Easy Way To Remove Pistons From Hydraulic Brake Caliper On Bicycle.

[@cannondany]

Huge range of the bleeding kits: amzn.to/3279wsl 0:00 Piston removal with water and syringe. 1:15 Pushing one piston back (bleed niple side!!!) 2:20 Methods that don't work... 3:00 Removing the second piston. 3:20 Replacing / putting a new piston back into the caliper. 4:18 Don't swap or forget these two seals!

[@hainman1]

where did you buy the hose that attaches to the bleed port?

[@pd1jdw630]

Its almost the same as we do with brake calipers for cars. Be careful though, if one piston flies out you might be surprised about the damage it can do. Anyway, nice job. Another why I’m still on rimbrakes.

[@gabrielmoldovan3277]

Finally a hydraulic caliper overhaul. Thanks @SickBiker!

[@virkelie2]

I always wondered what the pistons looked like when out of the caliper, so thanks for this video!!!

[@MuddyHelmet]

Dude thanx for the video! Make sure they check the plunger in the lever itself as well. Mine was also frozen.

[@0mym]

You’re not alone - I broke two. :) Ended up assembling 2 calipers out of 3.

[@eyecandrive5657]

I did the same thing b it didn’t have to remove entire system. Just hood one piston and pump brake, piston will pop out…clean, lube and put piston back. Repeat for other side. Bleed and you good to go.

[@nickrosas7253]

thanks. i have these same ultegra breaks, with the same problem. great video, very helpful. thanks!

[@jbratt]

Thanks for the video. I don’t need it now but I watched it and saved it for when I do (And I know I will) 👍

[@buster.keaton]

Very helpful video. One of my XTR M985 calipers has a seal leak and they are 1 piece calipers. I ordered replacement seals and pistons from China but had no idea how to I was going to get the seals replaced w/o being able to spit the caliper apart. Now I know. Not sure if I'll use water or compressed air, but hopefully I can get the pistons out through the rotor slot.

[@IBundee]

I have a very similar problem. I think i destroyed one piston and need to replace it. but how to get it out? I will try this, but i assume it will just leak through the crack. Did it work for you? and did the replacement fit and work fine? I have the same model M985. I'd very much appreciate your help! thanks!

[@buster.keaton]

@@IBundee FYI, I fixed my M985 caliper over the weekend. I got one piston out while using the brake while still on the bike and connected. I pumped the brake and let one piston come out while I kept pushing one piston back into the caliper. Obviously, once the piston comes out, all the hydraulic fluid will come out too, so be ready. Once off the bike, I used compressed air at just over 50 PSI to push out the other piston. It came out remarkably easy... and I found out the piston was cracked.

[@IBundee]

Hi thanks form your reply. I got the piston out with water and a syringe and a lot of work. But now it seema Impossible to get a new piston. Tried on ebay, and they cant deliver rn. Where did you get a replacement piston? Also on ebay? I tried three different shops on ebay but it seems they are all the same.

[@IBundee]

Would be interessting if a piston of a different shimano break also fits

[@dadskills6354]

Hi did you put a new piston in ? if so we’re did you get the piston from ? Thanks for the vid

[@richardwyss223]

Buy them on ebay A$20.- incl postage. Website: www.ebay.com.au/itm/254967621557?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&var=554862620344&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2648

[@richardwyss223]

Bloody great, worked like a treat, thank you so much!

[@mpl1700]

Hello, thank you very much for this explanation. I applied the method as you did and it worked for me. My caliper was leaking, so I unscrewed it to see what was wrong, probably one of those rubber rings that.... Once unscrewed I didn't notice anything wrong and now don't understand why it was leaking. Do you have any idea what else I could do ?

[@frogslips]

This is really helpful. I have a new GRX caliper, looks the same as your’s, one piston is stuck and it’s at a slight angle. Would the same method work? Should I lubricate overnight with mineral oil before trying the water pressure method?

