Brake servicing

[Slowdown]

I'm coming up to my 36000 mile/3 year service.

I clean the outside of the brakes with brake cleaner then a toothbrush/soapy water every few months, take the pads out and clean off the gunge and push out the pistons and try and get any crud off the sides. Then back together with some coppaslip on the backs of the pads.

So other than that, and changing the fluid is there anything else a meticulous owner would do?

 

[RickG]

What's the opposite of meticulous?

I never clean the brakes apart from jet washing the salt off once a season and only take out the pads when they need replacing. I've used this approach for the last 10 years or so on my GS's and never had any problems with the brakes in spite of my appaling meticulouslessness, indeed they work as well after 100k miles as they did when new. I do however change the fluid as prescribed.

I'm not trying to be smug, I simply think that the calipers are well made and use materials that survive even the worst of the British salty winter roads (at least if the bike is used regularly) without significant problems.

OK, I admit I'm also very lazy but I honestly don't think they need too much pampering compared to say 1980's jap' sliding calipers which would sieze if they even caught sight of a raindrop

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Sounds like the right approach and it's important to keep the rear brake sliding caliper, sliding otherwise you get uneven wear on the pads. Do mine in spring and autumn and use plenty of brake cleaner and copperslip

I'm coming up to my 36000 mile/3 year service.

I clean the outside of the brakes with brake cleaner then a toothbrush/soapy water every few months, take the pads out and clean off the gunge and push out the pistons and try and get any crud off the sides. Then back together with some coppaslip on the backs of the pads.

So other than that, and changing the fluid is there anything else a meticulous owner would do?

 

[Schtum]

Do mine in spring and autumn and use plenty of brake cleaner and copperslip

I hope that's plenty of brake cleaner and only the slightest smear of copper grease. Copper grease is not at all friendly to the dust seals and piston seals in brake calipers. Even a light application can migrate through time and cause the seals to swell which leads to the pistons not being withdrawn back into the calipers and the brakes sticking on.

 

[ultrasound]

Anybody come unstuck with the ABS when doing this? would like to ease the pistons out a bit to clean, does the ABS gubbins object to this?

 

[Slowdown]

Anybody come unstuck with the ABS when doing this? would like to ease the pistons out a bit to clean, does the ABS gubbins object to this?

Not in my experience, but I've got on '07 non servo ABS bike. Effectively, its a normal brake system. YMMV.

 

[Wassted]

I'm coming up to my 36000 mile/3 year service.

I clean the outside of the brakes with brake cleaner then a toothbrush/soapy water every few months, take the pads out and clean off the gunge and push out the pistons and try and get any crud off the sides. Then back together with some coppaslip on the backs of the pads.

So other than that, and changing the fluid is there anything else a meticulous owner would do?

Why bother?

 

[Slowdown]

Why bother?

Why not? I like a well kept bike. Some do, some don't.....

Anyroads, back to the OP...

I've started to get pitting on the pistons - all of them look similar. Once it starts does it rapidly get worse, or is it only something to worry about when it gets much worse?

 

[Pukmeister]

A bit of light corrosion on the piston where it sits outside the seals, probably winter salt etching chemically through the electroplating and nothing to worry about so long as it doesn't spread down the piston and cause the seals to fail. Based on your preventative maintenance routine Neil I'd say you should be okay. My '04 calipers look similar to yours.