Brake Calipers

[Noggin]

How easy/difficult is it to service brake calipers?

Do you need special tools?

[weeksy]

Hmmm. Yeah you do. But they're easy enough to buy.

What bike?

[KungFooBob]

Not really, however if the pistons are stuck, there is a special tool to remove them, but I've never needed one.

[Skub]

It's easier to work the piston/s out evenly while still connected to the system. Like most jobs it's handy enough if nothing is seized.

[Trinity765]

I service my own calipers.

A quick service (without taking the calipers off completely or removing the pistons) is very easy. Squirt a bit of brake cleaner around, use a toothbrush to get in the narrow bits and a bit of fine sandpaper on the pad retainer pin.

If you want to remove the caliper/pistons completely you'll need a brake bleeding kit and as brake fluid is corrosive, you'll need to be careful.

There's some really good Youtube tutorials for doing it - shall I find you one?

What bike do you have and do you want to remove the calipers completely and change the brake fluid, or just give them a quick clean/new pads?

[Noggin]

Pretty sure nothing about this is going to be easy or simple, but I need to find garage space and get it working to save my sanity!!

Hmmm. Yeah you do. But they're easy enough to buy.

What bike?

1996 Monster 600 (I'll check the year but pretty sure its an P plate so think that makes it a '96?)

I know I will start with the engine but till I get it in a garage and on stands I'm just thinking out loud - well, thinking on here!!

[Noggin]

I service my own callipers.

A quick service (without taking the callipers off completely or removing the pistons) is very easy. Squirt a bit of brake cleaner around, use a toothbrush to get in the narrow bits and a bit of fine sandpaper on the pad retainer pin.

If you want to remove the calliper/pistons completely you'll need a brake bleeding kit and as brake fluid is corrosive, you'll need to be careful.

There's some really good Youtube tutorials for doing it - shall I find you one?

What bike do you have and do you want to remove the callipers completely and change the brake fluid, or just give them a quick clean/new pads?

They'll have to come off as it will need new brake lines as well

It's been stood for years. I did the timing belt, plugs and filters 2 summers ago and then bailed on the engine due to no strength in one arm and a head injury (from cycling badly!!)

Totally understand about brake fluid. I've done quite a bit on bikes but, whilst I've done pads, I've never messed with calipers. And all my spannering (bar what's mentioned above) was pre Aug 14 2017!!

I'll ask for a tutorial when I've got the engine running!! LOL

[Trinity765]

I service my own callipers.

A quick service (without taking the callipers off completely or removing the pistons) is very easy. Squirt a bit of brake cleaner around, use a toothbrush to get in the narrow bits and a bit of fine sandpaper on the pad retainer pin.

If you want to remove the calliper/pistons completely you'll need a brake bleeding kit and as brake fluid is corrosive, you'll need to be careful.

There's some really good Youtube tutorials for doing it - shall I find you one?

What bike do you have and do you want to remove the callipers completely and change the brake fluid, or just give them a quick clean/new pads?

They'll have to come off as it will need new brake lines as well

It's been stood for years. I did the timing belt, plugs and filters 2 summers ago and then bailed on the engine due to no strength in one arm and a head injury (from cycling badly!!)

Totally understand about brake fluid. I've done quite a bit on bikes but, whilst I've done pads, I've never messed with calipers. And all my spannering (bar what's mentioned above) was pre Aug 14 2017!!

I'll ask for a tutorial when I've got the engine running!! LOL

Ah, well you'll have no issues sorting your brakes out

[Noggin]

Ah, well you'll have no issues sorting your brakes out

Oh, I'll be back here asking stupid questions. Been a long time since I've had a spanner in my hand!! Like I say, never messed with calipers before, just want to know if I need to buy something to make it possible to do the job when it gets to their turn!! LOL (When it gets to their turn I'll be asking pointers for the YouTube link!! )


Got new HT leads, need to find a battery, then see if the little bugger will turn over.

If it does, fuel lines, brake and clutch lines, a new (secondhand) tank and probably a host of other things!!


But if I don't get it running things will be quite difficult this summer!!

[DefTrap]

These are excellent
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BRAKE-CLUTCH ... Sws29bxgdw

[Mr. Dazzle]

Iccy did a whole how to for his CBR in the "owners bikes" section.

[Horse]

Mechanicking isn't really my thing, but one bit of advice:

If there are twin discs, ensure that all four pads (not just three) have the friction material facing the disc.

[Scotsrich]

If it’s been sitting a while it might be easier just to buy an overhaul kit with new seals and pistons.

That way you just junk the old stuff and make sure the callipers and seal grooves are clean then bang in the new bits.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ducati-Monst ... SwISNbkTc-

No idea of the quality of this , just an example.

[Noggin]

If it’s been sitting a while it might be easier just to buy an overhaul kit with new seals and pistons.

That way you just junk the old stuff and make sure the callipers and seal grooves are clean then bang in the new bits.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ducati-Monst ... SwISNbkTc-

No idea of the quality of this , just an example.

My plan had been to but the seals and take the callipers apart to clean/make sure the pistons are ok. TBF, the whole bike cost me £200 - I'm not overly keen to spend serious money on it just yet - although, I guess that is a kit for all three callipers? So you are probably right - I'll have a look at the callipers on the bike when I get to it next and decide then

These are excellent
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BRAKE-CLUTCH ... Sws29bxgdw

Cool. I do have a bleeder kit though, or would this be better? (I'm still a little challenged on one arm, so need things to be easy for 1.5 arms!!)

[maccecht]

You are welcomee to take them all off the bike and post them to me and I will strip and rebuild them for you free of course just postage.

[DefTrap]

These are excellent
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BRAKE-CLUTCH ... Sws29bxgdw

Cool. I do have a bleeder kit though, or would this be better? (I'm still a little challenged on one arm, so need things to be easy for 1.5 arms!!)

If you have kit you're comfortable with I'd go with that, just that these are great for a few quid. I normally prime the system by sucking with me big ol' lungs then finish off with the little bleed hose.

[Noggin]

These are excellent
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BRAKE-CLUTCH ... Sws29bxgdw

Cool. I do have a bleeder kit though, or would this be better? (I'm still a little challenged on one arm, so need things to be easy for 1.5 arms!!)

If you have kit you're comfortable with I'd go with that, just that these are great for a few quid. I normally prime the system by sucking with me big ol' lungs then finish off with the little bleed hose.

It's been a long time but I'll see how I get on!!

You are welcomee to take them all off the bike and post them to me and I will strip and rebuild them for you free of course just postage.

Wowzers. Thank you. I kind of want to try and see if I can do it. But if it's above my skillgrade I may well take you up on that. Thank you, really kind of you

[KungFooBob]

fyi, your Monster might only have one front calliper, a lot of them were single disc.

[Noggin]

fyi, your Monster might only have one front calliper, a lot of them were single disc.

I do think it is single. But need to get to it to check. Probably will find out before I find a garage! Just so I can have the bits to hand for when (hopefully) I find a garage to work on it!!

[Mussels]

I had a badly seized set of calipers on my Thundercat so I stripped them and replaced the seals. It was a long time ago but I don't remember the seals costing a significant amount so that looks a bit pricey. The seals I took off were still in good condition so it may be worth having a look before spending that much.
The job was simple but getting the pistons out wasn't, it took wooden blocks and a G clamp to hold the other pistons in place while an air compressor forced a stuck one out. As long as it wasn't needed urgently it's one of those jobs that I'd do myself again.