You may have the opportunity to remove the front wheel in a variety of situations, but one of the things you must do is to remove and install the brake caliper. Unless you remove the brake caliper that is fastened to the bottom case, you cannot remove the wheel and tire, so the brake caliper is the first part to be removed, whether it is a single or double brake caliper.
When you remove the brake caliper, try scrubbing it with a bucket of tap water and mild detergent. Even such a simple task can maintain the brake performance. I know this is a simple task, but many Sunday mechanics don't practice it, so let's focus on cleaning the brake calipers and simple care afterwards.
This is the kind of dirt you get after 2000km.
In the case of disc brakes, the disc rotor and brake caliper are generally exposed (inboard type brakes are not constructed in such a way). Since only the brake caliper can be removed from the bottom case without removing the wheel, caliper performance can be maintained with a simple cleaning of such caliper body and simple care after cleaning. The brake line where the brake fluid flows can be left connected.
Mama Lemon has an overwhelmingly high approval rating among Sunday Mechanics
There are many different neutral detergents out there, but one that has gained a lot of support from Sunday mechanics is Mama Lemon. Not because it's easy on the hands, or because it has some kind of added value, but because it's strong against tough dirt and grease, and it's a product that's synonymous with traditional neutral detergents, and it's as popular as ever. Surprisingly, there are many professional painters who use Mama Lemon for degreasing before painting.
Lukewarm water is more effective than water.
Fill the container with tap water, mix in neutral detergent, and start cleaning, but don't use cold tap water. Using lukewarm water will make it easier to foam and remove dirt. It is a good idea to boil the water in a kettle and mix it, or if you have a water heater, prepare lukewarm water before starting the process.
It is convenient to have various brushes when cleaning calipers. Don't throw away unused toothbrushes or toothbrushes from your stay in a business hotel, but bring them home for maintenance. Brushes that can be purchased at tool stores are easy to use because they can reach into the smallest of details. Anyway, it's a game of chance. If you have a variety of brushes, cleaning work can proceed smoothly.
Expose the piston and clean the dirt
By pumping the brake lever after removing the brake pads, the caliper pistons gradually come out. If it's a single piston with a single push, it's easy, but if it's a multi-piston system, the two pistons don't always come out at the same time, whether single or opposed. Adjust the exposure of the two pistons to the same level by holding the board between them or by pressing down on the piston that comes out first. It is not necessary to expose too much. Clean the area where the piston seals are touching.
Submerge the caliper with the exposed piston in the cleaning container and use a brush to clean it. If you can't reach the caliper, you can place the container on top of a box such as a beer case. Cleaning the calipers down to the smallest detail will result in the most beautiful finish imaginable. If you have an air gun, use air blow to remove moisture. If you don't have one, wipe it off with a clean rag and wait for it to dry.
Piston operation is improved with rubber grease.
By applying a thin layer of rubber grease stretched over the exposed piston circumference, the caliper piston's operation is instantly improved. Rubber grease is a silicone-based grease that dramatically improves the sliding properties of rubber and metal parts. The key is to spread the grease thinly and not to apply too much. If a large amount of grease is applied, it will attract grit, pad dust and other contaminants from the piston seals.
- Point 1・ Effective maintenance can be performed not only when the caliper is a single item, but also when the brake lines are connected.
- Point 2・Before scrubbing with a brush, soak it in lukewarm water and neutral detergent to soften and loosen the dirt before starting work.
- Point 3・When cleaning, prepare brushes of various shapes in advance. Especially, brush type brushes available at tool shops are easy to use.
- Point 4・When applying rubber grease to the exposed piston, be careful not to apply too much. Spread it thinly and apply it evenly.
Whenever I tell people that it's good to soak brake calipers in warm water mixed with neutral detergent to soften the dirt before working on them, they always ask me, "Is it okay to soak the whole brake caliper in warm water or water mixed with neutral detergent? I think it is natural for people to have such questions. I think it is natural to ask such a question, but please think about it. When you drive on the highway in the rain, you will be hit by rain water, which is much harsher than being immersed in tap water. Not only the rainwater, but also the gravel and sludge on the ground are rolled up while driving, so when driving at high speed in the rain, it is like being wet blasted with sludge water. If you think of such a situation, you will understand how this process can efficiently remove dirt from the calipers.
The detergent we use is Mama Lemon, a neutral detergent available at supermarkets and home improvement stores. Neutral detergent decomposition power is higher than we imagine, great! When cleaning the inside of a gasoline tank, sometimes neutral detergent is divided with hot water, filled in the tank, and left overnight (wrapping a blanket around the tank to keep it warm is effective), but the decomposing power of the neutral detergent alone can remove all mild rust.
In order to increase the cleaning ability, it is better to use neutral detergent divided by "lukewarm water". As mentioned above, divide neutral detergent with lukewarm water using a bucket or container (in this case, we used a metal container), and soak the caliper body, which is still connected to the brake line, in the water. If you can't reach the container, place the container on top of a beer case so that the caliper is submerged.
When exposing the pistons, slowly squeeze the brake lever in while keeping a close eye on the caliper. Multi-piston calipers tend to have only one piston sticking out, so it's a good idea to hold a board between the pistons or hold them back so that all pistons are exposed by the same amount. Cleaning brushes are available in a variety of shapes and sizes to make your calipers even more beautiful. If you have a caliper piston tool, you can clean the piston while turning it, but even if you don't have the tool, you can clean the whole caliper beautifully depending on the shape of the brush. After cleaning, wipe off the water with an air blower or a rag to dry, then apply a thin, even coat of rubber grease to the outer circumference of the piston, push the piston in, and repeat the process to expose the piston again. You will notice that the rubber grease will help the piston work more smoothly. Be careful not to over-extrude the piston when you check the operation. You don't want to end up with a piston that falls out ...... because you moved it too far.
After driving, it is easy for pad debris and dirt to accumulate around the brakes, especially around the calipers. Regular cleaning will definitely improve the braking performance and lever touch. I hope you will give this type of cleaning maintenance a try.
During maintenance of immobilized vehicles
When you try to move a single push caliper motorcycle, and you feel that the brake is dragging and it is heavy to push and walk, you can prepare a piece of wood and lightly poke the piston part of the caliper body. Of course, you can also use a wooden hammer. Because the caliper body of a single piston caliper has a floating mount, poking the caliper will instantly retract the caliper piston and eliminate the dragging of the brake. The caliper cleaning described here is likely to be effective for vehicles with these symptoms.
