How to Replace Brake Caliper Seals | Brake Caliper Rebuild | Caliper Piston Seal Replacement

See how to replace the seals on a brake caliper in this video from Partzilla.com. Regardless of the unit, the fundamentals of this process are the same: Keep everything CLEAN, push out the pistons, replace the seals using a brake caliper seal kit, CLEAN the pistons, and get them back in place. John will take you through the process step by step.
Need brake cleaner? Get it at Partzilla.com: www.partzilla....
Need brake fluid? This DOT4 fluid from Honda may suit your application: www.partzilla....
Read how to do this job step by step: www.partzilla....
When you’re with your brake caliper rebuild, you’ll need to bleed the brakes after you get the caliper installed. This process also varies little from unit to unit. Check out a brake bleed here:
• How to Bleed the Brake...
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
Cleaning the caliper - 0:45
Removing the caliper pistons - 1:10
Removing the old caliper seals - 3:24
Replacing the caliper seals - 4:14
Replacing the caliper pistons - 4:45
Need aftermarket or OEM parts for your motorcycle, ATV, UTV, and more? See us at www.partzilla.....
Talk to us:
Twitter: / partzilla
Facebook: / partzilla
Instagram: / partzilla
RELATED VIDEOS:
Benefits of Wiseco parts:
• Why Buy Wiseco Pistons...
How to measure a motorcycle chain:
• How to Measure a Motor...

[@Stripedbottom]

This works if you have a caliper that has been in use fairly recently. If you have one that has been dismantled after a malfunction or sitting around for a long time with the seals dried out or swollen etc., it might be not that easy. I had one where 5 bar and 8 bar of air pressure did absolutely nothing to the pistons, even after soaking overnight in WD-40; 12 bar moved the pistons a couple of millimeters, but that was all. In the end, I had to resort to refilling the caliper with brake fluid, then fitting it to an old motorcycle brake and pumping the pistons out with actual brake pressure. Had to pump them all the way out, too.

[@rogermelling8941]

Made it look so easy. The next job for my old bike 👌

[@maheshwarbhagan405]

Love the work me want a work like that badly

[@ralphreynolds4803]

Great video. Thank you!

[@joeshow8815]

one of the best videos I have seen on you tube, NO MATTER the subject. .

[@rubo1964]

its not he didnt say anything about right side up of seals

[@fm00078]

@4:11 correct, he should have said the pointed part of the lip points towards the inside. Tho that's Common Sense still it should always be mentioned for the NewBees. Outside inside ... If the seal is flat on both side, it installs either way.

[@GamingwithGamerGirls]

Ha. I had to use vice grips and a hammer to force my pistons out. Locked up so tight it was like they were once piece with the caliper......

[@fm00078]

(used bike, new to me) Same here, one piston or 2 hasn't moved in decades. Mini vise-grips on the minuscule protruding piston & back-n-forth for almost an hour using a Nut Buster lube it finally loosened up. Cleaned WELL with brake cleaner. Since that very outer edge doesn't touch the dust seal, I filed it smooth & Perm^a^Tex Ultimate Brake Lubed that outer edge after install & before the pads. Year later it removed like new. So the vise-grips, file & grease did it's jobs. 👍

[@gordoncarnegie9666]

Good day,I need seals for my aftermarket caliper..Subaru legacy 🙏

[@roythearcher]

What kind of mechanic re-uses brake seals? Always use new seals whenever they're disturbed or removed. You can only get away with using the old seals if you haven't actually removed them from the caliper in the first place and if you're taking them out, you might as well replace them, right? Re- using old seals is asking for trouble to put it mildly...

[@joemattress6177]

Great video. Thanks!

[@TrailVapor]

Did not show installation of external piston seal

[@lance7989]

Thanks very helpful 👍

[@johnthake7401]

Hi john why do some people use brake fluid on the piston seals and some use red rubber seal grease

[@stevensteel8617]

That's a good question. They Haynes manual for my bike, a Honda NT700VA, says to only use brake fluid as anything else will contaminate the brake fluid. So I too would like to know why some people use red rubber grease. I know that with fork seals you should only put the red rubber grease on the inside of the dust seal and it apparently traps any dust that does get past the seal. It would be nice if John were to reply to your question though.

