Motorcycle Front Brake Tightened while wheel was off.

[Alienwho]

Anybody ever have this happen? I'm pretty pissed off. Took wheels off to get them changed, come home to see my little girl has lost two of the 12mm brake caliper bolts and has tightened the front brake so the pads are squeezed together. I have no idea how to separate them. Bike is a 2nd gen SV650.

 

[Phanuel]

I only have mountain bike disc experience, but can you remove the pads and push the pistons back in?

Might need to re-bleed the system.

 

[Fenixgoon]

you should just be able to push the pads back in. i've done it before. get a small flathead screwdriver or something.

 

[Alienwho]

Ok that wasn't so bad. I couldn't fit any screwdrivers in but I removed the brake pads and used some pliers to leverage the pistons back in. Now I just need to find those caliper bolts.

 

[Zenmervolt]

used some pliers to leverage the pistons back in.

*cringes*

You need to apply pressure evenly on the pistons so they go straight in. "Walking" them back in one side at a time as one would have to do with pliers is not good; it's rough on both the pistons and the bores.

It probably won't cause any catastrophic issues, but it's still one of those things that makes me twitch a bit when I see someone doing it.

ZV

 

[Savij]

*cringes*

You need to apply pressure evenly on the pistons so they go straight in. "Walking" them back in one side at a time as one would have to do with pliers is not good; it's rough on both the pistons and the bores.

It probably won't cause any catastrophic issues, but it's still one of those things that makes me twitch a bit when I see someone doing it.

ZV

For those of us that have no clue, what's a good way to do this?

 

[pcgeek11]

A small c-clamp.

 

[Slacker]

1: job half done
2: parts lost
3: someone else has to fix mess

You're daughter is now a professional mechanic.

 

[Phanuel]

A small c-clamp.

Yeah, clamp it with the caliper / piston inside of it and make sure it's centered on the piston itself then go slowly. Obviously use rubber or tape if the clamp is metal to prevent damage.

 

[Alienwho]

*cringes*

You need to apply pressure evenly on the pistons so they go straight in. "Walking" them back in one side at a time as one would have to do with pliers is not good; it's rough on both the pistons and the bores.

It probably won't cause any catastrophic issues, but it's still one of those things that makes me twitch a bit when I see someone doing it.

ZV

I actually used a splint of wood which worked them both in simultaneously nice and easy. Definitely wasn't rough with them or feel like I did anything too hard on the bike.

Been running around on the bike today and it feels good.

 

[tracerbullet]

I typically use wooden shims, it's not perfect but they'll get in there and be softer than the pads. And they can be alternated / stacked until spread far enough. C-clamp can finish the job but I've always been sure to use the brake pad I was planning to replace (I've only done it when replacing pads) in case I damaged it. Unscrewing the brake fluid reservoir cap is often advised, I have always done it but I'm not 100% how much difference it makes.

Bleeding is a though as well, as mentioned, if the fluid level got too low during this adventure you'll have air in the line.

 

[MiataNC]

For those of us that have no clue, what's a good way to do this?

A simple tool like this will work nicely.

http://www.ipdusa.com/products/6627/107270-piston-compression-tool-for-sliding-calipers

 

[cardiac]

Big c-clamp and one of the old brake pads. An old pad will distribute the pressure even...