Brakes - Rear brake caliper seal kit

[frogsforsnakes]

Hi there

I am one of no doubt many having to clean and replace seals in the rear caliper in my partners 95 xj 600 s

All the articles I have read in this forum, I have managed to get past most hurdles except the purchase of a new seal kit.

I have checked several yami dealers and on line parts illustrations, all of which show only one dust and one oil seal. As far as I am aware I need two of each and wondered if anyone can varify that a new seal kit includes 4 items.

If anyone can help with this little number, that would be great.

cheers

[CD]

You have 2 pistons in the rear brake so (not surprisingly ) need 2 dust seals and 2 square section O-rings. Yamaha do sell the parts just make sure they look at the fische for the rear brake. All the seals comes in one kit @ £20+

I have tried pattern seals but they made the brake bind. IMHO its best to bite the bullet and buy Yamaha originals. You will also need the special red grease.

[Padster]

It is worth checking with Wemoto as I believe they supply Yamaha original items. £6.49 per side.

[CD]

That's a good price!!!

I had pattern seals from Wemoto which were too big, so went to the Yamaha dealer. For 4 bits of rubber their prices are barking.

[frogsforsnakes]

Thanks a lot folks, all the info has been very helpful.

Not having introduced myself, I am in sunny Darwin, Australia. It took a little convincing Yamaha Australia that there parts illustration is incorrect, and therefore, their dealers are quoting incorrect info. All good after they checked the serv. manual describing removal of both pistons and also, physically checking the seal kit contained four items.

I read in some of the other posts regarding seal changes, application of a red grease? Is this for the area between the dust and main seals? Have never used it before on other calipers but never had the bikes long enough to know whether this caused any dramas.

Always keen for new info, especially so I don't have to buy a second set of seals for nearly $80 Aus

Must say, other wise the old bike has done well with a little over 100k on the clock.

[neilmud Lord Protector]

www.wemoto.com

see if they can ship cheaper than Yamaha Aus prices

Neil

[CD]

Down in Oz its probably less important. I usually put a smear of red grease into the seal groove to try and give the alloy some protection. I wipe off any excess and use brake fluid to fit the piston. Then use lots of red grease behind the dust seal to hopefully keep the weather out.

Dont be tempted to use silicone grease. I once used it as it rubber compatible and made the brakes bind. When the brake is used, the piston is supposed to deform the seal slightly. When the brake is released, the seal springs back pulling the piston with it. We are talking about fractions of a mm but silicone grease is too slippy so the piston slips through too easily and the brake wont release.

[Ol' Greasy Dave]

The red grease also comes in green, yellow & many other colours - it's standard automotive rubber grease available (cheaply) from car part joints

[CD]

Not around my gaff. :-(
I've only found it in 2kg tubs for about £25. Thankfully a helpful mechanic gave me a dollop of the stuff.

I asked why it's not sold any more? Labour costs are so high its cheaper to fit new calipers.
Not because fitting new calipers needs less skill of course.

[teejayexc]

Sept 10, 2009 9:58:44 GMT CD said:

Not around my gaff. :-(
I've only found it in 2kg tubs for about £25.

'bloody hell, thought you were a penny pinching student type?

You can get a 2kg tub from Halfrauds for about a third of that price !

[CD]

I am ;D

Sept 10, 2009 9:58:44 GMT CD said:

Thankfully a helpful mechanic gave me a dollop of the stuff.

[frogsforsnakes]

Considering expensive does not necessarily mean quality these days, I 'm happy to give cheap a go. Seals have already rolled up, expensive it is this time!

Will be checing on wemoto.com in the future when I need some bits in the future.

At the moment installation without grease would probably be ok since we are in the dry season. Approx six month little or no rain. But, this will come to an end with the wet season on the horizon. Lot's of rain and high humidity.

Thanks again

That reminds me, must change the dust seals on the forks as they are shot.

[CD]

I have the same attitude, but the last set of pattern brake seals I got wouldnt fit (slightly too fat) so I still had to shell out for genuine Yammie seals. "Saving" £10 ended up costing £15 and a lots of hassle. But I hear Wemoto are now offering some genuine stuff as well as pattern.

With warm humid weather on the way, greasing up the seal grooves etc sounds like a great idea. Moisture seeps in past the seals and gets absorbed into the brake fluid. Not surprisingly the alloy rots just under the seals.

[frogsforsnakes]

Well, the ol' girl is all back together and the brakes feel far more like they should do. Amazing what you put up with. I assembled the caliper uwsing the red grease supplied with the seals and hopefully this will help it all last.

If the bike remains in my care I may have to look at new discs at some stage. Since the caliper pistons were not retracting after brake application, over time, it has lead to considerable brake disc wear. I actually had to gring the lip off the disc in order to remove the calipers (front&rear) since I could not get the pistions to retract. Makes it look a little better anyway.

I did not want to disconnect brake lines so I could use the hydraulics to push the pistons out as far as possible and I am glad I did that.

That the calipers seasl at all the way they look even after cleaning with new seals is surpising. Even more surprising, I would have had to order the front caliper seals as well, so I decided to take a chance. I cleaned the caliper and seals and reassembled the whole lot, no leaks. I have done this once before on a cb1100 with the same results.

CD, picture of your xl 250 reminds me of the xt500 I sadly no longer have.

cheers

[CD]

Hi Snakes (luurve the handle )

It was a bit vibey bit I've forever regretted selling that bike. It was a 1974 original just like the pic and I loved it. The only downside was the standard black exhaust that rusted badly. Back in the 70's it was rare and like hens teeth now.

[frogsforsnakes]

Hi CD, been off line for a bit

Just remembered I had a XL 125 and it was probably very similar to the 250. Cannot remember what year it was but guess around the mid seventies. It was my first bike and I didn't know sh*t from clay about fixing things back then. oil consumtion was not quite as high as fuel but pretty bad none the less.

Always thought it would be nice to have kept all the bikes that have passed through the years and a shed to park em' all in.

[CD]

I would have kept two of mine - the XL250 and a very leaky and really quite nasty Triton 500 - my first proper bike with 585 DTO on the plate. The others? Nah they came and went no regrets.