Brake caliper rebuild: Difference between revisions

Line 21:

Gently remove the little brake pad and set it aside.

[[image:123-2.jpg|150px]]

Pull back (compress) the caliper bracket, thus pushing the caliper guide pins in as far as possible.

[[image:123-1.jpg|150px]]

[[image:123-3.jpg|150px]]

Shift and tilt the big brake pad so it looks like this

[[image:123-1.jpg|150px]]

[[image:123-4.jpg|150px]]

Push one edge of the brake pad over the caliper pin allowing you to easily remove the other side shortly thereafter.

[[image:123-1.jpg|150px]]

[[image:123-5.jpg|150px]]

Your caliper should now look like this.

[[image:123-1.jpg|150px]]

[[image:123-6.jpg|150px]]

Remove the anti-vibration bracket (take note of its orientation).

[[image:123-1.jpg|150px]]

[[image:123-7.jpg|150px]]

Remove the ceramic (plastic) inserts inside the caliper pistons.

Line 48:

About 150ml of brake fluid will spill out, so be prepared with a catch container below your working area.

[[image:123-1.jpg|150px]]

[[image:123-8.jpg|150px]]

Remove all FOUR seals inside the caliper. You will want to clean these carefully and very thoroughly. There is a LOT of dirt and god knows what else inside and behind these seals. This is why you should rebuild your caliper from time to time.

[[image:123-1.jpg|150px]]

[[image:123-9.jpg|150px]]

[[image:123-10.jpg|150px]]

[[image:123-11.jpg|150px]]

Reassemble all seals. Put one side of the seal in first, then work both ways around the rubber rings until they seat completely.

[[image:123-1.jpg|150px]]

[[image:123-12.jpg|150px]]

Pull out the caliper bracket assembly (the rubber boots should be worked off the bracket gently). One side of the caliper has a rubber boot which cannot be removed. Do not even try or you will destroy it. Clean it in place.

Line 62:

Line 64:

Clean and then lubricate the pins generously.

[[image:123-1.jpg|150px]]

[[image:123-13.jpg|150px]]

Spray tons of brake cleaner into the two caliper pin guide holes and make sure you get all of the old crud out. Then, insert a bunch of grease with your finger. The aftermath should look like so.

[[image:123-1.jpg|150px]]

[[image:123-14.jpg|150px]]

Lubricate and insert the clean pistons. Some people say to use brake fluid as lube; others use brake lube, as shown.

[[image:123-1.jpg|150px]]

[[image:123-15.jpg|150px]]

Push the pistons in with your thumbs until they are flush with the adjacent metal surface.

[[image:123-1.jpg|150px]]

[[image:123-16.jpg|150px]]

Insert the plastic (ceramic) inserts.

[[image:123-1.jpg|150px]]

[[image:123-17.jpg|150px]]

Install the anti-vibration pad.

[[image:123-1.jpg|150px]]

[[image:123-18.jpg|150px]]

Install the big brake pad.

[[image:123-1.jpg|150px]]

[[image:123-19.jpg|150px]]

[[image:123-1.jpg|150px]]

[[image:123-20.jpg|150px]]

The tabs must face the bottom - not the top - of the brake pad.

Line 95:

Line 97:

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX SHOW PICTURE FROM PAD REPLACEMENT ARTICLE. XXXXXXXX

Reinstall the caliper.

Reinstall the caliper, then [[How do I bleed the brake lines?|bleed the brakes]]. Torque for the mounting bolts is 24 ft-lbs front and 18 ft-lbs rear.

[[~~image:123-1.jpg~~|~~150px~~]]

~~Bleed the brakes per the FAQ~~.

~~After bleeding, let~~ the ~~bike rest overnight with zip ties installed like so.~~

~~[[image:123~~-~~1.jpg|150px]]~~

~~Stand on the~~ rear ~~brake while installing these zip ties (this can be a little tricky)~~.

~~[[image:123-1~~.~~jpg|150px]]~~

Test the brakes while walking before going for a ride. It's more pleasant to realize something's not working when you're walking next to it than when you're approaching a stop at a busy intersection.

