What not to do when fixing your brakes

My suggestion,

If following the Haynes Manual Method of using compressed air to blow the brake cylinder out of its seat....

make sure you have ALL your fingers out of the way.
See my gallery for what happens when you don't.
8O

 

ouch.......!

 

Ouch is right! My advise to use air pressure to remove caliper pistons also comes with advise to use shop rags around the piston and a bench to take the impact. Sure wish I could have told you beforehand. At least you will heal!

 

yeah it was a day Of Course that was on the 1st caliper. Then when that was done and the finger was throbbing real good, on to the 2nd.

I got lucky I didn't lose my finger. In fact it didn't even break the skin. Good thing to, the compressor was set at 100psi.

 

Seems like a lower pressure setting might be in order too.

 

Maybe maybe not on the lower pressure. I tried 80 on mine and it wouldn't budge. Finally ended up at 115psi.

 

Ouch, sorry to hear about the finger!

You can be as careful as can be, watching the piston move out slowly, letting up on the air pressure when you think it's close, piston stops moving, try pulling it out by hand, nothing, give it another little shot of air and BANG, they sure fly when they let go.....

I used the open hole face down on a 2 X 4 on the floor method!
Fingers well out of the way!

 

@ work , long time ago I once came across a dude at a pedasal drill [big vertical drill on a frame , canyt spell it] , drilling a hole in his thumb nail like yours with a 1/8th inch drill bit spinning at 2500rpm so he could relieve the pressure underneath after just belting it , wow.... i thought he was a nutcase until that same day i squashed my finger too which needed stitches .

 

Too much work.

Use a lighter to heat up the end of a small paperclip. Then use it to melt a hole in the nail over the blood spot. Works better, and is more sanitary.

I had a doctor show me this trick for relieving pressure.

 

I've used the paperclip method myself, definatly the better way!
Still hurts like @#%! though.

 

Owwie pizowwie Skot! Your lucky to still have your thumb in one piece! Nice work by the way. Hope your piston is still in usable condition. The paperclip method is highly recommended to relieve pressure. Your going to loose the nail as well. My piston took in excess of 3,800psi to remove (corroded really bad).