[@leathleyg5995]

I use red rubber grease between the 2 seals. In theory the inner seal will contain the brake fluid so the outer seal runs the risk of running dry if only lubed with brake fluid.

[@Stripedbottom]

The rule of thumb in all engineering is that you always lubricate seals and O-rings with the same fluid that they're supposed to contain, and never fit them dry. There may be rare exceptions, of course.

[@kms3530]

Good video

[@leothelion2001]

Very different from my veloster turbo rear brake caliper seal

[@AngelMoneraMartinez]

Hi, is there any trick when the seals seems to be bigger than old ones? I ordered two sets and I have terrible problems making them fit. I have done it in other bikes, and normally is a matter of a minute max per seal, but in my last project I spent 30 minutes to fit one and I still I did dont manage.

[@MRsickcat84]

Buy original only. It's important for seal to be fitted

[@formomanddad1]

How do you measure a caliper puck, to find the correct o-rings needed? I cant find the same caliper on my trials bike anywhere.

[@derrenlambert2279]

I bought a disc brake conversion for my lambretta about 4 yrs ago, brand new, but it has sat about until now, I finished my rebuild and filled the the system with brake fluid, and its started leaking I immediately from the pistons, do you think the seals have dried out and gone hard in 4 yrs?.. I'm thinking new seals, but this whole disc brake is new with what was new seals... please help.

[@michellehernandezhernandez9976]

Can you change one of the piston ring without taking a whole caliper out?

[@fm00078]

YES, I've done it. Use a socket to keep the other piston IN the caliper while pumping the brake to pop out the other piston.

[@StormaLorda]

my new OEM seals don't bloody fit, pulling my hair out here

[@AshHalls]

You didn’t show how to even replace them just remove them

[@Devourer221]

Wat

[@chuckiec20]

Which dieection does dustv seal go. My o reilly nissan dust seal has notches on one side but no instructions

[@fm00078]

Outside inside ... If the seal is flat on both side, it installs either way.

[@RikkertdePikkert]

Question, do you need to take the caliper complety off the bike? Which means to replace/refill the brake fluid? Or is it possible to leave the caliper connected to the brake hose? I probably already know the answer but just to be sure... :)

[@Noidhole88]

Once those pistons come out all the brake fluid behind them will come out too. It opens up the system and drains the fluid

[@davidquick1298]

Hi i just changed the seals on my goldwing as I was replacing the pads,the only reason i did this was one of the dust seals had not been replaced properlyand was protruding out so as a precausion i thougth it was the rigth thing to do.upon replacing them with new seals on both pistons one piston leaked I then bought new pistons and seals and replaced them again and still one piston leaked. any thought on why this has happened as it didnt leak beforehand and the only reason i replaced in the first place was because the seal was not inplace correctly

[@MRsickcat84]

The housing might scratch. It looks like you need to replace it

[@richardwhelan8060]

You never said which way round the seal goes critical!

[@windtube2011]

Do u sale piston rod seal and dust boot ?

[@madphill]

I used brake grease to lubricate the pistons and inner caliper cylinders (I know … didn’t follow instructions). I’m having a horrible time getting pressure to return to the brake pedal now. I’ve used a bleeder hand pump over and over and even tried gravity bleeding them through a submerged hose in a 20 oz bottle of clean fluid. Still no brake pressure. Do you think my use of brake lubricant instead of brake fluid is the culprit?

[@Diirko]

I seem to be having the same issue. Did you ever get it fixed?

[@madphill]

@@Diirko yes. In the end the best solution was time+gravity bleeding. Just open the reservoir, top it off and let it bleed into a bottle filled with brake fluid. It takes time because the lines are so tiny. Even with a bleeder it was taking too long and it wasn't until I used the gravity method combined with the "pump, bleed, tighten" approach that it firmed up.

[@lugcap]

Did not show full

[@windtube2011]

Is seal reusable?

[@52hands]

Not according to the service manual.

[@barakorubio1855]

I eat cereal.

[@backho12]

I just finished my cereal with fresh blueberries! Top that!

[@Roger_Ramjet]

@@backho12 im more of an overnight oats guy these days