Brake Caliper Piston Removal

This is a simple how-to video showing how to quickly remove stuck pistons from a brake caliper. This particular caliper is from a 1984 Honda VF1000F, but the basic principle can be applied to many different motorcycle calipers, including two-piece single piston versions.
Professionally shot and edited by Jordan Garry of JPGarry Productions. (www.jpgarry.com)

[@adammcbomb]

Concise 4.5 minutes, practical advice from start to finish, nice camera work, beautiful classic Honda. 11/10 Best How to Video on youtube.

[@tomscyclerecycling8242]

Adam - thank you very much for the incredible compliments! I'll pass them onto Jordan, my cameraman and son-in-law. Now if I can just get him back over here to do video #8...Tom

[@robinsonmartyn1971]

I was going to say the same. I hate those KZbin videos when they draw out what could be a few minutes long into a half hour.

[@davidmcdonald1912]

Thank you, I have all these spare parts in the garage but never even thought of doing this, it's so simple you really helped me out, it's been driving me crazy, cheers

[@iansheppard9155]

Gotten through 2 of your videos now and it was exactly what I needed. Thanks!

[@calebpan1505]

Your workshop is immaculate.

[@thinbillysound]

Hi Tom, good advice and well presented. However, I didn't have a spare set of handlebars, vice and old brake fluid. I found another video that suggested using an air compressor and using air pressure to push the pistons out. It worked a treat and was much cleaner than having brake fluid shooting out everywhere.

[@tomscyclerecycling8242]

Hi Billy. The method you describe is my first line of defense. However, many of the brake systems I restore involve calipers that have been sitting for years. Eventually, the DOT3 brake fluid dries up and the pistons become "glued" into place and frozen. No amount of compressed air will dislodge pistons like those, which is the reason for my video. I realize that most people don't have a bench setup like mine, but you can do the same thing using the master cylinder mounted on the actual bike that the caliper or calipers are mounted on. At some point, I would like to do a new video showing the compressed air method. Perhaps a combination video showing both ways so that the viewers know that they have options. Thanks for your compliments.

[@martinjohncameron]

Many thanks. I am about to tackle this job on my FJ 1200 for the first time and it is reassuring to see it done by an expert. Nice bike you have there. :-)

[@how-to-do5232]

many Indonesians have use air (from compressor) to replace the brake fluid and assisted with certain tool, it's quite complicated since the certain tool is need to created before. Thank you sir, for your video

[@barcusful]

This was very useful and made good common sense I like the way you present jobs clearly. Very helpful, so thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@tomscyclerecycling8242]

Thank you very much for your great compliments. I'm glad that you found this helpful and hope you find my other videos useful as well. -Tom

[@ricks.1318]

EXCELLENT instruction video ....... Tom knows his STUFF !!!!!

[@marissabuslon889]

Now i dont need to go in motorcycle shop,that is my problem on my caliper thank you for your video,more videos and more power to sir

[@iviaverick52]

Very helpful guide. Also that CB1100 at the end is awesome!

[@tomscyclerecycling8242]

Thanks Cameron. You'd like my blue 1100F resto-mod. Stock color scheme with 2007 CBR600RR swingarm, CBR600 F2 forks and brakes, rebuilt motor bored out to 1123 cc's, plus many other goodies. It handles like a modern bike and is a total blast.

[@solidrocketbooster2]

good info, well done, good camera work and editing.

[@laumatthew3259]

IMO the best method among information available, a brake cylinder can be easily available from abandoned bike, in contrast to invest on air pump and compatible air hose.

[@goerage]

Good idea, good video, good explanation! Thx, you made my life a bit easier by sharing.

[@EarlofChutney]

This was useful but i found a putty knife to be a bit too thin. Ended up using something 3x the thickness as with the putty knife one piston would pop out and the other was still a way in and hard to pull out. I had to put the one that came out back in and then start pumping again. Clear video, beats using compressed air that the Haynes manual requests.

[@simonraisbeck2265]

Good idea, much better than trying to pull them out with pliers.

[@TroyaE117]

Motorcycles are often different. There are pistons that are opposed. A BIG cable tie is useful to hold back the piston that moves first.

[@genesound]

Good job Tom. Some of the guys at the C site like your video too. See you around. ;^)

[@tecnoaddicted]

hi and great video. i had a issue witha 4 posts caliper, where 2 pistons were so stucked and glued ( rings) that even the pump-oil force plus hot air gun could not move them. i had to use a " blind bearings extractor" for one, and it worked, for the othe i had to " grind internally to the piston a small " valley" to have the grip for the puller to hook inside the piston. then it came. ( and the pistons must have been thrown in trash and replaced). any suggestion for other methods?

[@rameshemv]

Thank you for sharing. Very informative and instructional.

[@harvoa6785]

Brilliant, the most obvious but 'hidden' method.

[@tomscyclerecycling8242]

Thanks Jim!

