Front Disc Brake Problem

[ryac]

hey All,

I went out biking tonight.. had to go a bit of a distance so I took my front wheel off to put the bike in a cab (quick-release in front). that was fine.. I got out, put the wheel back on and did'er up. coming back home was a different story: took the wheel off again, arrived home, tried to put the wheel back on and realized the front pads on my disc brake are locked or stuck together. I cant put the rotor inside the calipers (I had the bike upside down on the way home). did I do something wrong?

any idea how I can fix this problem?

thanks for your advice..

Ryan

[Brisa]

You have pressed the lever allowing the pads to close together, you should be able to gently push them apart with something that won't damage your pads. If your really careful a screwdriver will do the job but try not and damage the pad material.

[konstant]

Hi there,

I've had this problem with the the Magura Martas on my XC bike a couple of times. I've remedied it by sliding an old stanley blade between the pads and prising them apart. Obviously you need to be wary of doing this as you could damage things if you're ham fisted. A lot of brakes will suck air into the system when the calipers over extend, so you might need to bleed the brake after you've got the pads apart.

It's easily done and hasn't caused me any major problems in the past, but try to make sure the levers can't move when your bike's in the back of your car/cab etc. I suppose it's possible that turning the bike upside down may have done it as well...

Edited January 23, 2010 by konstant

[trials4life1]

you've just pushed the lever in i guess, so use something to push them apart, screwdriver. but be careful not to damage the pads.

thanks

[D A N N Y]

Always used to do this, just get like a pen knife blade because there thin and slide it all the way through (try not to cut chunks out of your pads) and just firmly press it back in to position.

Danny

[davey1991]

Repetetice reply number 5.

You have a self adjusting disk brake, this means that when the lever is pressed it adjusts the pads to be as close as possiable to the rotor.

With no rotor there you have adjusted the pads to think that they are aligned properly.

As has been said above gently prise them apart with something.

[ryac]

great thanks everyone.

I used three toothpicks first to create a gap - sticking them in at different angles. then when wide enough I used the bottle cap opener / screwdriver tool found on a swiss army knife to prise them apart a bit further so I can slide the rotor in and have it move freely without touching the pads.

everything seems to be back in order.

[RazGman]

i always do this with my hardtail, you have just pressed the lever in whilst the wheel was off is all, a screwdriver to pry them apart will be fine mate

[davey1991]

i always do this with my hardtail, you have just pressed the lever in whilst the wheel was off is all, a screwdriver to pry them apart will be fine mate

Why do people feel the need to carry on posting when he has clearly said he's sorted it..