Brake calipers

Post by **Suzsmokeyallan** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 8:15 pm

I pulled the whole ft brake setup out of the RE5 today and did a complete overhaul of the system. It will be new caliper seal/ piston kits which are already in, some new brake hoses and some minor repainting to bring it back to pristine condition.
These calipers considering their age are in nearly perfect condition paintwise, theres no flaking or bubbling of the black.
On the carriers theres a few scratches from something the disk dragged onto it and some missing around the allen bolt heads.
Theres nothing that a little touch up with a pencil brush and some semi flat black cant cure to hide the aluminum underneath.
The master cylinder has been gutted and totally cleaned out, plus it will have to be repainted since the anodizing has turned the usual pink.
I thought i'd post these few pics since its been a while front brakes have been a thread discussion.

Post by **oldjapanesebikes** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 11:27 pm

Hmmmm....... SWMBO'd would have my head if I tried to do a brake rebuild on her glass serving tray on the lace covered dining room table.............

H2RICK · Post by **H2RICK** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 10:48 pm

Well, Ian, nothing is too good for Allan's rebuilds....as you can see.

Good looking bits, Allan. How was the bore on the m/c ?? Spotless I assume otherwise you wouldn't be putting it back together.....right??!!??

Those pads look like they've got a FEW miles left in 'em.....

Post by **Suzsmokeyallan** » Sat Jun 13, 2009 11:02 pm

Rick id think those pads are OEM from 1975, at least they look so to me considering the mileage on the bike.
I had to clean and re-level them since they were worn on an angle from binding slider bolts
The calipers themselves were in poor shape internally, rusted pistons and loads of gelatinous goop around but luckily not much corrosion on the bore. Mostly there was the usual fluff on the seal sections that comes off with a little brass brush and a pick tool.
The master cylinder was really good in the bore, ive seen a lot worse for sure that were still very servicable.
I did my usual trick and rolled up some 1500 grade paper and turned it inside the bore dry and it came back even better looking. The slight grey dull spots by the primary pistons travel range started to look almost new and shiny again.