bleed off and ride. BB

Thanks Big bear and HardOne,

I can (and will) follow the steps and get it straightened out, and I'll let you guys know how it goes.

Thanks a ton,
DKLAZ

Just to elaborate on what B.B. said. If you use air to push that caliper out put a towel between the piston & the caliper. When those pistons come out they hit hard so I use the towel to cushion the impact.
Danny

Yep! And one more thing , it's brake fluid , it loves paint , so be careful. Work away from things you like (like your bike). BB

Best done on the bench or vise with the air pressure lowered and yes away from the pretty/expensive paint

Honey never mind my finger, remember that painter I told you about

OK...so check this out...
I put the bike up on the NEW yellow jack (Velentine's treat from the BEST woman on EARTH), and tore into the rear calipers tonight. I can't believe that I've been working on the bike now for three-plus years without one...DUH!!!

So I removed the caliper, took off the shoes, and wasn't TOO surprised to see that I am completely thru the braking material and into the backing on the shoes....STUPID!!!(that can't be good, right?)

I took the calipers all the way apart, blew the pistons loose with pressurized air, cleaned and scrubbed them, removed, inspected, and re-seated the o-rings inside of the cylinders, then installed the new shoes. Bled the whole system, and taught my 17 year-old son how and why to bleed brakes.

Took it for a ride around the neighborhood and ....good as new!

Again.....LOVE the jack, and can't believe I fumbled thru without it for this long.

And as a side-note....since this original post, I've been riding almost exclusively on front brake, and BB is right...as long as the road is dry and clean, the rear brake is almost un -njecessary.

Live and learn, huh?

DKLAZ

DKLAZ wrote:
And as a side-note....since this original post, I've been riding almost exclusively on front brake, and BB is right...as long as the road is dry and clean, the rear brake is almost un -njecessary.

Live and learn, huh?

DKLAZ


Good job on the brake work. Congrats on the Good wife too , irreplaceable , huh? Rear brakes are good , front brakes are great. I use mine rain , shine , whatever. Practice using both , it will improve you riding skills. BB

you just had to use the jack to do rear brakes didn't you....

DKLAZ wrote:
.

And as a side-note....since this original post, I've been riding almost exclusively on front brake, and BB is right...as long as the road is dry and clean, the rear brake is almost un -njecessary.

Live and learn, huh?

DKLAZ

70% of braking is the front, and myself, when the roads are wet, I don't touch the rear at all.

So did you find anything wrong that would cause your problem when you took the caliper apart? If so what did you find?