Brakes Q for a dummy

[phil w]

Anybody got ideas why my caliper is not functioning, bearing in mind Im a mechanical dummy.
I had taken off the front wheel to replace the speedo nylon gear drive and had taken off the calipers from the fork legs. Put wheel back on and replaced calipers.... but then the wheel was seized. Took off cals again looked at them, bit dirty and next to nil pad. New pads fitted and try again.. still seizing.
Off with cals and squirt with brake cleaner ...clean up then separate caliper from mounting braket and clean off opposing pins and re grease.
So with left hand caliper fitted wheel spins, fit right hand and seized.
Cant see where its all going wrong

[Mabels Old Man]

Sounds like the pistons have stuck in the caliper. It might need a strip down and new seals. Did it to me once on a ZX12 with six pot brakes. Shouldn't be to bad on a XR

[phil w]

Posted in TA sect should give a clue to the bike its on
Cheers Mike... are pistons easy stuff

[Mabels Old Man]

Yep I've done them so they can't be that hard. If you've got rubber hoses it's easier because you can clamp them to stop losing fluid. makes it easier to bleed at the end.

Missed the forum, still they're only four pot ain't they?

[StumpyFingers]

Yep I've done them so they can't be that hard. If you've got rubber hoses it's easier because you can clamp them to stop losing fluid. makes it easier to bleed at the end.

Missed the forum, still they're only four pot ain't they?

Twin pot actually.

Phil, Remove the caliper and pads and place a block of wood in the space pump the lever and watch which piston if any moves.
The wood will prevent the pistons coming all the way out, once they are both almost completely out clamp the hose and remove each piston to get to and clean replace the seals.

[phil w]

So I need apiece of wood that will allow the pistons to come out how far. Remeber the mechanical dummy bit

[Mabels Old Man]

Twin pot actually.

Even easier then. Biggest problem I had was bleeding the brakes afterwards, steel hoses!!

[StumpyFingers]

So I need apiece of wood that will allow the pistons to come out how far. Remeber the mechanical dummy bit

Use an old pad if wood is not available, it is only to stop one of the pistons popping out and leaving one behind, it also prevents the pistons falling out and covering you in brake fluid.

[Mabels Old Man]

So I need apiece of wood that will allow the pistons to come out how far. Remeber the mechanical dummy bit

How thick is a disc?

[mad4it028]

if the brakes were ok before you removed the wheel then your problem is youve fitted the spacers wrong moveing the wheel to 1 side will cause the wheel to lock to the brakes
hth carl