I spent the whole afternoon and part of the evening cleaning my front caliper and replacing the seals. Everything went fine and I'm glad I checked inside of there, it was filthy and would've started pitting I'm sure. One thing that drove me nuts was how long it took me to get the dirt out of grooves where the seals sit. Anyone have any tips for how to get the dirt out without scraping the metal? I used electrical cleaner and a shop rag and it just took forever. I even tried with a match, since I didn't have any toothpicks on me. Eventually it was clean, but I was cursing after a while. I'm hoping it won't take so long for the back caliper if I have the right procedure for removing caked-on ancient road crud.

Thanks,
Erika

I use an angled seal remover spoon.

-Jessie

Quote from: BaltimoreGS on April 07, 2012, 08:29:09 PM
I use an angled seal remover spoon.

-Jessie

Where did you get those?

I take the easy way out and buy a nearly new used one for $14.95 with pads and around 1000 miles.
I can't justify the time and expense rebuilding old parts when new-used parts are so readily available.
Trey has a slight leak in his original 1994 front caliper. I'll take 5 minutes and swap it with a 2009 I have on the shelf.
As long as inexpensive replacement parts are available, does it make sense to pay more for rebuilt kits and the time involved?

Quote from: adidasguy on April 07, 2012, 10:44:31 PM
I take the easy way out and buy a nearly new used one for $14.95 with pads and around 1000 miles.
I can't justify the time and expense rebuilding old parts when new-used parts are so readily available.
Trey has a slight leak in his original 1994 front caliper. I'll take 5 minutes and swap it with a 2009 I have on the shelf.
As long as inexpensive replacement parts are available, does it make sense to pay more for rebuilt kits and the time involved?

Well, I think sometimes people enjoy learning how to do things but you're right, from an economical standpoint - there's no reason to rebuild.

I agree with you there. Some people like tinkering. Even if it is not the most efficient cost wise or time wise. You do need to tinker to learn.

Brake cleaner and an old toothbrush ?

Quote from: adidasguy on April 07, 2012, 10:44:31 PM
I take the easy way out and buy a nearly new used one for $14.95 with pads and around 1000 miles.
I can't justify the time and expense rebuilding old parts when new-used parts are so readily available.
Trey has a slight leak in his original 1994 front caliper. I'll take 5 minutes and swap it with a 2009 I have on the shelf.
As long as inexpensive replacement parts are available, does it make sense to pay more for rebuilt kits and the time involved?

I'm too much a worrier with older bikes, I like to know what's in there. I'd still wonder about that used part I'd get and end up opening it up to take a look. I'm actually glad I opened that up, it was on its way to pitting up the pistons if I didn't get that gunk off, and that bike had been barely ridden, just sat around in someones garage with road grime in the spots she was too lazy to clean off. I opened it when I changed the pads and noticed nobody had ever cleaned the road grime from inside there and decided to get the seals and spruce it up. Now I know it's spotless in there... no more worrying. I do prefer tinkering too, until the grime takes 5 hours to get off, then I wonder why I didn't just buy a new part all together, or a brand new bike... lol!

Quote from: Erika on April 07, 2012, 08:43:29 PM

Quote from: BaltimoreGS on April 07, 2012, 08:29:09 PM
I use an angled seal remover spoon.

-Jessie

Where did you get those?

Snap On tools.  The set is about $40 but you should be able to buy just one of the angled ones for ~$10.  The part # of the shorter angled one should be SGSR3.  They are meant to remove o-ring seals without damaging them so they have a blunt tip.

-Jessie