Siezed brakes.

My brakes have siezed!



I couldnt move the bike at all this morning. I need a method of getting the brakes free. I softly tapped on the calipers with a rubber mallet to free them up, and they did - but it means i cannot use my front brake now!

I know the cause (possibly)

When i put the new pads in, i took a good chance to clean off the calipers. I forgot to grease the pistons.

The other thing i should mention is i kinda rode the bike with the pads rubbing - the disks are blue now and im worried something fierce.

Any easy fix? Or do i have to take it to a mechanic?

[embee]

Problem is going to be that if the discs have been hot enough to turn blue, it will have cooked the calipers too.

The only solution is to strip the calipers, I'd suggest there's a good probablity it could do with new seals. Get some of our old favourite "red rubber grease" for greasing the pistons+seals on reassembly. Obviously new fluid throughout.

You might get away with the discs (and even the pads) providing they've not distorted. Personally I'd probably go over the discs with suitable abrasive to break any glaze, I usually use a very coarse aluminium oxide paper, 40 grit or so, on glazed iron discs, then wash well with water and ensure all abrasive is cleared from drillings. Use a spiral type rubbing pattern on the disc. Not sure of the best abrasive for stainless discs though.