2012 XTR Brakes

[Alpine Sports Coaching]

I replaced brake pads and gently pushed the pads/pistons back, they went back smoothly so that I could get the new pads in. I then noticed some fluid had pushed out at the leaver on the side, just a bit and I have riden the bike since and no more fluid has come out and the leaver is hard.

 

Is this normal?

[Paul Ruinaard]

sounds normal - you pushed the fluid that was in the caliper back in to the line and in to the reservoir which was probably already full. If it had no place to go, then it could squeeze out. I

 

f the lever is hard and the brakes work it would be a plausible explanation.

 

How worn were your pads? It sounds like they were on the edge of being shims

[Alpine Sports Coaching]

Yip metal to metal just about.

[Johan Bornman]

That would only have happened if the brakes were topped up (probably during bleeding) with the pads half-used. The mechanic slightly underestimated the amount of pad left and thus added too much fluid. When you forced the pistons in, the excess fluid was pushed out. This isn't a big deal other than it may have caused a little hernia in one of the seals when the fluid was forced out of a sealed reservoir. Just look for black rubber peeping out from under a lid or bleed screw. Other than that, you're now assured that your brakes have the absolute correct volume of fluid in.