caliper cleaning putting piston back in

Hi guys, I picked up a 82 kz1100 spectre last month.

Front brake caliper was seized. So I tackled it last night.

Drained the bad fluid out, took it off the bike.
Popped the piston out with Compressed air.

The seals are in great shape and so is the piston. i cleaned all the bad brake fuild inside .

My problem is I can't seem to be able to push the piston back in..whats is trick for this?

I did not take the seals off as they are in great shape and clean.

A bit of brake fluid could help. Put a bit all around and on the seal.
I'd be thinking of replacing the seal. It's probably some years old. May look fine, but a new one is cheap and will last longer.
Replace the dust seal too.

If needed, here's a link to Z1E's kit.

www.z1enterprises.com/detail.aspx?ID=264

Good Luck!

Try using a small block of wood and a C clamp, they can be very very tight.

Good luck
Jim

Is the bleeder open or removed so the air can get out from behind the piston? Ed

You have to take the seal out and clean the groove with a wire wheel on a dremmel. I have never seen one that didn't have a lot of corosion in the groove. When thats done use a bit of fluid on the seal and the piston will go right in.

donthekawguy wrote:

You have to take the seal out and clean the groove with a wire wheel on a dremmel. I have never seen one that didn't have a lot of corosion in the groove. When thats done use a bit of fluid on the seal and the piston will go right in.

+1 That crud under the seal is what makes the caliper get sticky. You'll never see it unless you remove the seal.

brake fluid will cyrstyalize over time due to evaporation it will get in behind the seals andforce them out a bit which causes the sticking problem in the first place remove the two piston seals and clean out the reciever grooves very well and also clean up the seals if they are pitted replace them then when you are reinstalling them lube them up good with the same brake fluid you are using in the brake system, dont use any other kind of lube and the pistons should slide in easily.