[@edgarperez1141]

Hello, thank you very much for such clear and nice explanation. 😃

[@Acemulder]

People are mentioning using an air compressor to remove the caliper piston. What attachment would you use?

[@mariuco3]

Great video, like usual.

[@mitjakopcar9029]

Nice, But only untill all the pistons are still moving. One of mine has stucked, even under pressure of 6bar didn't release 😢I tried with siringe too, But have broke one already 😊 But Tell me....why water? It Will made corrosion in to the chanells

[@JoseMunoz-dt3ln]

No contesta porque no tiene ni idea 💡 🤷

[@wasupwitdat1mofiki94]

This was cool. In all my years of owning hydraulics I thought it was a no no to push a piston out. My question is, I was looking for the pistons on ebay and they are mostly metal and some looking like delrin. I wouldn't go for delrin but is metal a good choice? Aren't the OEM pistons ceramic?

[@derekharper6031]

Look on aliexpress you'll find ceramic ones. I bought a set with seals for a 4 piston caliper shimano saints) note two sizes of ceramic pistons.... worked perfectly

[@ErhardFrebold]

Just got an aftermarket set of pistons for an SLX caliper. Pretty affordable, ceramic core with aluminum back and sides; clever-- no more cracking/back spalling. Came with the needed seals. Pretty impressed.

[@WakizashiSabre]

I was not lucky to split the break, but fortunately, the piston could be insterted inside quite ok with fingers. We shall see, how well the brake will work again and hopefully without any screwup during ride

[@ferroviari1435]

Excellent explanation!!! What product can I use to cleaning the pistons without disassembling all the brake? Only for maintenance tasks. Especially interesting on MTB bikes. Is it not a problem using water? After that, could water drops mix with oil?

[@tduic]

Always use the oil from the brake system, clean the piston rims with swabs, push them in, clean everything with alcohol or brake cleaner and assemble the pads.

[@woduk]

Isopropyl alcohol works a treat.

[@tduic]

@@woduk Yeah, it's always recommended (because it's purest), but every alcohol, brake or carb cleaner will do just fine.

[@ferroviari1435]

@@tduic & ​ @woduk thanks for your answers. I guess it's necessary to apply oil on the pistons and seal rubbers. Is it a specific oil?

[@tduic]

@@ferroviari1435 Told you, use oil that your brake uses, i.e. shimano mineral oil for shimano brakes etc. It's because the sides of your piston will enter the casing and that oil will come in touch the seal, and that seal is already soaked with the same oil, so it's best not to mix different chemicals, and also the seal is designed to work with that oil.

[@anandakrishnanm5560]

good info , pls do hydraulic brake lever maintenance video

[@jhuntorreno634]

Im using air to remove the pistons on my caliper

[@ImranRaza]

Thank you very much for this great video! Been looking for some info on this

[@a.n.mwaliullah1632]

Shimano m615 Brake caliper piston popped out. How do I get it back in? :

[@soulboken4670]

Before removing the caliper , do you have to bleed the oil out somewhere?

[@jeromelepage5899]

One piston of my front Dura Ace caliper is leaking. I lost most of oil... What do I have to do to repair it ? thanks

[@AshtonHalm]

Pump your breaks till it pops out or use water like he is. Fix/clean/replace the o ring in there. Mine had the same issue last week. Bleed the brakes then your in motion.

[@loukreu]

This video saved my butt, thanks dude! Dziekuje!

[@headholio]

I used this tip and moved my pistons with water in my bleed syringe. Now that water is in my system, how can I be sure it is all dry before I put it back together? It seems maybe this tip is more time consuming than time saving since I now have to make usre everything is completely dry?

[@YacineBenabid128]

that's what I was thinking about too, we should leave the caliper in a hot and a dry place until every little drop of water evaporates and gone. If some drops of water mix with the oil, the high temperature in the summer may affect the brakes and cause problems.

[@jandebuysser2]

Don't use water, use an air crompressor to blow out the pistons..

[@BataLuka]

@@YacineBenabid128 So what ?

