Stuck disc brake!

Anonymous

Okay, second attempt out on my new GT and second failure (first was a flat tyre within 10 minutes!).

Got the bike out the car and getting the wheels on, and I can't get the front on at all. Reason being that the pads on the front brake are too close together to get the disc in. I've tried nudging them back out but they won't go further out. Checked the brake lever and cable and they seem okay.

This was perfectly fine when I took the wheel off yesterday evening, and I'd been riding it a little yesterday okay (after dealing with the annoying flat).

Aggghhh :x

This is the first hydraulic I've used so I don't really know where to proceed. Other than to take it back to the shop.

Brakes are Juicy 3 by the way.

Any advice on how to free up this damn thing?

Photo below.

Si78

Sounds like the lever was pressed when the wheel was off. Pushed the pistons out too far. Im sure they can be pushed back in. (Carefully!)

delcol

sound like the lever was pressed while your wheel was off causing the pistons to push out...

try something soft like a tyre lever to pry them back in, if not use a flatblade screwdiver, this may damage the pads though....

they will go back in with some gental manipulation....

good luck...

nicklouse

use something clean to separate the pads.

and use the transport spacers you should have got with the bike to stop it happening again.

chonginc

dont feel bad about it - just bought the Mrs' bike home in the car from the shop this moment and same thing too! and they're Juicy 3's as well

Anonymous

nicklouse wrote:

and use the transport spacers you should have got with the bike to stop it happening again.

Lol, well this is Halfords we're talking about.


Well with a little force I can push them back in, but as soon as I apply the brake a couple of times they're stuck again.


Edit: Well it's kind of better after I took the pads and spreader out, checked for any debris (none), pushed the pistons firmly in and pushed the pads and spreader back in (getting the lingo here from Sram's manual! ). Applying the brake it seems to spring back open a bit better.

But the disc is constantly rubbing, even though the pads seem to be fully home. Though one of the pads seems a little lose now. The pads on the rear brakes snap back firmly by comparison.

Actually I'm not sure if the disc might be rubbing on the brake housing itself (bit where one of the bolts goes through). I did of course take the thing off the fork just to get a closer look, but I'd swear it's back on right (stupid I know given I don't know what I'm doing, but I do like taking things to bits ).

It's all going Pete Tong!

lesz42

pads need wearing in?

Anonymous

I guess so. Though wasn't rubbing yesterday. Does mention wearing in, in the manual though, but I'd assume that's just when you brake. With brakes open, surely the disc shouldn't touch anything?

lesz42

touching lightly is normal/fine, unless its putting a lot of pressure on the rotor, enuff to slow you down

Anonymous

Okay, my bad!

It is the housing that's causing the rubbing. It's the pads that rub, but I didn't realise on fixing the housing back on that there's a lateral adjustment you can make when tightening the bolt. So it was causing one pad to be too close.

Now sorted. The stickyness seems to have gone away now which is odd. Oh well.

Looks like yet another thing I need to keep in my bag or at least the car is a flat thing for situations like this. Did use a flat bladed screwdriver carefully. Pads seem okay. I've got tyre levers but they're a bit thick I think.

Thanks everyone!