Anyone have any suggestions on freeing up a seized caliper piston? It is stuck all the way in so I can't even grab onto it with vise grips or anything. Also can anyone shed some light on what each handlebar brake lever controls? My right hand lever has no resistance at all, does this control both front and rear or just front? Also left lever, does this control just the front? My left caliper is the one seized. I juat purchased the atv and I'm trying to get it right. 2000 kawasaki prairie 400 4x4

 

Left lever controls rear and u can lock it on by flipping the little lever while holding the brake on.

Right lever is front brakes only.

Is there fluid in reservoir?

Try bleeding the system.

Never grab piston with anything. The surface needs to be smooth as it slides thru the seals.

Once u get pressure back at lever, remove caliper on side which is sticking. Leave other caliper in place. Place one or two paint stir sticks between the pads of removed caliper and gently sqeeze brake lever and see if piston/pads compress. If so, carefully try with one paint stick and then if it squeezes that, clean around the piston before pushing it back into the retracted position. It is really easy to just remove the piston using hydraulic pressure from depressing brake lever, then clean piston and seals. You will need to bleed system afterward.

 

Yes thank you for the response, I actually just got done removing both front calipers and they were both stuck, both pistons are junk I believe. Looks like previous owner tried working on them and gouged both pistons. Really not happy after looking up cost of new pistons. Do they offer cheaper aftermarket? I thought they would have a complete rebuild kit including pistons but apparently not.
sucks too because there was a parts machine on Craigslist that sold and the guy gave me his number for parts and I can't find either of their numbers. Go figure lol

 

Not certain about the Prairie 400, but aftermarket piston kits are available for most quads, I think our "non genuine" supplier sells Shindy kits. You can also get new caliper assemblies for a little extra money, don't know who makes them, we keep Eiger and Honda 420 calipers in stock, as we maintain more of them than other disc brake Quads. I often squeeze the pistons in with a G clamp, but they tend to "dig in", so you shouldn't put too much pressure on. They can often be blown out with air pressure too, but put a rag round the assembly first as flying pistons and brake fluid can cause damage.