[@derekharper6031]

Use alcohol to do a final dry

[@ErhardFrebold]

​@@YacineBenabid128 The oil and water don't mix, they stay separate. You can test this by trying to mix a bit of each. Water is denser, so if you bleed top to bottom, oil will push out most of the water. Any that remains will end up at the bottom of the system and likely leave next bleed. In practice, mineral oil brakes tend to accumulate small quantities of water down in the caliper anyway, from water and moist air that get drawn into the system in a wet environment as the system alternately gets compressed and relaxed/heated and cooled. If you don't bleed, theoretically it could vaporize on long descents and make your brakes feel spongy...which will make you bleed them, fixing the issue. But yeah worth starting as dry as possible or using a compressor if you have one.

[@bikingchupei2447]

2:55 i've seen people use air compressor and the pison shoots out like a bullet.

[@oliveraidoo7861]

Great teachings!! Thanks!!

[@hansotto089]

Best video on KZbin

[@mpl1700]

Hello, I can't put my brake pads back on because I can't push one piston back....?! I push with all my might but nothing to do.I have lubricated them a bit with the brake oil ( shimano oil) but it doesn't help. I also have the impression when I do get some shot in that the other piston comes out ? Had I never experienced this before ? Does anyone have any advice ?

[@munstermutch]

I have just bought new shimano xtr 9120 calipers and the rear caliper, the 4 pots dont move much at all. Spent a long time trying to get it to work with no success. Do i need to lube up the 4 pots with mineral oil?

[@mtbboy1993]

My problem is different, I have 4 piston brakes one pistols pops out, rest are stuck. But not tried or use water. Looks like I might need a compressor, so I have to buy one.

[@frakafrocka]

Wow this is amazing. Thank you

[@goodpools]

There’s Craigslist in Poland?

[@raymondsweeney5410]

hi bro , nice vid, just what i was looking for ,exact same problem! can you send me a link for new piston please ? tnx

[@RadoslawAdamStachnik]

Cześć. Mam 4 tłoczkowe XTR 9120 i został mi 1 tłoczek, jest wręcz wciśnięty do środka… Pozostałe 3 wyszły. Jak wyjąć tego upartego gada?

[@gregknipe8772]

when/why is it necessary to clean inside the piston chamber? what malfunction indicates this procedure?

[@rasmuswi]

My guess is that he cleaned the pistons. Which you can do without removing them, but it's probably easier to get them out first.

[@tetaizozadja7080]

once you have al the grease and oil around the piston it moves harder if you clean it it runs smoothly again👌

[@jessiealcazar1854]

Nice VD 👍🏿

[@MoiPloy]

the secret technic that only few knows

[@guadaanto]

Problem is that Shimano do not sell replacement seals and piston kit, so hot to change them when they are ruined :(

[@strategicthinker8899]

You can buy pistons and seals for Shimano calipers on Ebay etc. They are not original but third party. Tolerances may vary.

[@guadaanto]

@@strategicthinker8899 hi thanks for your answer. yes, I found for 2 pistons brakes but not for 4 pistons as I need :(

[@reyninodiongzon6800]

watching this cause my brake piston caliper accidentally went off and I am looking on how to put it back in haha

[@Brad-99]

Me too but I even list one some how fml

[@jules52mtb26]

I love your videos, however mixing water with brake fluid is a real no no! Also there is a special grease "Red grease" that is designed for brakes and can be used between the piston and seal instead of brake fluid.

[@mohdzulhazmi5357]

Its call rubber grease...its for automotive use.

[@longevfy]

Also called red rubber grease

[@JoLe1991]

shimano uses mineral oil, not hygroscopic DOT fluid. oil does not mix wit water at all. since it's denser, any leftover would accumulate at the lowest point, in the caliper where it starts to boil the most easily.... 😀 usually you can just force air with the syringe to blow the piston out when the caliper is apart. just catch the piston before it flies out and you can't find it anymore

[@jules52mtb26]

@@JoLe1991 Agreed, mineral oil does not absorb water, and as you say; the water will collect and boil in the piston when it gets hot. In boiling it will turn to gas and consequently the gas will compress under the force of the brake lever pressure. Result = brake failure or "brake fade". Therefore, my original point, regarding using water in a brake system, still stands i.e. Don't do it! You're risking brake failure or brake fade just when you need your brakes the most :- when you are braking hard and generating heat. So basically we are agreeing the outcome is the same whether using DOT fluid or Mineral oil. ;-)

[@patrickstaudt2584]

Serious question: can't you just dry it before reassembly?

