Trying to finish brake job and need a little advice

First off the brake lines and rebuild kits I got from XJ forever are awsome. Glad to know we have a parts source.
First off the caliper rebuild kits have some grease. Is that to grease the piston to slide it back in around the new seals?
Second when I received my new brake lines I noticed some nice instructions that said do not remove all the brake lines you will not remember how to put them on. Opps here is an inlcosed picture is this right
I am not sure how the hoses line up at this connection

The bike is an 85 maxim thanks again for all the help

 

Close.

Bolt, WASHER, fitting, WASHER, fitting, WASHER, block.

According to the fiche for your bike, you do have the hoses in the proper "stack up." You just need a copper washer between the bolt, the fittings, and the distribution block.

Fiche, for future reference: http://www.babbittsonline.com/pages/par ... parts.aspx

 

Thanks I did not place the washers yet so I would not loose them
Is the grease in the rebuild kits for the calipers supplied to lube the piston before they are seated or is it to coat the orings with. Thanks guys I have never rebuilt calipers before. However the thread on useing a dremel to clean out the seal grooves was a great idea!

 

Chuck,

Don't lubricate the piston or any internal brake system components with anything other than fresh brake fluid.
You can apply a little bit of grease to the back of the shim pads to help with squeaking.
Also, heat the copper washers with a small torch or even a lighter almost until they glow red, then let them cool down on their own. This will de-temper the copper and make it softer, so the washers will seal better when you re-assemble the lines.

 

For what it's worth, here's what XJForever recommends for reassembling brake components.

"bst18) Aftermarket brake caliper and master cylinder ASSEMBLY
GREASE, this “ultimate” version is a pure synthetic lubricant used to
minimize friction and wear on metal parts and keep brake fluid seals soft
and pliable. Smear a ultra thin coating of this ultra-viscous
grease in the caliper bore, the piston, and rub some onto the seals, and
then coat the slider pins and the back of the caliper anti-rattle shims to
insure a smooth, chatter-free system. Also high recommended for
re-assembly of all master cylinder piston components.

Ultra-high temp (2800-F) melting point insures that grease will remain in place and not melt. Comes in a 5-gram pillow packet, enough for one caliper or a single master cylinder."

I'm definitely no expert, but I just rebuilt the front caliper on my XJ550J lubing the parts as per above and it seems to work perfectly. I suppose time will tell.

 

Fair enough, though brake fluid does a fine job lubricating all the internal rubber bits by itself.

 

Brake fluid actually includes a lubricant or conditioner of some kind, doesn't it? I've heard that helps to keep the hoses pliable.

 

That's a question for the pros.... I do remember reading that there are corrosion inhibitors in brake fluid, but not sure on the rubber conditioners.

 

I've used brake system assembly lube in the past with no issues, just like brake fluid. Use what ever is handy/affordable to you. I saw no real advantage to the assembly lube.

 

I use the assembly lube simply because it isn't as messy and won't attack the paint on a freshly painted caliper. You can certainly use just clean brake fluid.