How to get the rotor back in on disk brake?...How to bleed?

[Kerick]

I recently changed my tire on my bike and it has disk brakes up front. after i took the rim and tire off i accidently pulled in the brake. Now the pads are too close to get the rotor in. How do i separate them?

[rdlsz24]

Pull the pins to take the pads out and then use a c-clamp to push the piston back in.

Rob

[outtaline]

take the cap off of the res and use a clamp to compress the piston

[Kerick]

where r the pins?

[Dirtcrasher]

Lightly place a screwdriver in there and cock it a bit from side to side.

Nothing else needs to be done. BUT, if your a knucklehead (no insults meant) you'll gouge up and screw up the pads so just go slow,easy and be careful :D

[Kerick]

i undid the clips as told to do and i reassembled the wheel and all now my brakes dont work lol

[rdlsz24]

Did you crack open the banjo bolt and let air into the lines?

Rob

[Kerick]

whats the banjo bolt?

[Kerick]

Do u think i need more brake fluid if i dod open the banjo bolt?

[Lukeatc185]

not nessesarly, if you opened the bolt you will need to bleed the lines. air compresses alot. where as oil. not at all really. so if you have air in the lines and you pull your lever or push the brake pedal, the air compresses. and your pads dont have enough force behind them to clamp that rotor. bleed the lines out. top off your brake fluid.

[Kerick]

Can anyone explain to me how to bleed a brake line? Thanks

[Dirtcrasher]

The same way as a car, pump it up - hold it and crack the line.

Honestly, if you've never done it, ask someone for help. Although it's an easy procedure, if you don't understand whats doing what, you can let even more air into the line. And these little masters can be very frustrating at the least to bleed them. Take a ride to RAFFA's house (without calling first - inside joke :D) and he could give you a lesson.....

Without a mity vac pump, on my truck I have a way that bleeds all the air out without any help from anyone else.

I fill a gatorade bottle with brake fluid half way up. Then I attach a clear hose on the bleeder (that fits tight) and I place the other end in the gatorade brake fluid filled bottle. Now you can crack the bleeder and air can't get in. Then I can slowly push the brake pedal down while I watch all the air bubbles go out. I just make sure the master is kept full of fluid and after a couple tries, the air is completely removed :D

[Kerick]

where and what does thhe bleeder look like?

[Kerick]

If i make a bleeder what bolt do i hook the bleeder to?

[rdlsz24]

You put the hose over the little bleeder valve and crack it open. You could download a trike service manual and it will tell you how to do it in there. It's not machine specific.

Rob

[MonroeMike]

Which bike are you working on Kerick?

[rdlsz24]

Here you go. Read this

http://www.mediafire.com/?dgkznzmezw2

Rob

[Kerick]

Read that and a few youtube vids...I got a tube, jar, and a wrench...I put the wrench on then the tube and fed the tube into a cup full of brake fluid...Air came out but the lever still comes in all the way?????

[rdlsz24]

Did you do it multiple times?

Rob

[Kerick]

how many times do u need to repeat it?

[ceaserthethird]

repeat a few times, till it feels right.

[Kerick]

i did it like 40 times and now theres no more air bubbles...But theres brownish fluid coming out now? Theres a bit of resistance at the end of the pull of the lever.

[Kerick]

UGH i worked all day at this and it STILL doesnt work AAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[Dirtcrasher]

Sounds like it's flushed but there still may be air in there.

Are you "pumping them up" and cracking the bleeder just a hair?

I'm telling you, some of the very good mechanics on here STILL have issues bleeding brakes and usually it's because we have crappy 25yo master cylinders and rubber hoses that make the levers feel soft....

[Kerick]

i am pumping and opening im done for taday i think

[SWIGIN]

Sounds like it's flushed but there still may be air in there.

Are you "pumping them up" and cracking the bleeder just a hair?

I'm telling you, some of the very good mechanics on here STILL have issues bleeding brakes and usually it's because we have crappy 25yo master cylinders and rubber hoses that make the levers feel soft....



very true..........

[Dirtcrasher]

^ If it makes you feel any better:

My pressure washer died again today.
My carpet cleaner is leaking 20$ a quart cleaner everywhere.
My computer keeps freezing.....(can't be from porn though :rolleyes:)
AND I burnt my Mo Fo strawberry cream cheese Toaster Strudels :lol:

Bad day to say the least.....

EDIT - We all try to run these parts but they need rebuilding. Calipers, unless they are seized seem to work fine or you'd have blow-by on the 2 seals. The masters are a whole different animal. I can't believe we can't by kits for the rear masters!! But the front, you cvan get kits from @ Hyperparts.com and they work great for me :D I seriously suggest upgrading parts though, like the 04 or so Cannondale masters I run on all my kids. They help out ALLOT!

[Kerick]

ANY i ideas on what i did wrong so i can try again tomorrow?

[harryredtrike]

the bleeder kind of looks like a grease zert,crack it open a little and continually squeeze the brake handle.have a bottle of brake fluid handy and fill the master as it drains, dont let it run dry.when sure all the air is out tighten bolt and done.youll need two people.

[Kerick]

i was doing exactly that i dont get it. I ad my tube on the bleeder bolt and loosened the nut a bit and pumped like crazy. Do u NEED 2 ppl because i was holding the brake when i tightened the bleeder bolt...Y do i need two people?

[Lukeatc185]

if you hold the brake lever while you tighten the handle you wont have the pressure to close the caliper.

[Kerick]

Now im confused lol I thought i was supposed to:
1) open the bleeder bolt
2) pump the brake repeatedly
3) hold the brake
4) tighten bleeder bolt
5) repeat FOREVER lol

[Lukeatc185]

sounds right to me. i never held the brake lever down while i tighten the bolt though. that would allow all your pressure to be gone when you tighten the bolt. realeasing it would crimp the lines one would think?

[Kerick]

so u saying i shouldnt hold the lever when i tighten the bleeder bolt?

[MonroeMike]

http://www.spokes-women.org/Technical_Cornor/brake_bleeding.htm

"Close the bleeder nipple. Then release the brake lever."

[Kerick]

thanks mike...i was closing the nipple then releasing brake lever... i have no idea what i did wrong

[rdlsz24]

On an atv you don't need 2 people since you can reach the brake lever and the open/close the bleeder at the same time. You need 2 for a car since one has to be in the car pushing the pedal while another opens/closes the bleeder.

Here's how I do it:
1 - pump brake lever to build up pressure and hold in lever on final pull
2 - slightly crack bleeder and you will feel pressure release and fluid will pump out
3 - close bleeder
4 - repeat

If your caliper is empty of fluid you will have a soft lever no matter how many times you bleed. You have to get the caliper full of fluid first.

Rob

[Lukeatc185]

hehe i have never held the lever down and i had not had any problems.

[Kerick]

Maybe its not full of fluid how do i fill it? The res is full