Author Topic: Argh! Is there some trick on changing the front pads? (Read 3239 times)

GooseMan · « **on:** May 27, 2007, 02:50:09 PM »

I swear...every single time I do ANYTHING to this bike, it frustrates me to no end!

I bought some new front pads for my B4....seems easy enough to change. Removed the caliper bolts, slid it off, removed the pads, inserted new ones. But now, how in the HELL do you get this thing back on?

I've changed the brakes on my cars many times, but this has to be the single most frustrating thing!

Every time I try to slide it back on the disc, the stupid little pad keeps falling out! If I try to open the caliper, the pistons push the small pad past its mounting points, so it just falls right out! I'M GOING TO KILL SOMEONE!!! ARGGGHHHHH!!!

Is there some trick to this? Because my patience is gonna be running out REAL soon!!!

Garyola · « **Reply #1 on:** May 27, 2007, 04:10:27 PM »

Did you put the pin or pins that hold the pads in place, back in? Not to make you sound inept at all but sometimes we overlook the small things like the kill switch being turned off and then taking the bike all apart to try to figure out why it won't turn over

G

GooseMan · « **Reply #2 on:** May 27, 2007, 04:20:35 PM »

Pins? I didnt see any pins. There are locator pins for the large brake pad, but the small one seems to just "click" into place.

Either way, I couldnt do it, so I just put the old ones back in...took me 2 minutes to get the old ones back on no problem!

Garyola · « **Reply #3 on:** May 27, 2007, 04:33:38 PM »

Are the replacement pads the right ones?
G

GooseMan · « **Reply #4 on:** May 27, 2007, 04:50:08 PM »

Yup! EBC Sintered pads. They seem to be exactly the same, but obviously, being new pads, they are thicker than the old ones. It's just a royal pain the ass trying to get the caliper/pads over the disc and slide it on. After all the wiggling etc...most of the time, the small pad falls out and/or I cannot seem to get the caliper back on over the disc. I already gouged up my wheel rim pretty bad after rubbing the caliper!

The old pads slid right back on with NO problems.

*sigh* I give up...I'm just gonna bring it to a mechanic.

interfuse · « **Reply #5 on:** May 27, 2007, 06:19:44 PM »

Did you compress the pistons?? And don't forget to pump the brakes a few times after you get the pads installed or you'll have no brake power...

GooseMan · « **Reply #6 on:** May 27, 2007, 08:28:59 PM »

I opened the fluid reservoir and pushed the pistons in by hand. It seemed to help alot, but still, not enough of an opening to easily slip over the disc.

Banditmax · « **Reply #7 on:** May 28, 2007, 07:59:41 AM »

So use a clamp to do it.

interfuse · « **Reply #8 on:** May 28, 2007, 01:04:51 PM »

If you can get it part way on the disc, hit the back of the caliper with a rubber mallet.

Herr Tod · « **Reply #9 on:** May 28, 2007, 01:06:24 PM »

It should just slide on, no hitting

GooseMan · « **Reply #10 on:** May 28, 2007, 03:04:17 PM »

OK...heres a dumb question....

Do the pistons move independantly from the rest of the caliper?

As with most calipers, as it closes, it pushes the opposite side (large brake pad side) into the other side...so when I was pushing the pistons inward, the caliper would close...making the gap smaller. If I try to open the caliper, the pistons would push outward, but the small pad would lose its position in its mounting points, and just fall out.