Doh! Took off disc brake and now it's seized up. Any ideas?

BadBrains · Post by **BadBrains** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 4:33 pm

I disassembled the panels on my Buddy, painted them up, and then slapped them back on only to find that I can't complete the final step! The pads on my disc brake have closed up (I removed the disc brake to take off the front wheel) and I can't figure out how to get them to open back up. Has anyone experienced this when changing a tire or when painting their scoot?

This is the general fleshy tone of my face right now ---->

rajron · Post by **rajron** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 4:36 pm

jus push the piston

BadBrains · Post by **BadBrains** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 4:44 pm

rajron wrote:jus push the piston

Is the piston the small part with the removable rubber seal?

BadBrains · Post by **BadBrains** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 4:49 pm

I should also mention that I had the disc brake propped up on an ice chest, because I didn't want to put stress on the cable. Is it a possibility that by doing this I let air into the system and now it needs bleeding?

rajron · Post by **rajron** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 4:49 pm

What pushes the disc pad to the disc rotor is the piston surrounded by the rubber – its just hydraulics, pushing the piston will just push the fluid back in to the reservoir mounted on the handle bar

luckyleighton · Post by **luckyleighton** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 5:00 pm

I have not fooled with the Scooter's caliper, but if you can not push the piston down with a clap or something, I think you may have a bad caliper. If the brakes needed bleeding it would not cause that symptom.

At least on a car you would.

BadBrains · Post by **BadBrains** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 5:10 pm

Thanks for the help rajron, but I still can't get the pads to separate. And it's obvious now that the system is hydraulic based; not sure why I thought it used a cable when I was aware of the fluid reservoir.

I can compress the green metal part that attaches the disc brake assembly to the forks, but that's about it. Should I be able to pry apart the brake pads themselves?

Dibber · Post by **Dibber** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 5:18 pm

You might want to open the brake fluid resourvor on the right side of the handle bar. This will releave you of some of the pressure when you push in the piston. Watch for fluid that escapes the resourvor and you may need to replace the lost fluid.

BadBrains · Post by **BadBrains** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 5:48 pm

Dibber wrote:You might want to open the brake fluid resourvor on the right side of the handle bar. This will releave you of some of the pressure when you push in the piston. Watch for fluid that escapes the resourvor and you may need to replace the lost fluid.

I took off the cover to the brake fluid reservoir, but there's a clear plastic cap on the inside that doesn't appear to have any holes that allow fluid to enter the hose down to the brake. Holding down the brake lever doesn't appear to effect the fluid levels in the reservoir either. I may have exhausted my possibilities, but any other ideas?

rajron · Post by **rajron** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 7:08 pm

Remove the pads; items 22, 23
Push piston; item 26 until flush with main housing assembly
As mentioned above, remove reservoir cap if necessary.
Reassemble

That should do it.

These are little bitty brakes, leverage may be an issue, constant pressure is also key

BadBrains · Post by **BadBrains** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 7:22 pm

rajron wrote:Remove the pads; items 22, 23
Push piston; item 26 until flush with main housing assembly
As mentioned above, remove reservoir cap if necessary.
Reassemble

That should do it.

These are little bitty brakes, leverage may be an issue, constant pressure is also key

Thanks! I'll follow your instructions and let you guys know how it goes. BUT, I have one last needy compound question before I attempt this...

Is the green metal floating piece the caliper and does it need to be removed as well to get to the brake pads?

rajron · Post by **rajron** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 7:24 pm

oops I’m not sure what the green metal floating thing is, is item #25?

21 C2403303000 1 Y FRT BRAKE CALLIPER
22 C240C311000 1 Y INSIDE PAD
23 C240C321000 1 Y OUTSIDE PAD
24 C140C141000 2 SCREW
25 C140C330000 1 YOKE SPRING
26 C140C040000 1 DUST PROOF -- not sure why they call it this
27 C140C030000 1 OIL SEAL
28 C140C060000 1 BREED SCREW (what does that mean?? sounds sort of nasty)

BadBrains · Post by **BadBrains** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 7:31 pm

It looks more like the large un-numbered item in the middle left of that picture. It appears to hold the brake pads in place, but it doesn't feel like it's under a lot of pressure.

rajron · Post by **rajron** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 7:41 pm

They should stay together as one unit. The pads float (should) between the green and gold parts - push the piston back and they will be free

BadBrains · Post by **BadBrains** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 7:47 pm

Eureka! There's actually two good places to push down with your thumbs on the exposed brake pad, causing the pistons to push back down and allowing said pad to move freely. I didn't have to take anything apart, but I wouldn't have been able to figure it out without your help rajron.

What do I owe you for time and services rendered?

rajron · Post by **rajron** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 8:03 pm

Only thing --- ride safely !!

ryder1 · Post by **ryder1** » Mon Jun 09, 2008 8:23 pm

This is a great post of helping one another...scooter brothers!