Break pad fell out.

[wattersk]

I posted earlier about removing the break rotor(thanks to everyone). As I was trying to put the wheel back on and the rotor in the caliper it wouldn't fit. So I opened the caliper with a screwdriver and the left break pad fell out(piston side). Someone sold my clymer manual at a yard sale a few days ago so I have been in the dark lately.

Is there a simple way of putting it back in? I can't see any obvious places where it should fit in and be secure.

Thanks-

[Kerry]

I don't know how much the photos will help (everything seems to be the same color: dirty ) but check out [this old post].

While the "inner" pad is kinda hooked behind another part, the "outer" pad is only held in by the rod that passes through the holes in the ends of both pads.  Strange, but true.

[wattersk]

Thanks! I don't have a c clamp so I am going to have to figure something out. Appreciate it !

[ohgood]

Thanks! I don't have a c clamp so I am going to have to figure something out. Appreciate it !

Removing or inserting a pad should be simple, if the caliper isn't too far in...

Pull the two cotter pins from the two pins that go directly through the brake pads. If you only pull one of the pins completely out, you can hold the INSIDE pad with a needle nose plier, and pull it UP and out. Then pull the pin out the remaining amount (while holding the OUTSIDE pad with your pliers) and you can pull hte OUTSIDE pad up and out. Those keepers (little wire wings) are easy  to move about if you push the pins in while holding them (the wire wings) in place. Don't try forcing the wings in with the pins in place already .

Now loosen the TOP caliper bolt and remove the bottem caliper mounting bolt and rotate it up a little. You may need to release the brake hose from it's mount point on the fender for movement of the caliper. Once the pads are removed you can slide a loooooooong handle flat screwdriver against a worn out (thin) pad against the piston and gently push the piston back in. Note I said GENTLY ! You don't want to go bending your mounting bolt or breaking the caliper !

If you can't gently pry the piston back in, take it off the bike entirely and to a friend's house with clamps n stuff, and do it there, in a vise so you don't slip and bust something.

Gentle = good

Force = bad

Breakage = the big suckage


Good luck !

[Kerry]

Woo Hoo!  ohgood hit the 1000 post mark! 

wattersk, the only reason you saw C-clamps in that old post was because I was helping someone who had pulled their brake lever while the rotor was out of position.  (They had clamped their pads together and needed to separate them.)

I don't normally need C-clamps for most brake maintenace tasks ... but if you need to push the pistons back into the caliper body the clamps are one possible option.

[ohgood]

Woo Hoo!  ohgood hit the 1000 post mark! 

wattersk, the only reason you saw C-clamps in that old post was because I was helping someone who had pulled their brake lever while the rotor was out of position.  (They had clamped their pads together and needed to separate them.)

I don't normally need C-clamps for most brake maintenace tasks ... but if you need to push the pistons back into the caliper body the clamps are one possible option.

Woot !  Now they can't call me noobie anymore, and I get a real nick, right ? Right ? Beer ? Something ?

[scottpA_GS]

Woot !  Now they can't call me noobie anymore, and I get a real nick, right ? Right ? Beer ? Something ?

Carefull asking for Nick names... look what I got