Dual or single piston???
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- Posts: 7
- Joined: Tue Aug 04, 2020 10:11 am
- Location: United States
- Motorcycle: 1980 GL100 standard
1982 GL1100 Aspencade
Dual or single piston???
Hello all! I have a 1980 and 81 gl1100 parts bikes for my 82 gl1100. The calipers on my 82 are leaking. The 80 has single piston calipers and the 81 and 82 have dual piston caliper. Is one better than the other? Which ever option I go with the master cylinder and the calipers will be rebuilt.
- Wilcoy02
- Posts: 1176
- Joined: Sun Nov 21, 2010 11:37 pm
- Location: Marengo, Ohio
- Motorcycle: 1983 GL1100 I purchased 3/16
1983 GL1100I frame with an 80 engine. poor boy installed with C-5 ignition--DIED in Grande Prairie Alberta Canada 8/15
98 valkyrie sold 8/16
Re: Dual or single piston???
Go with the 2 pistons. You will not have to change the rotors.
Re: Dual or single piston???
a trick I figured out to get the pistons unstuck on my front calipers was to diss-connect the rear caliper and hook the front up to the hose- takes a little bit and is messy but with a little effort you can pump them out-when one gets ahead of the other just use a C-clamp to stop that piston and let the other one catch up. mine were really stuck but with this method I was able to get them all out without damage and without help
- WingAdmin
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1982 GL1100A Aspencade (sold)
1989 PC800 (sold)
1998 XV250 Virago (sold)
2012 Suzuki Burgman 400 (wife's!)
2007 Aspen Sentry Trailer
Re: Dual or single piston???
Just stick one of the old brake pads in there after removing the caliper:Skeldog wrote: ↑Mon Nov 23, 2020 9:22 am a trick I figured out to get the pistons unstuck on my front calipers was to diss-connect the rear caliper and hook the front up to the hose- takes a little bit and is messy but with a little effort you can pump them out-when one gets ahead of the other just use a C-clamp to stop that piston and let the other one catch up. mine were really stuck but with this method I was able to get them all out without damage and without help

Then pump the brakes. The pistons will be forced out, when one piston contacts the old brake pad, the other one will be forced out until it too contacts the pad. At that point you can remove the pad and wiggle the pistons free with your fingers.
- Wilcoy02
- Posts: 1176
- Joined: Sun Nov 21, 2010 11:37 pm
- Location: Marengo, Ohio
- Motorcycle: 1983 GL1100 I purchased 3/16
1983 GL1100I frame with an 80 engine. poor boy installed with C-5 ignition--DIED in Grande Prairie Alberta Canada 8/15
98 valkyrie sold 8/16
Re: Dual or single piston???
The author asked about a leaky brake. Also asked about 1 vs 2 pistons.
Not how to get a stuck piston out.
Not how to get a stuck piston out.