[@patrickbeuckels3860]

Thank you, I 'l have a go on my cb650 calipers using your method

[@WalterEdom]

Great presentation - very helpful.

[@tomkerxhalli1783]

Thanks Walter.

[@marcbrasse747]

It dfoe sindeed work better then messing around with an air compressor with mismatched hoses and all. Thanks for the additional tips. This is the way I'll do all the time in the future.

[@herusupramanto6469]

Terima kasih Mr. Tom, it very useful video from Indonesia

[@tomscyclerecycling8242]

I'm very happy to hear that my video helped you out. Thanks for letting me know and best regards!Tom

[@jebbysan]

Great vid.....look forward to more!

[@siermanaland]

Hi there, love the videos! They have been very helpful for why learning through experience work on my 85 Honda interceptor. I don’t know where else to ask you a question. I have an 85 honda vf700f interceptor and I’m trying to change sprockets. But the rear sprocket has some funky o-ring or flange riveted to the sprocket. Do you have any videos on sprocket change?

[@tomscyclerecycling8242]

Hi Andy. I don't have any sprocket videos yet, but I know exactly what you're referring to. That's the factory-installed rear sprocket. Unless you buy (if still available) a new OEM sprocket, the aftermarket sprockets won't have that. No worries - it isn't needed. I use JT sprockets for my bikes - good quality and reasonable price.Thanks for the compliments on my videos.Tom

[@johnkent885]

Hi Tom I have four piston callipers two are sticking one either side tried pumping them out . one front and one rear how do I !!! John

[@allenglishknives6823]

Thanks, you just saved my bacon. Job done 👍

[@barcusful]

Hi Tom. I have rebuilt my master cylinder (all seems good) flushed the system and rebuilt both front calipers with new seals etc.... Using a vacuum pump I then bled the front brakes.... STILL very little pressure in the lever and only marginal brakes. What to do next!!?? there are no apparent leaks or deterioration in the 25 year old pipes. All have new copper washers... I am at a loss as to what to do next. Any suggestions. The bike is a Yamaha XJ900f 58L from 1986. Thank you for your advice.

[@TheMATTYB1234]

Dominica Pavlova Hi. Did you get it sorted? There must be air somewhere if there is no fluid leak?

[@miljororforsprakpartiet290]

My problem is a leak from the rubber damasque. I have absolutely No blue how to get the pistn out :/ New calipers mayb?

[@pidjones]

I've done it this way, but a grease gun and 6mm grease nipple (in place of the bleeder0 with plain bolt replacing the banjo is my go-to now. Grease is less messy to clean up than brake fluid.

[@tomscyclerecycling8242]

Hey PD, it's me TomK, from the CB100F and NGW Forums. So you think grease is less messy? I always wash and restore these old calipers, so brake fluid is a non-issue for me.

[@vernondghotmailcom]

Ta Tom, love your Bol For too.Please can you do one on it?

[@tomkerxhalli1783]

Thanks Gene. It if helps make the job easier, I did my job!

[@eugenechristopherortiz7894]

Still helpful video thanks

[@stuartbrock7586]

what about calipers with opposed pistons? will this method work, or is there enough clearance?

[@tomscyclerecycling8242]

Yes, it will work as I've done it numerous times. The pistons won't come out as far, but if you have the right tool for grabbing them from the inner circumference of the piston, they'll come out once you've pumped them as far as they'll go. Hopefully that makes sense.

[@laumatthew3259]

I think using C-clamps to hold the position of pistons that are not stucked, therefore the fluid pressure will concentrate on the seized piston, then it will work.

[@danlevesque5437]

Helpful tip a old brake line fitted with a ⅛ to¼ brass fitting can attach to the shop air compressor regulator end and adjust the regular knob 30-40 or 40-50 etc add reduce repeating the same thing except no messy fluid everywhere

[@tapas1505]

Best and easiest way to remove stuck pistons than grease & airpump method.

[@greglara62]

I used compressed air the first time I did this, unsure about the outcome. The piston slowly escaped and at the last second shot out at high speed. Yow! Learned my lesson...block it with something first.

[@adamdowning9444]

Excuse me if this is a silly question but I tried this with no luck. Do you need to bleed the brake for this to work. Perhaps the master cylinder was in too bad a state to work.

[@tomscyclerecycling8242]

Not a silly question at all. Sometimes you will need to bleed the brake enough to get the bulk of the air out. I just pump the lever a few times, clamp it pulled in, and crack open the banjo bolt. Usually doing this a couple times will do the trick. In some cases, the pistons come right out with no bleeding, so go figure!

[@appmia1]

thanks, nice video

[@martysvideos5752]

You can remove the pistons by wrapping the caliper in a shop rag and using an air compressor force air into the unit through the same entry point as the banjo bolt.

[@tomscyclerecycling8242]

This is true, but a caliper that has been sitting for years will be totally frozen and stuck. In cases like these, even 140PSI won't dislodge the piston and only hydraulic pressure will do the trick. I use air whenever possible and hydraulic pressure when air won't work.