@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 Gently remove the little brake pad and set it aside.
+[[image:123-2.jpg|150px]]
 Pull back (compress) the caliper bracket, thus pushing the caliper guide pins in as far as possible.
-[[image:123-1.jpg|150px]]
+[[image:123-3.jpg|150px]]
 Shift and tilt the big brake pad so it looks like this
-[[image:123-1.jpg|150px]]
+[[image:123-4.jpg|150px]]
 Push one edge of the brake pad over the caliper pin allowing you to easily remove the other side shortly thereafter.
-[[image:123-1.jpg|150px]]
+[[image:123-5.jpg|150px]]
 Your caliper should now look like this.
-[[image:123-1.jpg|150px]]
+[[image:123-6.jpg|150px]]
 Remove the anti-vibration bracket (take note of its orientation).
-[[image:123-1.jpg|150px]]
+[[image:123-7.jpg|150px]]
 Remove the ceramic (plastic) inserts inside the caliper pistons.
@@ Line 48: / Line 48: @@
 About 150ml of brake fluid will spill out, so be prepared with a catch container below your working area.
-[[image:123-1.jpg|150px]]
+[[image:123-8.jpg|150px]]
 Remove all FOUR seals inside the caliper. You will want to clean these carefully and very thoroughly. There is a LOT of dirt and god knows what else inside and behind these seals. This is why you should rebuild your caliper from time to time.
-[[image:123-1.jpg|150px]]
+[[image:123-9.jpg|150px]]
+[[image:123-10.jpg|150px]]
+[[image:123-11.jpg|150px]]
 Reassemble all seals. Put one side of the seal in first, then work both ways around the rubber rings until they seat completely.
-[[image:123-1.jpg|150px]]
+[[image:123-12.jpg|150px]]
 Pull out the caliper bracket assembly (the rubber boots should be worked off the bracket gently). One side of the caliper has a rubber boot which cannot be removed. Do not even try or you will destroy it. Clean it in place.
@@ Line 62: / Line 64: @@
 Clean and then lubricate the pins generously.
-[[image:123-1.jpg|150px]]
+[[image:123-13.jpg|150px]]
 Spray tons of brake cleaner into the two caliper pin guide holes and make sure you get all of the old crud out. Then, insert a bunch of grease with your finger. The aftermath should look like so.
-[[image:123-1.jpg|150px]]
+[[image:123-14.jpg|150px]]
 Lubricate and insert the clean pistons. Some people say to use brake fluid as lube; others use brake lube, as shown.
-[[image:123-1.jpg|150px]]
+[[image:123-15.jpg|150px]]
 Push the pistons in with your thumbs until they are flush with the adjacent metal surface.
-[[image:123-1.jpg|150px]]
+[[image:123-16.jpg|150px]]
 Insert the plastic (ceramic) inserts.
-[[image:123-1.jpg|150px]]
+[[image:123-17.jpg|150px]]
 Install the anti-vibration pad.
-[[image:123-1.jpg|150px]]
+[[image:123-18.jpg|150px]]
 Install the big brake pad.
-[[image:123-1.jpg|150px]]
+[[image:123-19.jpg|150px]]
-[[image:123-1.jpg|150px]]
+[[image:123-20.jpg|150px]]
 The tabs must face the bottom - not the top - of the brake pad.
@@ Line 95: / Line 97: @@
 XXXXXXXXXXXXXX SHOW PICTURE FROM PAD REPLACEMENT ARTICLE. XXXXXXXX
-Reinstall the caliper.
+Reinstall the caliper, then [[How do I bleed the brake lines?|bleed the brakes]]. Torque for the mounting bolts is 24 ft-lbs front and 18 ft-lbs rear.
-[[image:123-1.jpg|150px]]
-Bleed the brakes per the FAQ.
-After bleeding, let the bike rest overnight with zip ties installed like so.
-[[image:123-1.jpg|150px]]
-Stand on the rear brake while installing these zip ties (this can be a little tricky).
-[[image:123-1.jpg|150px]]
+Test the brakes while walking before going for a ride. It's more pleasant to realize something's not working when you're walking next to it than when you're approaching a stop at a busy intersection.