Front brake seized, thank you Tutoro!
 

A little background. Went to remove my front calipers last weekend to clean all the grit off the pistons, snapped my tool in the process as I only had a ratchet that would fit the socket. So I thought, oh well, I'll buy a new tool that won't break and sort the calipers out this weekend.

Now the good stuff (well, bad for me)

Pulled away this morning and thought something feels a bit off, made it half a mile down the road and remembered I hadn't turned my Tutoro oiler on so I pulled over and turned it on. Luckily I did. Smoke was coming from my right brake disc which also had black stuff all over it. If I hadn't have pulled over to turn my Tutoro oiler on this could have turned out MUCH worse.

Anyway I now have a seized front right caliper. I can still move the bike but the brake it on. I know I'm going to have to remove the caliper to clean all the grit off and hopefully free up the stuck piston. But what about my brake pads and disc?

Could and major damage have been caused to the disc?

What about the brake pads, should they still be OK to use if I can free up the piston?

Re: Front brake seized, thank you Tutoro!
 

Well you need to think long and hard about doing it again.
Have you some one who has experience give you a hand.
Check the disc run out . Look at the pad serface for signs of pitting and cracks.

Re: Front brake seized, thank you Tutoro!
 

I was only riding it for 2 mins max. The disc has some black residue on it but it's not caked on. Once I have the caliper off I can have a good look at it.

Re: Front brake seized, thank you Tutoro!
 

andy smiths up your end ,give him a shout

Re: Front brake seized, thank you Tutoro!
 

Can't afford to take it to a garage either as I may have to prematurely buy a new rear tyre because of some possible punctures.

Re: Front brake seized, thank you Tutoro!
 

Its kinda important you make sure you dont get rust and grit into the seal when you clean them off.
There is a chance you may have.you should be able to push the piston back without to mutch effort,Use a bit of wood so you dont mark the piston.
this bloke has an idea what he is doing http://youtu.be/QXcClOfFmlg,
but seen somone cut a chunk out ther hand using an airline push the pison out (wood block better idea)
You only one
neck so needs to be 100%

Re: Front brake seized, thank you Tutoro!
 

Got the right hand caliper off and one of the pistons is seized. The disc and pads look ok apart from slight discolouration from heat but no scoring or pitting.

Going to strip both front calipers at the weekend and give them a good clean with the help of a Haynes Manual and my dad who's done some bike mechanics before.

Re: Front brake seized, thank you Tutoro!
 

I'm around if you need me mate!

Got one or two errands to do but I'm around later on sunday

Re: Front brake seized, thank you Tutoro!
 

Thanks. I'm going to be sorting it out saturday but if I run into any problems I'll give you a shout.

Re: Front brake seized, thank you Tutoro!
 

Both front Calipers have been rebuilt with new seals. But I now need to bleed the entire system starting from the MC.