Brake Pads not leaving enough room for the disc.

[doug]

Hi Gents,

I'm trying to install a new set of rear brake pads.  Typically a dead simple job.  I've opened the caliper using a c-clamp so that only about 1mm is out, as shown in the attached photo.

Despite this, there is not enough room between the new pads for the disc.  I checked the brake pads and they are the correct ones.

Any ideas that the hell is going wrong?  I must be losing my mind.

Thanks.

[Canadianshee]

Are you running oem pads? Some of the aftermarket pads are a tad thicker.

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[kawa110]

Piston in far enough?
Cap off the resivior?
Disk warped?


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[doug]

Aftermarket pads.  Good thought.

The piston is in as far as I can get it.  (out approx. 1mm as shown in photo)

Yes, cap off both reservoirs.

Disk does not appear warped.

Thanks guys!

[gusto]

I’ve had to drain the lines to get the piston to move in more than re bleed

[bansheesandrider]

Does it still have the park brake setup on it? If it does, back out the PB screw adjuster, then readjust the park brake after you have bled it .

[doug]

gusto - can you tell from the photo if it should be in further?

bansheeandrider - did this already, thanks.

Thank you for the help.

[gusto]

Hard for me to tell. I just went through this process a few months back and when I had no pressure in the lines I moved the piston in farther. I’d hate to have you re bleed for nothing though if it does t work. I rented the vacuum tool and it made all the difference 

[doug]

I went back out to the garage and removed the parking brake and then the I was able to compress the piston all the way in.  Shown in red in the pic.  The outside portion goes in as well.  Once I did this, the pads fit fine and I was riding.  Thanks for the help.  Does anyone know what the "button" and cap inside the red are for?  Looks like mine was glued at one point, but now it will just fall out when the pads are out.

 

[ginger]

are you talking about the piston?  if you dont have anything to limit it, and you keep pumping the brakes it will fall out.  

 

[doug]

On the top of the piston there is something that looks like a thick quarter.  On top of that is a cap.  In my case, both came out when I took the pads off.  I put them back on, so it's not that important, I was just curious.  I've looked at the microfiche and don't see them.

[AKheathen]

same thing for a lot of 90s imports and other caliper integrated park brakes, so keep that in mind if you run into a brake job ans see dowell holes or slots in the piston.