| Author | Message | ||
     Jmp01915 |
i have a 99 s3, the front brakes weren't as smooth as i wanted, so i put in some new oem pads by removing the retaining pin and leaf spring, sliding the old pads out, compressing the pistons, sliding the new pads in. I noticed that the left side pistons were out about 1/8 inch, and the right side pistons were just barely protruding at all. Today, the braking is terrible. audible chattering, very jumpy feel. What did i do? | ||
| Bad_karma |
John sounds like you have buildup around the pistons. Try bleeding first to see if that helps, if not a good cleaning or rebuild. Joe | ||
| Jmp01915 |
thanks for the tip. i tried cleaning the pistons with q tips and alcohol when i had it apart but i know i left some residue on there i'll pull the caliper this weekend and give it a thorough rubdown with some rags and alcohol. then bleed the system. is it safe to move the pistons out by squeezing the front brake lever slightly? Or will that pop them out of their seats and ruin them? | ||
| Bad_karma |
John You are going to have to get them out with either fluid or air. The air method has not work well with me. The rebuild kit from American Sport Bike comes with piston and seals. I'm not sure if you are going to damage the seals by forcing them past the foreign matter. Joe | ||
| Djkaplan |
"is it safe to move the pistons out by squeezing the front brake lever slightly?" Take an old brake pad and put it in the caliper as you squeeze the lever a few times. That'll let the pistons come out enough so you can clean them with brake cleaner (I love the stuff) and still leave enough room to gently push back in. Make sure you clean the pistons all the way around before you push them in. Always bleed the brakes when you replace the pads. Not to get rid of bubbles (there shouldn't be any if you didn't crack a line anyway) but to replace the brake fluid. | ||
| Jmp01915 |
I pulled the caliper off my s3 this weekend, sure enough, i could pump the brake lever and out would come the left side pistons, but nothing on the right side. I cleaned everything with rags, qtips, and alcohol. tapped ( smacked) the caliper with a rubber mallet to shake loose whatever is messing up the right side, but nothing. I think i have a clog inside the caliper keeping the pressure from building up on the right side. Anyone else ever have half a front caliper failure? | ||
| Cheddarheads4erik |
Anyone else ever have half a front caliper failure? Yup, I use a piece of 1"X4" that is just long enough to slide in the caliper with the pads out. With the caliper off the bike in your hand, the 1X4 or whatever you can find to place in the caliper, gently squeeze the brake lever. At that time you are holding your block against one side of the caliper and it's 3 pistons; this will gently force out the 3 from the other side of the caliper, about 3/4 of an inch is safe. Clean those 3 exposed pistons judiciously. Then gently push those 3 pistons back into the caliper with your block, and repeat to do the other side. Non-chlorinated brake cleaner, a catch pan for run-off fluid, an old tooth brush and rubber gloves make this job more enjoyable. |