[@JohnDoe-zb7dz]

Split the caliper and just use an air compressor. They pop right out.

[@BataLuka]

But if you do not have air compressor the water is fine.

[@mikeburgh3956]

Why water? Why not mineral oil?

[@JamesCecilPilar]

Mineral oil is expensive

[@DianTomov_ST_Dupont_Lighters]

The most easiest way is to open the caliper on 2 parts from a side bolts

[@jedz86]

can it be done with sram guide ?

[@c.j.burtwell8430]

Sram actually has rebuild kits and videos.

[@Fandestdh]

Absolutely not, I'm trying it right now.

[@jedz86]

@@Fandestdhthis crap gave me headache..

[@beyondsakai]

you can just use air ,not need water.

[@sepg5084]

Not everyone has an air compressor.

[@noway2670]

@@sepg5084 You can use a syringe just like in the video, but pump it with air instead of water. The effect will be the same.

[@rosomak8244]

You realise that you could use a standing bike pump instead?

[@dannydiaz9331]

Can't I use baby oil to my brake

[@gregknipe8772]

? you will need to clarify this question.

[@dannydiaz9331]

To be use in my hydrolic brake MTB.....

[@muhtah9970]

@@dannydiaz9331 seth bike hacks actually did a video about this topic. (He changed the name of the channel to "Berm Peak")

[@borderex9993]

i have baby oil in my tektro hydro brakes. works fine still

[@grooveseeker6269]

Sett will tell us soon or later

[@ianhope769]

Hi, interesting insight to the internals of a caliper. How successful was the bleed of that system? Intrigued. as main seals not inspected/replaced.

[@stevebluemed8163]

Great concept, but I wouldn’t have ever used water, why not simply use the same method but use hydraulic oil? One little tip I learnt from my motorbike days, was if your short of oil and need to use the brakes you can use fairy liquid/ washing up liquid as a temp to get you home. It has great viscous properties, unlike water.

[@kvybo]

Instead of water I have used air to remove pistons from my SLX callipers. It works well.

[@ka81alex]

Just a guess: 1. doesn't want to spend oil 2. doesn't want oil to be sprayed all around.

[@stevebluemed8163]

O I thought cost, however, oil everywhere ugh 😩

[@ErhardFrebold]

You can use water as the hydraulic fluid in brake systems. Depends how long/hard you expect to be braking. Trials riders sometimes do for example-- it's cheap, non-messy, and thinner than either usual fluid so more responsive. Boils at about 100C of course, where glycol and mineral are closer to 300C; there's definitely that. Higher viscosity doesn't seem particularly helpful in a brake to me though.

[@minovskyparticles1834]

Hi, does all piston from different brands come in same sizes? Like single piston calipers?

[@cheskybaba4864]

No - check with your model.

[@runejensen6145]

moisturizing the whole interior of the brake - isn't that a recipe for problems?

[@WattWireNet]

Since he had the caliper removed from the hydraulic line, I assume it would be pretty easy to blow-dry the entire assembly with an air compressor. Otherwise, you're right... you'd have to remove the pistons another way.

[@derekharper6031]

Simply spray with brake cleaner / alcohol as it evaporates the water..

[@nicolaecampan2385]

I successfully use a compressor for this operation :)

[@AliHaider-he4tn]

First! Love ur videos btw

[@rafaeldolor2682]

how do you remove the caliper? :(

[@cannondany]

Do you mean, how to remove it from the frame or fork? There are two big screws (5 mm allen key), that you need to remove.

