Butch
Active Member
When installing new pads, the gap between them was closed considerably compared to the old pads, making it impossible to but the caliper back on the rotor.
My solution was to take a turkey baster (thanks wife) and remove about 25%- 30% of the brake fluid from the reservoir to release the pressure from the piston - Don't remove more than 50% of the fluid or you'll risk air getting into the system.
Next, I slid a wood door shim between the pads. The wedge shape pushed the piston back to open the distance up. And the soft wood left no damage on the brake pads.
With everything reinstalled and torqued, I topped off the brake fluid, pumped the lever about 15 times, and I was good to go.
You can get door shims - used when installing a new door or window - in packs of 10 or 12 at Menard's, Ace, Lowe's, just about anyplace that sells home improvement items. They're soft pine about 10 inches long and about a 1/8 inch wide at their thickest end.
My solution was to take a turkey baster (thanks wife) and remove about 25%- 30% of the brake fluid from the reservoir to release the pressure from the piston - Don't remove more than 50% of the fluid or you'll risk air getting into the system.
Next, I slid a wood door shim between the pads. The wedge shape pushed the piston back to open the distance up. And the soft wood left no damage on the brake pads.
With everything reinstalled and torqued, I topped off the brake fluid, pumped the lever about 15 times, and I was good to go.
You can get door shims - used when installing a new door or window - in packs of 10 or 12 at Menard's, Ace, Lowe's, just about anyplace that sells home improvement items. They're soft pine about 10 inches long and about a 1/8 inch wide at their thickest end.