So I'm changing the rear pads on my bike (Suzuki Across), and obviously you need to push the piston in because the new pads are thicker. I've managed to push in one side, which was quite easy, but the other side just won't budge. I've loosened the bleed valve so the pressure should be able to relieve itself.
Does anyone have any tips to get the piston to budge without taking the whole caliper off and apart?
I've attached a picture of the offender.
rear brake2.jpg
Take the opposite side pad out, put a socket into the centre of the piston. Then put a clamp (might be called a H clamp) onto the socket and the back of the caliper. Take life lid off the resivour and watch for spilling fluid. Then wind in the clamp and push the piston in.
Originally Posted by out_in_front
Yeah just cracking the resorvoir should be enough to get it back enough?
Screw driver works when that happens to me.
Put the old pads back in, jam a big screw driver in where the disk would usually go and pull on an angle and the piston should slowly go back, then chuck the old ones and pop the newbies in.
Note: this only works with the caliper off the bike :p
When I get sad, I stop being sad, and be AWESOME instead. True story.
if you think it's seized you can try clamping the other piston and give the lever a little squeeze to see if it moves out, or there's the possibility that it's a single piston caliper but i haven't looked that closely because i suck at diagnosis by photograph
Do you remember the good old days before the internet?
when arguments were only entered into by the physically or intellectually able.
A good thing to always do is to squeeze the lever a little to get the piston out a little, then get brake cleaner and a tooth brush and clean the piston before trying to push it back in...
Your seals will love you for doing this...
I'm with Rich.
Word of warning Mo'.....It looks like your pistons have some rust on them?...pop them out and give them a tizzy up with fine emery cloth...make sure they slide freely when replaced...If the rust on the pistons sticks on the seal when pushed further back in because of the thicker 'new' pads.. this can cause your brakes to lock on when they heat up on the first application..(from experience?.
Looks like it'll be a job for tomorrow morning then. I'll get some brake cleaner when I go out. Thanks for the help guys.
Yeah, good idea! Replacing seals is an annoying & fiddly job, IMO
did not do this. and ended up wasting a $95 and a weekend replacing all my seals... it is a good tip. but being an across, itll be at that age where most likely your pistons may need removing and cleaning anyways.
If it rotates, oscillates, gyrates or reciprocates, put something slippery on it.
Its fine aslong as you only squeeze the lever a tiny bit enough to push out to where its clean, then give it a good scrub
RiDe F@sT.. HaVe FúÑ).. PlAy LõÚd
Be careful of brake cleaners - some dissolve rubber. I don't understand why someone would market a solvent that dissolves rubber as being good for cleaning a system which relys on rubber seals and uses rubber hoses (unless maybe they are Viton and aren't affected). It should say on the can if it is bad for rubber.
Got some brake cleaner on it. Managed to push it in just enough to get the pad on.
The brake is an opposed piston, if that means anything to anyone.
Once again, thanks for the advice.
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