Painted "Brembos" Red

[sydmonster]

Some cool little mods here, I like the touch on the calipers.

When I did my rear spring. I pulled it out, sanded it back (paint stripper helps) washed it, cleaned it again and sprayed it with brake caliper paint. (red of course) 4yrs later it still looks good.

[w7ck7d]

Just wondering out loud (I've got no desire to PC my monoblocs : ), but since the seals in the caliper have got to be good for 400 deg, would you even need to pull them if you masked the caliper off well?

i think you have to pull em off.ill keep it posted when im done doing it

[NekkedChic]

Some cool little mods here, I like the touch on the calipers.

When I did my rear spring. I pulled it out, sanded it back (paint stripper helps) washed it, cleaned it again and sprayed it with brake caliper paint. (red of course) 4yrs later it still looks good.

and just how difficult IS removing the spring btw?  Is there a How-To posted anywhere or is it that EZ?

[He Man]

and just how difficult IS removing the spring btw?  Is there a How-To posted anywhere or is it that EZ?

with the tool it isnt hard. ive never removed the spring before, but you can get the shock off in a less than 20 mins and the tool looks like i can get the spring off in another 5. im trying to pick up a tool today, so ill know soon enough.

[He Man]

okay, im actually going to be powdercoating 2 springs later next week, one for el matador (white) and one for myself (hot orange) so if you want in, now would be the time, however im doing two ohlins springs since both el matador and I need heavier springs. I know the 696 runs a progressive spring and from what people say, linear springs give you more feel, so now might be a good chance to order a heavier linear spring.

Im only 150lbs, but im going to a slightly heavier spring, you may wish to do the same.

[Jarvicious]

Thinking about pc the whole caliper flat or semi gloss black.and then touch up the brembo red..any suggestions??

I thought of doing the same thing, but like Taft said I'm not sure what the ramifications of overheating the sole stopping force of my bike would be    If I recall, the "Brembo" emblem on the calipers is raised so it probably wouldn't be too hard to simply sand the powdercoat off and leave bare metal.  A light coat of clear after probably wouldn't hurt just to keep the metal from pitting.   I haven't done too much powdercoating since I picked up my kit, but I've been wondering if there's anyway to apply a resist to the metal before you spray so that the substrate would stick to the metal and leave the resist completely alone.  That way, you could paint over the "Brembo" logo with the resist, spray, cure, and have a red caliper with raw emblem.  Of course there's the issue of the resist melting during the cure and faulting the rest of the finish.  I guess I have some testing to do. 

/end threadjack.  Ooops. 

Nekked (tee hee), you can usually rent some sort of spring compressor from your local auto parts store for a pretty reasonable price.  He Man, how did you jack up the rear end of your bike?  I've been toying with the idea of a winch just bolted to the rafters. 

[sydmonster]

and just how difficult IS removing the spring btw?  Is there a How-To posted anywhere or is it that EZ?

with the tool it isnt hard. ive never removed the spring before, but you can get the shock off in a less than 20 mins and the tool looks like i can get the spring off in another 5. im trying to pick up a tool today, so ill know soon enough.

I haven't tried on the 696, but on older generation monsters - your need to support/strap the bike up right, so it wont tip side to side. i used straps from a rafeter/eyebolt in the ceiling.
- Place a car jack under the engine (carefully and with a piece of wood to support it) raise the bike so its taking its weight off the suspention.
- This lets you remove the shock (upper and lower bolts) because the weight of the bike is no longer on them.
- Then removing the springs is done by winding away the upper adjustable collars (note were they were), remove the lower retainer past the shaft and spring is out.
- Fitting is the reverse.
I stuck the best photo I could find of my bike that shows the spring, hope that helps guys. - Chris

[He Man]

sydmonster basicaly said it all. i used a ladder and 2 tie down straps and a jack under the rear of the header not the engine. I wouldnt support the rear from the passenger handle bars if thats what you're thinking not unless you're gonna leave that jack there to take half of the weight. i straped it to end of the main frame/begining of the subframe. as you jack the bike up, you can tighten the straps, and make sure to jam that front wheel from moving foward since the weight is now shifting toward that end, it might start rolling on you.

anyway once its supported just unbolt the rear brake master, slide the rod off, stick a 8mm hex key in there, i use a pipe to break it loose, then once youve loosen it up, i used a small steel pick and fished the boltout and lifted the swing arm by hand and it comes right out, use the same 8mm key on the top of the shock, and  the shock pulls out. Somewhere in there, youll realize that removing the breather box is required to slide the shock out from the top.

not sure how it is on the 696 since taking of the tank sides require you to remove a bunch of crap, but i think the idea is the same. support bikes weight, get to the two bolts holding the swingarm, and loosen them up then slide it out. though it seems you might need to move the tank to get to it.