rotorbug Posted July 25, 2015 Posted July 25, 2015 I squeezed the front brake lever accidentally with the wheel/disc off the bike. I levered the pads back to allow the disc enough space. Now there is no free play when I apply the brake. There is no adjustment on the free travel screw (On XT brake lever) to give it more free play. How can I get some free play back?
Rattle Snake Posted July 25, 2015 Posted July 25, 2015 Recently I replaced the Pads on my XT Brakes (BR-M785) There was virtually no play on the levers... After about 300km of riding the free play is coming back, I am sure if you bled the brakes after Pad replacement they will be back to normal but I prefer to "ware" them in.The stopping power is the same and I used Shimano Pads ! I have the Same XT brakes on my other bike I changed the hose length (From New) on the rear, I bled the Back brake and the feel was the same as the Front and had normal free play. Hope this helps.....
quickdraw Posted July 25, 2015 Posted July 25, 2015 Try levering the pads back a bit further, place a piece of paper between each pad and the rotors then give the levers a couple of pulls.
Spoke101 Posted July 25, 2015 Posted July 25, 2015 Remove the pads and using something plastic like a tyre lever push the pistons back till they are flush with the caliper. If they still remain slightly exposed then remove the bleed screw on the lever and try again (only do this with the lever being at a higher elevation than the caliper and take it slow because you don't want to fold the master cylinder seal the wrong way). This should sort your problem out but you might need to top up the mineral oil after a few rides.
Skylark Posted July 25, 2015 Posted July 25, 2015 Not sure but perhaps you didn't fully push the pistons back in, Park Tool make a winner tool for safely levering the pistons back in, I paid around R200 for mine. Otherwise something like a wide face screwdriver(make sure it's clean so the pads don't get contamination) can be used, leave the pads in and then lever against each pad in turn to push the pistons back on both sides, visually make sure that they are fully retracted and then put the wheel back in.
floatfox Posted July 25, 2015 Posted July 25, 2015 Push the brake pads apart...put your wheel in and pull the lever a few times. They will center themselves
JXV Posted July 26, 2015 Posted July 26, 2015 I squeezed the front brake lever accidentally with the wheel/disc off the bike. I levered the pads back to allow the disc enough space. Now there is no free play when I apply the brake. There is no adjustment on the free travel screw (On XT brake lever) to give it more free play. How can I get some free play back?Just remove wheel and carefully lever the pads back even more than you did before. I prefer to remove the pads and lever the pistons back directly - that way there is no chance of pad damage. When you reassemble, the brakes may not bite for the first few pulls until the pads have settled back to the proper position - so be sure they are working before you go out on a ride.
Skylark Posted July 26, 2015 Posted July 26, 2015 Just remove wheel and carefully lever the pads back even more than you did before. I prefer to remove the pads and lever the pistons back directly - that way there is no chance of pad damage. When you reassemble, the brakes may not bite for the first few pulls until the pads have settled back to the proper position - so be sure they are working before you go out on a ride.If you don't have a piston spreader tool then I'd definitely lever against the pads and not the pistons, rather play it safe. If by some cruel luck you damage the piston with a sharp edge etc that's going to be an expensive mission but new pads are just R200 + 5mins and you are back in business. Apart from contamination I don't see a big risk levering against the pads, also a nice flat even surface to lever against, why chance it on the piston.
JXV Posted July 26, 2015 Posted July 26, 2015 If you don't have a piston spreader tool then I'd definitely lever against the pads and not the pistons, rather play it safe. If by some cruel luck you damage the piston with a sharp edge etc that's going to be an expensive mission but new pads are just R200 + 5mins and you are back in business. Apart from contamination I don't see a big risk levering against the pads, also a nice flat even surface to lever against, why chance it on the piston.Fair comment. I use the heads of two small open ended spanners. Slightly wedged and rounded. Should have mentioned that. If doing a trailside repair I would push the pads using tyre levers or whatever available. The key is to be slow and gentle with those pistons.
brumby Posted July 26, 2015 Posted July 26, 2015 Ceramic pistons also break easily if they levered back at an angle . The broken pieces then jam between the piston and the caliper preventing any further backward movement of the piston.
Rattle Snake Posted July 27, 2015 Posted July 27, 2015 It will also be good to lever the pistons back with the old Pads still installed with a screwdriver !!! If you dont have the correct tools...
Martin PJ Posted July 27, 2015 Posted July 27, 2015 It will also be good to lever the pistons back with the old Pads still installed with a screwdriver !!! If you dont have the correct tools... What he said, this is a common problem with Formula One brakes, I do this all the time.
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