Crack in brake caliper cylinder wall!

I have just pulled the front brake calipers apart on my 1984 VF750FD - and it looks like I have a hairline crack in each of the front brake cylinders!
I have bought a set of pistons and seals - to do a service, but now seem to be looking at atrying to find some calipers!
Is this a known problem - or have I just got lucky!

 

Were they leaking before or causing any braking problems whatsoever??? Something tells me cracks in both cylinders would cause some major issues when put under pressure. You sure they're not just light scores from piston removal??

 

Thanks for the reply Metallican525, I bought the bike from Ebay - the brakes were described as sticking.
So I guess whoever last serviced them either found the calipers to be problematic - as I found that they seemed not to be able to be bled properly (by normal method and by pushing the pistons back in the bores to force any air out) and could not find the fault - so used copper grease to smother the pistons and hide it OR they found the fault and could not be bothered to go to the expense of fixing the fault properly.
As I said before, when I could not bleed the brakes out properly I assumed that it was the pistons and seals to blame, so I bought new to do the job right!

I will buy some Engineers Blue dye to use in the cylinders to see if there is a crack - I do not think they are scrathes but hey I may get lucky the right way! But I am not holding my breath!

I will try to post some photos - but with the size of the crack being only a hairs width - it may not show up?

 

That would be a problem never reported here as far as i know, so your crack assumption is probably not correct.

 

Yeah, I'd bet pictures won't tell me a damn thing from across the pond, that dye stuff you're gettin should do a good job though, good luck to you sir!!

 

cracks in the same spot on each caliper? Its a solid piece of aluminum and like Ice-Hunchin said above, never heard of something like that. When you clean the bores of the calipers use a bagged out piece of scotch brite pad to clean em up, use picks and screwdrivers sparingly as you dont wana gouge up the metal. I like 800-1000 grit sandpaper thats not new and I wet it then scrunch it into the shape I need and work the bore while I contemplate my navel in a real vacant way.

Invest in a air-bleeder, it will be your best friend/that and my head-lights (nothing beats hands free working and actually seeing what the hell your working on.)