Take a look at my calipers! Please!

[rydmohr]

If you notice the pistons on the left, right caliper, are discolored.....this after a good cleaning.The black staining will not budge however the surface is smooth as new.

History: 07 with non-linked abs and 29,xxx mi. Brakes have for the most part been ignored but enjoyed, I am probabbly much harder on brakes than most folks.

When I started this little project there was a lot more dust on the right caliper, left in pic, and the front pads were worn more than the others especially the inside pad.

So what say the collective wisdom here? What is causing this, heat, leaky fluid or the occasional squirt from my dog. I'm gonna choke him someday!

Does this warrant replacement parts or rebuild? Thanks-Jeff

 

[odot]

Wow, those calipers look brand new. You should see mine....oily, dirty...probably smell funny....like seal oil. Not sure why the pucks are discolored....

 

[Geezer]

Were the pads worn about the same one one caliper as on the other? Same for the rotors, do they both look about the same?

I would think that heat could discolor the pistons, but that would mean one caliper was working a lot harder than the other or it was binding. In either case the pads would have worn noticeably different on that caliper than on the other.

Or, they may have been that way from the factory.

 

[Ignacio]

You're worried about color of the metal?

Mmmmkay.....

Are you suffering some malady where the brakes aren't working, the pads are wearing abnormally, or some tangible performance issue?

 

[08FJR4ME]

Ride it more, you need to put more miles per year on the bike. Least that's what my Ford dealer recommended to me on my truck.

Ive had two calipers replaced and now they are sticking again. Service managers comment was they are made to be driven every day and not sit in the yard.

Good luck,

Oh yeah, Don't forget to change the pumpkin oil,

right Odie!

Dave

 

[CCook82]

I thought that all 06 and up models were linked back to front. Have you altered the link?? Rear brake applied engages one piston on the front on each side. and one side on the frront is to be bled last as I believe without looking at bike or manual, that air could be trappped between the front sides thereby causing one side to activate more than the other.

Yeah, I ain't seen calipers look that new since I was in a dealership last. CC

 

[rydmohr]

Wow, those calipers look brand new. You should see mine....oily, dirty...probably smell funny....like seal oil. Not sure why the pucks are discolored....

Simple green, scotch bright pad-easypeasy!

You're worried about color of the metal?

Mmmmkay.....
Are you suffering some malady where the brakes aren't working, the pads are wearing abnormally, or some tangible performance issue?

More of an interest and yes the front inside pad is down to two or three% while the others are at 20%. The front inside piston was harder to back into the bore at diss assembly

Ride it more, you need to put more miles per year on the bike. Least that's what my Ford dealer recommended to me on my truck.
Ive had two calipers replaced and now they are sticking again. Service managers comment was they are made to be driven every day and not sit in the yard.

Good luck,

Oh yeah, Don't forget to change the pumpkin oil,

right Odie!

Dave

That is what I keep telling myself, have you noticed my tag-Rydmohr. lol

.

 

[rydmohr]

Ride it more, you need to put more miles per year on the bike. Least that's what my Ford dealer recommended to me on my truck.
Ive had two calipers replaced and now they are sticking again. Service managers comment was they are made to be driven every day and not sit in the yard.

Good luck,

Oh yeah, Don't forget to change the pumpkin oil,

right Odie!

Dave

Not sure Dave but 1/4 of the front brakes are actuated with the rear lever however the abs front to rear are independent.

 

[HotRodZilla]

Nothing to worry about. Brake pistons go through massive heat cycles, which may cause some discoloration, and not necessarily evenly.

Also, FJR brake pads are known to have uneven wear. Lots of us pull them out and flip them to extend time between changes.

Your bike has linked brakes. When you activate the rear, the front lower right piston activates. You are correct that pulling the front brake lever only activates the remaining front brakes.

You're stressing about nothing.

 

[Redfish Hunter]

If it would ease your mind to examine some other calipers I volunteer to let you come down here and clean mine up like that. Once you clean them you may examine them to your heart's content!

I don't know if ours were that clean the day it left the showroom.

I think Zilla summed it up. You're stressing about nothing.

 

[900gc]

Wow, those calipers look brand new. You should see mine....oily, dirty...probably smell funny....like seal oil. Not sure why the pucks are discolored....

Hmmm... never thought of using seal oil. Wonder if it would work in the pumpkin too?

 

[Chiefblueman]

You may have the optional factory colored caliper pistons. Slap some new pads on 'em and see what color they they become in 30,000 miles or so. I'd stay away from seal oil if i were you. Might attract more than just your dog.

 

[LAF]

The pistons in mine are different colored metal also, don't worry about it. Been that way since new.

Please ride more and stress less. I am very picky and wondered why they were different also. I figured it just was the way the steel turned out when made.

They do look nice, mine only look that clean at tire changes.

 

[FJRBluesman]

Well I see your first problem is you own a GenII. Get a GenI and things will be good again.

Your pistons are fine, no corrosion, etc you're good. Ride and enjoy.

 

[Bounce]

A good R&R like you did should be good for another couple of years. That they were hard to push into the bore when pulling them indicates they needed cleaning and weren't moving smoothly any more. Nothing too much to worry about for the color. The wear shoul be fine as long as it's not metal on metal. A good cleaning is easy to put off but can result in crud building up and the pistons failing to retract when the brakes aren't being used.

 

[rydmohr]

Thanks for all the replies. Just gonna replace the pads, service the forks, slap it back together and ryde.

 

[Bounce]

Lube the sliders during reassembly.

 

[huron52]

I'm kind of curious? Do you have any snow? If not just go out a ride the damn thing!

 

[rydmohr]

I'm kind of curious? Do you have any snow? If not just go out a ride the damn thing!

Snow! lol This bike has never even seen rain! Fair weather ryder...and proud of it.