Cleaning brake calipers Step 1

Cost £0 Stuff needed Pliers, bike cleaner, cleaning brush

Why you need to do it The brake calipers are exposed to the worst conditions — high temperatures and brake dust combined with rain and road grit coat the working inners and pistons of the caliper with a layer of muck that, if left to build up, could have a detrimental effect on the performance of the brakes and cause the calipers to stick.

Undo the two bolts that retain the caliper then remove the retaining pin. Sometimes it’s easier to loosen the pad-retaining pin prior to caliper removal. When you take the pads out, inspect them and make sure there is sufficient friction material left.

Step 2 Give the brake caliper a thorough clean with soapy water and a stiff brush. If your caliper is the twin-piston sliding type, you can split the sliding part and then clean that separately. Apply the cleaner and let it dwell for a couple of minutes, then agitate with a brush and rinse off with a sponge, using water from a bucket that you’ve placed underneath the caliper.

Step 3 While the caliper is stripped down you can clean the pistons, but first you need to expose them a little bit more. If you have a twin-disc set-up, then make sure the other caliper is still bolted on to the fork. Pump the brake lever while holding the caliper in the other hand. You only need to pump it a couple of times, enough to expose 2-4mm of clean piston. You can then spray brake cleaner on and give the pistons a polish: the shiner they are, the better the brakes are going feel.

Step 4 If you’re cleaning two-piston sliding calipers, lubing the slider will improve feel, so apply a modest amount of grease to the slider bars of the mounting bracket. Next you ease the pistons back into place and push them all the way in, as this makes it easier to fit the caliper on to the disc. Refit the pads — if you’re reusing the set that you took out, ensure they go back in their original sides. Secure the retaining pin with the clip or tighten up to spec. Remount the caliper, torque the bolts and pump the brake lever. Then repeat on other side.