[@blakeb4399]

Tom's Cycle Recycling I tired air like 170 psi didn't work one poped GUNNA try this method tommorw

[@apriliybenellevich1140]

Hey! I did it according to your method and the piston came out only 5-7mm and stopped. Further pumping does not bring results. What can I do?

[@tomscyclerecycling8242]

Check your brake fluid level. There's also a chance you have air in the line. This method always works without fail, so keep at it!

[@joemelvierneza6449]

Very useful thanks

[@juntjoonunya9216]

love the 3d text!

[@mattduncan5500]

Brother you gotta film , putting them back in too . would be helpful .

[@tomscyclerecycling8242]

Matt, I have another video showing how to rebuild that same type caliper. Go to my KZbin channel at Tom's Cycle Recycling and you'll find it.

[@blairguinea1337]

Nice job Tom.............using this theory , oh yes and thanks

[@mikekurtz627]

Using a brand new master cylinder, have installed on the bike and the caliper hanging from a brake line like you show into a bucket. I can not get the pistons to move at all and it seems like I can't feel much pressure building up. What could I be doing wrong?

[@tomscyclerecycling8242]

Mike, did you prime the master cylinder? If no, fluid may not be moving down the the caliper yet. Look for my brake bleeding video here on my channel and see how priming is done. That should solve your problem.

[@mikekurtz627]

@@tomscyclerecycling8242 Tom, I put fluid in the master cylinder and held my thumb over the fluid hole while pumping the master cylinder until I couldn't see any more air bubbles. I attached the banjo fitting not tightening all the way and pumping the lever until fluid was coming out and then holding the lever all the way in and tightening the bolt. What it was doing was moving the piston about 1/8" of inch and then when I released the lever the piston went back in. But!!! to my surprise I just kept pumping and pumping and I begin to see the piston moving more and more. Had to refill the master cylinder a couple of times but finally got it out. Thank you so much for making this video great communication and video quality. I knew if something wasn't working it was on my end. I'm going to go to your brake bleeding video also. Thanks for responding back.

[@tomscyclerecycling8242]

Mike, did some brake fluid squirt out of the banjo bolt hole? When the MC is properly primed, it will squirt fluid with some force. Have wet rags on your bodywork to protect it. Once you reach that point, attach the brake line and start bleeding.

[@tomscyclerecycling8242]

Awesome Mike. Glad it all worked out for you and I was happy to help.

[@mikekurtz627]

@@tomscyclerecycling8242 it seems like there was a little coming out. Once I get all the parts etc for the caliper and get it all put together I'm going to go through the procedure in your bleeding video. Your videos were really helpful and the best part, it worked!! haha

[@420productions-j5o]

Very informative :-)

[@renaldperrault8044]

nice video

[@davidfraser7966]

If you own a air compressor you can just remove the break pads and break line to to the caliper. Take a air blow gun and stick the tip in where the break line goes. Throw some air in it and the piston will shoot out.

[@tomscyclerecycling8242]

Compressed air doesn't always work. Some of these ancient calipers that have been sitting for years have pistons that are totally seized. Compressed air won't make them budge. Air is always what I use on my first attempt and if it doesn't do the trick, I use the hydraulic method.

[@ryehood6175]

Thankyou somuch

[@plasticadam]

A great common sense solution.

[@erlingweiseth2774]

Nice little video, but these pistons aren't stuck at all....

[@Acrane22]

Yeah I'm here cuz mine are stuck. Any good eays to get a stuck one out?

[@sidhuasg]

Thk uuu

[@naharsingh9165]

Great

[@salal2845]

Thx

[@xcaliberwolf6090]

What if nothing works not even using hydraulic power? Buy a new caliper?

[@tomscyclerecycling8242]

It would have to be completely rusted/corroded as one solid unit to be stuck forever. I have yet to be stumped by a stuck piston. If you can't get it out, send me an email and maybe I can help.

[@xcaliberwolf6090]

ok i havent tried the grease but i might try it over the weekend or so

[@xcaliberwolf6090]

here is another problem. I have a caliper that is can be separated meaning one piston on one side and another on the other side how would i get grease through to get both out

[@tomscyclerecycling8242]

Check out this video to see how to do exactly what you're asking about: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mITWk6aDjd6efNmEersonally, I don't see the point of using the grease method if you have a way to do it with brake fluid. Grease is even messier and after you get the pistons out, you have to get all the grease out of everything, including the bleeder and banjo bolt threads.

[@xcaliberwolf6090]

thanks for the video! One last question though, im sure your tired of replying back, but I was trying to remove the brake line from the caliper and i accidentally broke the 'metal' brake line right at the base of the brake screw that goes into the caliper. Should i buy a new brake line or is there a way to get it out but keep the brake line screw

[@4536647674]

You're handsome

[@tomscyclerecycling8242]

Well thank you very much!

[@martinaumuller6114]

Also check out how to do it faster ;) kzbin.info/www/bejne/rILIdKB3m7qKaKc