kateroc20

i have a general question about the pistons in the rear brake caliper. What would cause them to need to be replaced. my neighbor was changing his brake pads and i was watching but when he took the old pads off the pistons were destroyed it looked like someone took a sander to them they were unevenly worn down and jagged. im wondering if he did this by using the rear brakes alot or if something else would cause it. I am just trying to avoid doing this to my bike.

Thanks

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flitecontrol

It sounds as if the brake fluid may not have been changed (bled) regularly. Moisture accumulates in brake fluid and corrodes the internal parts over time.

The rear brake doesn't have caliper pistons because it doesn't have a caliper like the front brakes.

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2001 Rebel 250, 1989 Vulcan 750
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JunkyardDog

In have never seen a caliper damaged in that way before. I have seen a lot of caliper pistons damaged by corrosion, which occurs on the side of the piston, and causes fluid to leak between the caliper seal and piston. This is nearly always caused by moisture in the system. The pistons are aluminum and corrode very easily. But I have never seen damage to the face of a piston, the part that goes up against the pad. That would have to be caused by some kind of weird mechanical problem, maybe the wrong pads. I suppose it could be caused by SEVERE overheating of the brakes, enough to melt the aluminum pistons, but that would not be an easy thing to do, unless they drove around with their foot on the brake all the time. It's possible something was holding pressure in the line, and causing the brakes to drag. I wouldn't worry about something like that happening on a Rebel. Just change the fluid every 2 years, and replace the pads when they become worn, and they will last forever. Jerry.

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