95 VFR 750 Front Brakes Problem

Afternoon Folks

I'm looking for a bit of advice regarding the brakes on my 95 VFR 750. It's got the standard two pot sliding Nissin gold calipers.

I came to move the bike yesterday and the front wheel was solid. I moved the bike the day before and it was fine. Didn't ride it, I just moved it in the garage.

I tapped the caliper with a bit of wood and the bike moved fine. Applied the brakes and it was solid again. Tapped just one lose and realised it was the right caliper.

I took the caliper off and gave it a clean. Pistons, sliders cleaned, etc. They weren't too bad. Put them back together and it's still the same. I noticed that there was a tiny bit of black rubber, about 2mm, sticking out from the top piston. I tried to push the pistons back in by hand but they were both solid. I used a g clamp to wind them back in.

Before I go rebuilding them, is there anything else this could be that I'm missing? The same brakes on my old Hornet were way scruffyer than these and worked fine.

I've had a look and there's nothing on here that covers this specific issue. I.e freeing off when tapped with my precision tool (bit of wood).

Any help would be appreciated as this is my commuter and I'm stuffed without it.

Many thanks

CW

 

If you never over hauled the front brakes its time to do so, plain and simple. You can get a made in thialand honda kit or get the made in Japan K&L kit. Plan on spending alot of time cleaning those calipers when you get them in your hands. The rubber you could see is the dust seal maybe. Its not a big deal to do this, may want to get some nice stainless steale lines too keep us posted

 

Brilliant. Thanks mate.

I forgot to mention, the brakes were serviced, stripped, re built, new fluid, etc about 1000 miles ago in the summer. This is one of each reasons I found it odd that they were having issues.

 

"I noticed that there was a tiny bit of black rubber, about 2mm, sticking out from the top piston. I tried to push the pistons back in by hand but they were both solid. I used a g clamp to wind them back in."

red flag, assembly error the first time around?

 

Looks like the seal hasn't been properly installed.

 

Yeah, that's what I thought. I've just ordered a new set of seals.

When I strip them, I'll need new copper washers for the banjo bolt. Are these standard sizes or are they specific?

Also, when I bleed the brakes, will I need to top up the fluid or will there be enough in the system. It's fully topped up at the minute given that they've recently been done.

Many thanks for the help. When the seals come, I'll post my updates.

This is the first thing I've had go wrong with this bike. Considering its 21 years old and used every day, I'm really impressed.

 

When you replace the seals you will need to replace the brake fluid.

 

Cant recycle brake fluid ound: seriously though. If you got alot of crud in the calipers be extra careful digging with metal tools. I use wooden sticks and scotchbrite pads. You dont wana gouge up those surfaces.

 

Thanks Guys

I wasn't going to re use the fluid. I was planning on topping up the master cylinder with new fluid. Im not going to flush the entire system.

I'll let you know how it goes.

 

Hi Guys.

Quick update. I got the caliper off today nice and easy and the popped one of the pistons out using the brake system. Only one else came out and the other is right at the end, with about 4mm still in the caliper.

It's in really tight and I'm struggling to get any grip on it.

Any tips on removal? I've tried the mole grips with some rubber between them and I get nothing. Surely they're not supposed to be this tight? They look really clean and crap free so I don't think it's corrosion.

I've got the caliper soaking in Plus Gas overnight to try and free it off.

Many thanks

CW

 

Put the piston back in and hold the calliper in a vice. use a tyre pump with the inflatable bed adapter to blow the poisons back out - gently. You may need to block the easily freed piston in its hole to get the other out first

 

Nope but if you have dragged a seal they are. Lube up the piston and pop it back in (it should slide in easily) and do as DP suggests blowing the other out with compressed air.

 

Brilliant! Cheers guys. Just done this and it's worked.

Thanks for that. It's saved me a new piston.

 

Just to update, I've sorted the brakes now. New seals in the caliper and all bled and sorted. Back to working order, if not slightly sharper.

Thanks for the advice guys.

 

Your welcome.