| Author | Message | ||
     Interceptor |
hey all, I have to swap my front pads before a road trip. How easy is it? -pull caliper, replace pads, depress piston install pads and caliper, bleed it? Thats how I do it on my ATV. Is it that simple? | ||
| Bigdaddy |
"Is it that simple?" Almost. 1. Tape the wheel -- use liberal amounts of 100MPH tape in/around the location of the caliper 2. Drop the pads out of the caliper 3. find the magic spot that will allow the caliper to be removed (this is a good time to identify, and mark, the caliper for some Dremel relief making the next pad swap much easier) Carry on as you described and you'll be good. They can be cantankerous to bleed and there's more than a few ways to make it easier -- most are listed on Badweb. Nothing can beat gravity and time  | ||
| Djkaplan |
You don't have to remove (or pull) the caliper to just change brake pads, the pads can be changed with the caliper still bolted to the bike. It's a good idea to clean the pistons before you (carefully) push them back into the caliper to install the new pads. You do, however, need to remove the caliper if you want to get the front wheel off. | ||
| Jimmy77 |
What's the tape for? | ||
| Aesquire |
The disc is so large, in relation to the wheel, that the caliper JUST comes off. You will bump/scrape/hit the wheel. They are both powder coated, will scratch and look bad. It cannot come off with the pads still in. There are 2 ways to remove the caliper. 1 way is to pull it at a certain angle, rotate, swear, until you get it,( and then it drops on the rim )the other way involves alien transporter tech. That's what Bigdaddy means by magic spot. IMHO this is why you take your own wheel off, and don't let the guy at the chopper shop scratch the &?%% out of your wheel. Tape needed. Believe us. (Message edited by aesquire on June 19, 2007) | ||
| Bigdog_tim |
I have not been able to find that sweet spot to get the caliper off. Good thing I buy blue loctite in a big container - because I just remove the front rotar. Not elegant, but it works. | ||
| Bigdaddy |
I pull the caliper every time because it's easier to clean and inspect. I've never done it like Djkaplan describes, but it would be a time saver and headache eliminator if you've never done it before. Tape on the wheel? Oh yea,,,,mummify that puppy,,,unless you don't mind scratches. Bigdog_tim, The sweet spot can be elusive with a virgin caliper. Fortunately the tuber calipers are industrial sized with plenty of meat that can be trimmed/ground. Making subsequent caliper removals breezy easy. G2 | ||
| Jimmy77 |
Ahhh, that's when removing the caliper. If he just wants to change the pads though its a 5 minute job without pulling the caliper... Pull the two pins and center bolt. Then just slide out and replace. | ||
| Interceptor |
Thanks all! | ||
| Interceptor |
that was just too easy. |
