Brake cylinder

Post by **smh582003** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 1:47 pm

I have just renewed my rear brake cylinders and I was wondering about the rubber gators. Do I have to have them on or are they just to protect from the dirt etc.
Thanks
Steve

Post by **DAVIDMCCULLOUGH** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 2:08 pm

Yes, you have to have them. They actually hold the cylinder in place as its slides up and down in the grove.

Post by **Orkney** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 2:10 pm

Really wise to put them on, just to keep the dirt & water out which will in turn stop the cylinder corroding.
Put some on mine recently when renewd the brakes - Bull Motif doing some cracking quality good fiting rubber ones for about £2.50 each - recomending them as some people have had ones that dont last long.

Post by **rayofleamington** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 2:51 pm

The design of the cylinder (when fitted to the backplate correctly) keeps it in place and allows it to slide.
What you need to bear in mind is that the hand brake lever is in a wide slot that reaches right into the cylinder so the piston is left open to water and dirt if you have no gaiter - this can reduce a cylinder life to less than 2 years.
I'd recommend a good quality gaiter - some I've had were a stiff plastic type rubber and were dreadful - to the point that in new condition (before they relaxed a bit) they could keep the handbrake on slightly!!
To fit the gaiter you need to unbolt the brake pipe T-piece from the back of the cylinder and remove the fixing pivot for the handbrake cable, but as long as the gaiter is good (i.e. fits well) it can be done in ~20 minutes per side including bleeding.