Master Cylinder Disassemmbly

How in the world do you remove that circlip? I have circlip pliers, but they aren't long enough to get down in there. Doing a front brake overhaul (calipers and M/C), M/C seemed to be working good, but looked pretty crusty under the piston boot. I wanted to just disassemble and clean everything up for good measure. Or should I leave well enough alone?

I ground a pair of long reach snap ring pliers, but if your ring has been in there for a while it might not come out that easily.

My original circlip was stuck pretty bad so I just bent it by pulling on one of the holes with a pick. Everything looked pretty good so I cleaned it up and put it all back together with a new clip. Made a sleeve to push it into the groove, also works to push in the boot retainer ring. Didn't fix my spongy lever, so I ordered a rebuild kit. That's when I ground the pliers. Sometimes you have to be willing to modify a perfectly good tool to get the job done.

Alan

Long-nose cir-clip pliers are available.

For example, here's Z1E listing:
Click > www.z1enterprises.com/ItemDetails.aspx?i...n+Pro&item=MP08-0279

As Haybus mentions, the old cir-clip may be so encrusted in position that it's destroyed during process of removal.

Repair kits may include a new cir-clip.
For example:
Click > www.z1enterprises.com/ItemDetails.aspx?i...22%29&item=43073-005

Good Fortune!

Thanks guys, I've decided to leave well enough alone as the M/C seemed to be working well prior.