<waves> not been on for ages, how are you all?
Hi again. Ok let's get the terminology sorted first.
Like car brakes you've got a caliper (black thing that says Tomiko or whatever) and a disc. Inside each of the calipers are 2 pistons. These pistons are pushed back and forth via the brake fluid in the system when you pull the lever. The pistons push one of the brake pads against the disc, the other is fixed in position, and this stops the bike.
What I've been describing is a full brake overhaul with new seals etc, I was taking about taking everything apart piece by piece but I don't think we need to do that just yet.
First of all, I'd remove the binding caliper via the 2 big bolts that hold it on to the fork.
Now you will be able to see the insides of the caliper. Find the pads and at the bottom you'll see a thick pin going through the bottom of caliper and both pads.
Next I'd remove the little r-clip on this pin and remove the pin itself. I'd recomend mole grips and losts of twisting/pulling motion to get it out.
Once this is out, the 2 pads will come out, remember which why they face. There are some little metal doo-dahs behind the pads, you can take these off and clean them if you want but don't forget to put them back on.
Next I'd pump the brake lever very slightly to expose the pistons (they are the 2 hollow cylinders ressessed into the caliper. Once you have a bit exposed you should hopefully see shiney gold metal, that's what they should look like. The top of the piston will be dirty.
Nows the time to check the seals. They should be sitting nicely in a little channel around the piston. If not, they may need replacing like we talked about earlier.
If they are ok, clean the whole of the piston and caliper as best you can with brake fluid (Dot4 stuff from Halfords).
Once that's clean, use a piece of wood and g-clamps to brace the 2 pistons and gently force the pistons back into the calipers. DO NOT force them all the way in, just enouigh so you have room to put these back over the disk when the pads are back in place.
Now get your new pads, put on the little metal tings on the back of the new pads and coat the BACK of the pads with copper grease.
Put the new pads in place and push the pin back into place. Please coat the pin in copper grease too cause it will help in the future!
Put the R-clip back in place and then carefull put the caliper into place over the disc. Make sure the pads are on the correct side of the disc, one on either side.
Bolt it up and stry the brakes.
The above should help unbind the brakes and it means you don't need to worry about losing any fluid, bleeding, new seals, rubber grease etc.
This should be enough to pass the MOT!
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