They aren't sucked back in but releasing the lever allows the disks to push them back. The disks on your bike should have a slight wave to them to help with this. That's why it only sticks at certain spots when you spin the wheel. If you can see it binding on one side or the other that's indicative of the calipers not sliding freely on their pins. All kinds of crud can build up in the calipers too, it sometimes looks like rock candy. You just have to clean it all out.
On Wed, Apr 3, 2019, 11:27 Jenya Spektor <[email protected]> wrote: > Thank you both again. My question is - what makes the calipers release > the pads - is it when a rider releases the lever, the calipers are sucked > in by the same hydraulic pressure that pushed out before? > > > On Wed, Apr 3, 2019 at 10:58 AM Kyle Munz <[email protected]> wrote: > >> It's not impossible to do without disconnecting the lines, and for just >> replacing the pads I usually keep calipers connected, but to actually >> clean/rebuild the calipers it's best to disconnect them. It makes it easier >> to get in there with the compressed air and some toothpicks to make sure >> they're clean. >> >> Also, apart from just cleaning the interior working of the calipers, the >> pins that they slide back and forth on can have corrosion build up which >> could cause dragging on one side vs the other. >> >> -Kyle >> >> >> On Wed, Apr 3, 2019 at 9:49 AM Graham Rogers <[email protected]> >> wrote: >> >>> Easy to get the pistons back in, I put brake fluid in the caliper, >>> spread some around the O rings in the caliper and gently jiggle the pistons >>> back in. They easily compress with fingers. No need to disconnect lines >>> just make sure level in reservoir is low so it doesn’t overflow out. Or, >>> open the bleeder valve on caliper. >>> >>> On Wed, Apr 3, 2019 at 10:43 AM Jenya Spektor <[email protected]> >>> wrote: >>> >>>> Thank you both for the detailed response. If I am to do it without >>>> disconnecting the lines, how hard it is to depress them back into place in >>>> order to install new pads (which will make sense to install anyway)? I know >>>> I need to use a caliper tool that pushes them in on my 76 MGB - I >>>> definitely can't do it by just pressing with my fingers. >>>> Thanks >>>> >>>> >>>> On Wed, Apr 3, 2019 at 9:51 AM Kyle Munz <[email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>>> I'm with Graham, cleaning and if necessary rebuilding the calipers is >>>>> cheap insurance that they're operating properly. I took pics when I did >>>>> mine: >>>>> http://nighthawk.kylemunz.com/?p=430 >>>>> http://nighthawk.kylemunz.com/?p=463 >>>>> >>>>> -Kyle >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> On Wed, Apr 3, 2019 at 7:47 AM Graham Rogers < >>>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> Let me add what I mean by slats. I sometimes use paint sticks cut in >>>>>> thirds. I start off using as many necessary to fill the space in the >>>>>> calipers. Then pump the brakes till the pistons can’t go beyond the >>>>>> sticks. >>>>>> One piston usually gets to the sticks before the other. The sticks stops >>>>>> the first piston from going any further, allowing the second piston to >>>>>> catch up. Then remove sticks to keep the pistons emerging at the same >>>>>> time >>>>>> >>>>>> On Tue, Apr 2, 2019 at 5:35 PM Graham Rogers < >>>>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>>>> >>>>>>> Jenya, I’m guessing it was like that before you bled the brakes. An >>>>>>> hours work to clean the calipers, maybe a little longer because you have >>>>>>> two sets to do. Worthwhile though. The hardest part is pumping the >>>>>>> pistons >>>>>>> out of the calipers. You can do one at a time or pump out all four >>>>>>> pistons >>>>>>> at the same time. >>>>>>> 1. Unbolt the calipers on both sides so they hang freely. >>>>>>> 2. Make sure your brake reservoir is full, remove the disc pads from >>>>>>> both calipers. Remove the springs in the calipers. >>>>>>> Now you have the pistons exposed. >>>>>>> 3. I have wooden slats I place in the calipers where the pads were, >>>>>>> a couple of different thicknesses. >>>>>>> 4. Now I carefully start pumping the brakes, watching the reservoir >>>>>>> fluid level and the pistons as they start to emerge from in the >>>>>>> calipers. >>>>>>> The idea is, by using the wooden slats, to allow the pistons to be >>>>>>> pumped >>>>>>> out evenly, so that all four are just about out and can be finally >>>>>>> extracted by removing the slats and pulling them out with either a last >>>>>>> pump and/or carefully jiggling them out with a pair of pliers. Get them >>>>>>> almost out by pumping, remove the slats or whatever you use, and >>>>>>> sometimes >>>>>>> one good pump and they all pop out along with the remaining fluid. There >>>>>>> you go the hard part is done. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> On Tue, Apr 2, 2019 at 5:18 PM Jenya Spektor <[email protected]> >>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>> >>>>>>>> Graham, Hello again! >>>>>>>> The fluid was clear inside the reservoir. >>>>>>>> It seem to bind in one place more then in the others. >>>>>>>> The wheel does not spin freely. >>>>>>>> I don't know if it was like that before I replaced the glass and >>>>>>>> bled the breaks. >>>>>>>> Thanks ! >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> On Tue, Apr 2, 2019 at 5:10 PM Graham Rogers < >>>>>>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> But was the fluid clear in the reservoir before you bled the >>>>>>>>> brakes, the original fluid when you unscrewed the lid off the >>>>>>>>> reservoir? >>>>>>>>> Are you sure it’s binding and not just resting against the rotor. Is >>>>>>>>> it >>>>>>>>> constant or just at a certain point on the rotor? When you anchor the >>>>>>>>> back >>>>>>>>> of the bike down so the front wheel is off the ground, does the wheel >>>>>>>>> spin >>>>>>>>> freely? >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> On Tue, Apr 2, 2019 at 4:33 PM Jenya Spektor <[email protected]> >>>>>>>>> wrote: >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> I have not done anything but to drain the cylinder and to replace >>>>>>>>>> the glass (followed by replenishing the fluid and bleeding the >>>>>>>>>> breaks). >>>>>>>>>> The liquid was clear when I bled the break lines. >>>>>>>>>> So I am not sure why the slight binding would happen all of a >>>>>>>>>> sudden. