Wow.. I haven't been here in a very long time! How things have changed from the old board... Just had a quick question... my buddy and I took the front wheel off last weekend to get the fender off... the caliper was so tight that we weren't able to get it off... we were able to get the wheel off and right back on after the fender was off (took a little bit of trying, we didn't put anything in the brake caliper while the disk was off.. guess I should have read the clymer first)...  Once the wheel was back on we followed the clymers recommendations to help center the wheel... which included pushing down on the front end and pressing the brake.. The first time I pressed the brake it was pretty hard.. then after that it went back to the usual feeling... Is there any chance that we would now need to bleed the brake system ?  Is there anyway of finding out if there is a potential problem before I go blazing through the canyons again?  Thanks for your help... Cya

Resistor

I doesn't appear that you did anything to get air in the lines.  You can squeeze the brake lever a few times to get more fluid from the lines to reservoir to compress the caliper.  If the brakes are still "squishy" I would bleed them.

Yea I don't think I did.. however I read in the clymer not to sqeeze the brake lever without anything in the brakes because it will screw up the piston and such...  if I take it around the block a few times and if it's not squishy.. think it's probably okay or can these things come on unexpectadly? If there was air in it would it also affect the rear brake?

Thanks

Quote from: resistorI read in the clymer not to sqeeze the brake lever without anything in the brakes because it will screw up the piston and such...

The main problem is that it will compress the pads together and you'll have a dickens of a time getting them apart again.

Quote from: resistorIf there was air in it would it also affect the rear brake?

The rear brake has its own separate hydraulic system.  Reservoir, master cylinder, hose, caliper ... everything.  The front and the rear have nothing to do with each other.

It sounds to me like you're OK.

Great, thanks for your input... I just didn't want to do anything to jeopardize my ride.  Especially riding through the canyons this weekend.. anyone here from or live near the San Fernando valley? 818?  

Thanks again

Another trick...

If the pistons in the caliper are already compressed, you can compress them back using a pliers or vice grip.   You won't have to squeeze anywhere hard enough to damage the pads.  Nice and light....works like a charm.

Quote from: wraithR1If the pistons in the caliper are already compressed, you can compress them back using a pliers or vice grip.

For pictures of how I did this on a '96-'?? caliper, see the cant get brake pads open!! thread.