[@rafaeldolor2682]

@@cannondany hi there i mean from the hose i want to clean my callipers but i cant i dont know how to dettatch it from the hose :)

[@aleksarajkovic3471]

@@rafaeldolor2682 it depends on which brake you have, its either 5mm allen key or 7/8mm wrench , just unscrew it

[@abccanada6248]

@@rafaeldolor2682 if its a 7 or 8 mm wrench type attqchment u have to pull the cable pretty hard once the fitting is unthreaded

[@Brad-99]

Now I just need 1 piston for my tektro after I lost it 🤔 Or maybe ditch it all and go Shimano lol

[@jlich]

works with compress air?

[@alexhardwick8148]

No it doesn’t I tried and you can’t get enough of a seal

[@DanielHerd]

Works but it's kinda messy and dangerous. They can blow out and fly off fast

[@jaro6985]

Just tried with compressed air from only the syringe, and it worked OK. Got both pistons to extend midway, unscrew shell, then carefully pull remaining distance with fingers or soft pliers.

[@andrewcosmatos339]

I popped out my pistons with compressed air. I first took the caliper apart, I was surprised at how they shoot out with a loud popping sound! Make sure that don't pop out and fall into the floor and crack. I tried the water trick but couldn't get enough pressure...

[@holdenhrt427]

I like your thinking but I would avoid this method. The proper way is with a air compressor to remove pistons.

[@BataLuka]

But if you do not have air compressor the water is fine.

[@osasosasosasosasosasosasos7313]

Very nice

[@rosomak8244]

There are so many reasons to just use clinchers....

[@V211-q4g]

Do not use water, use compressed air. Sram has instructions on their web page for this.

[@sepg5084]

Water can work, just dry it out right away.

[@kevinmorgan2179]

You put chain lube on a mineral system brake piston, are you insane? Mineral oil brake seals are notoriously sensitive to anything but mineral brake fluid. Expect problems with that brake in future.

[@WyattFunk96]

He was just doing that trying to remove that piston before he figured out the proper method. Once he got it out he cleaned everything and used mineral oil.

[@ErhardFrebold]

Surprisingly, not always the case. At least not after a few months use. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYGxnot9qNh7j8U

[@contentity]

Just gonna throw this out there - don't use anything other than dot 4/5 for sram brakes, you will destroy the caliper and hose if you put anything else in

[@terrydavies-od8zz]

Followed the video carefully but it did not work at all.

[@erwinlorenzana8550]

Pwede po b yan s slx model m7100 caliper piston

[@brotherfaith9437]

❤

[@Naturalpeace7]

Best video

[@gerrygadget]

Just like having a baby!

[@n.a.3734]

👏👏👏🙌👌👌

[@DerRoAusKO]

Can't you just press air?

[@anttiharing]

Yes

[@ivanteo1973]

No, Air is compressible. Liquid is not.

[@DerRoAusKO]

ivanteo1973 But air does not compress easily, so it will force the pistons out. Pneumatic 😉

[@ivanteo1973]

@@DerRoAusKO air is compressible, that's why you do not even one a single bubble in the hydraulic system. You could however increase the air pressure to overcome the compression. But the question is how are you going to close the system tight enough to prevent air leak?

[@DerRoAusKO]

ivanteo1973 the question was not "can you operate your brakes with air?" but "can you pop the pistons out with air rather than with water?" And yes, you can pop them out with pressurised air.

[@roncooke2188]

I would never dream of using water

[@razvan-grad]

I did now and ruined my brakes!

[@larkinizedgaming]

Never ever introduce moisture/water to a brake piston like this.....

[@dogukantosun5547]

You can just wait until it dries before bleeding it.

[@sepg5084]

Dried out my caliper with a hair dryer before reassembling it. Do not introduce water to your brake piston if you lack basic common sense to dry it out before reassembling 😉

[@michaelt5624]

Jesus F*k ... use compressed air as its so much faster ....

[@heksogen4788]

Not everyone has compressor.