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> On Tue, Apr 2, 2019 at 1:35 PM Graham Rogers < >>>>>>>>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> Brake pads should be loosely resting against the rotors, not >>>>>>>>>>> binding them but you might hear that they are slightly resting >>>>>>>>>>> against the >>>>>>>>>>> rotor. Any binding, you need to remove the calipers and pistons and >>>>>>>>>>> clean >>>>>>>>>>> them out. Each caliper has two pistons, two rubber O rings per >>>>>>>>>>> caliper. If >>>>>>>>>>> there’s binding, a thorough cleaning should suffice. >>>>>>>>>>> The test is does the front wheel spin freely when lifted off the >>>>>>>>>>> ground? If so, you’re good. However what was the brake fluid like >>>>>>>>>>> before >>>>>>>>>>> you replaced the sight glass? Was it dirty, grungy, etc. if it >>>>>>>>>>> wasn’t >>>>>>>>>>> pretty much clear with no crystallization, etc, then assume the >>>>>>>>>>> calipers >>>>>>>>>>> and pistons are in the same state. If so, clean the them >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> On Tue, Apr 2, 2019 at 1:01 PM Jenya Spektor < >>>>>>>>>>> [email protected]> wrote: >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> So i had to replace the sight glass - my old one had just >>>>>>>>>>>> disintegrated (which I did and did well at that). I bled the >>>>>>>>>>>> brakes as per >>>>>>>>>>>> the shop manual. >>>>>>>>>>>> The thing is, NOW the front wheel is a bit sticky - almost >>>>>>>>>>>> feels like the break pads really have no gap between the pads and >>>>>>>>>>>> the disk. >>>>>>>>>>>> Is there anything else I need to do to ensure that the front >>>>>>>>>>>> breaks are sound? >>>>>>>>>>>> Please let me know. >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> Here is what I did. >>>>>>>>>>>> 1. Opened the MC and drained most of the break fluid (leaving a >>>>>>>>>>>> bit on the bottom). >>>>>>>>>>>> 2. Replaced the sight glass, made sure there are no leaks. >>>>>>>>>>>> 3. Bled the breaks on both sides (I have a 1983 NH 650 with >>>>>>>>>>>> dual disk breaks in front). >>>>>>>>>>>> 4. Made sure that the level is firm and when squeezed feels the >>>>>>>>>>>> same way on each squeeze/application of the breaks. >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> Just want to make sure it done right and the breaks will work >>>>>>>>>>>> as intended. >>>>>>>>>>>> Thank you all, >>>>>>>>>>>> jenya >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the >>>>>>>>>>>> Google Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. >>>>>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from >>>>>>>>>>>> it, send an email to >>>>>>>>>>>> [email protected]. >>>>>>>>>>>> To post to this group, send email to >>>>>>>>>>>> [email protected]. >>>>>>>>>>>> Visit this group at >>>>>>>>>>>> https://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers. >>>>>>>>>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the >>>>>>>>>>> Google Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. >>>>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from >>>>>>>>>>> it, send an email to >>>>>>>>>>> [email protected]. >>>>>>>>>>> To post to this group, send email to >>>>>>>>>>> [email protected]. >>>>>>>>>>> Visit this group at >>>>>>>>>>> https://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers. >>>>>>>>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>>>> Jenya Spektor >>>>>>>>>> 917.202.3080 >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the >>>>>>>>>> Google Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. >>>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, >>>>>>>>>> send an email to [email protected]. >>>>>>>>>> To post to this group, send email to >>>>>>>>>> [email protected]. >>>>>>>>>> Visit this group at >>>>>>>>>> https://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers. >>>>>>>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>>>>>> Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. >>>>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, >>>>>>>>> send an email to [email protected]. >>>>>>>>> To post to this group, send email to >>>>>>>>> [email protected]. >>>>>>>>> Visit this group at >>>>>>>>> https://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers. >>>>>>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>> Jenya Spektor >>>>>>>> 917.202.3080 >>>>>>>> >>>>>>>> -- >>>>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>>>>> Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. >>>>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, >>>>>>>> send an email to [email protected]. >>>>>>>> To post to this group, send email to >>>>>>>> [email protected]. >>>>>>>> Visit this group at >>>>>>>> https://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers. >>>>>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>>>>>> >>>>>>> -- >>>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>>> Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. >>>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, >>>>>> send an email to [email protected]. >>>>>> To post to this group, send email to >>>>>> [email protected]. >>>>>> Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers. >>>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>>> Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. >>>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>>> an email to [email protected]. >>>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected] >>>>> . >>>>> Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers. >>>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> Jenya Spektor >>>> 917.202.3080 >>>> >>>> -- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>>> Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>>> an email to [email protected]. >>>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>>> Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers. >>>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>> an email to [email protected]. >>> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >>> Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers. >>> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >>> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to [email protected]. >> To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. >> Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers. >> For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. >> > > > -- > Jenya Spektor > 917.202.3080 > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
