changing Disc pads

[wheelz]

please can someone tell me, step by step, how to change disc brake pads(magura). I dont want to take my bike to the shop cause its costing me way too much taking my bike in every time somethings wrong.

 

thanks

[parabola]

 

Well done on choosing to maintain things yourself!

But

maybe its just me, but i think a decent bike shop would swop them for free assuming you bought the pads from them. Otherwise check their website for the appropriate maintenance guide.

parabola2008-10-14 10:08:28

[Johan Bornman]

Wheelz, it is the easiest thing on earth.

 

Do one wheel at a time so that if you get confused, you can always refer to the other wheel.

 

Put your bike in a stand or on its back.

 

Remove the wheels

 

Look at your spare disk pads and note the position of a 4mm hole somewhere in the pads that goes through both pads if they're lined up face-to-face.

 

Now, look at your disc calliper and find the pin that goes through those holes. Pull the pin out. It will be designed so that it can only come out from one direction. Once you figured out the direction, you may have to tap it with a little hammer. There's lots of dirt in there so it may be stubborn.

 

Pull the pin out and note carefully the position of the little spring plate. It'll be a thin, shiny plate bent so that it forms a gentle little spring that holds the two pads slightly apart.

 

Remove that plate and pull the two pads out.

 

Now put a large flat-blade screwdriver between the two pistons and gently twist the screwdriver so that the pistons expand enough to accept your new, thicker pad.

 

Replace the new pads and their little spring place as per how they were.

 

Replace the pin and ensure that it won't just drop out.

 

Do the other wheel.

 

Squeeze the brakes once or twice to move the pistons into position.

 

Go for a test ride.

 

Crack a beer.

 

 

Johan Bornman2008-10-14 10:17:02

[wheelz]

cool. Thanks guys. that only took me 10min!

[Johan Bornman]

You'll get quicker, dont worry.

See, no need to run to your LBS nanny each time you change brake pads.

[Cycles Africa]

Wheelz,

I see from your posts that you have changed your pads successfully. If you need more info on your Magura brakes their website has manuals that you can down load along with lots of tech info.

www.magura.de

 

Just a point with respect to the process of changing pads.

 

When pushing the pistons back into the caliper, never use a screw driver, or for that matter any metal object. The pistons are made of a material that can very easily crack or be chipped by metal objects.

We use a plastic tyre lever to push the pistons back with.

 

If you need any further information please feel free to contact us. 011 888 3700

 

Cycles Africa are the agents for Magura in South Africa

 

Robert

Owner

www.cyclesafrica.co.za

Cycles Africa

 

 

 

[Johan Bornman]

 

When pushing the pistons back into the caliper' date=' never use a screw driver, or for that matter any metal object. The pistons are made of a material that can very easily crack or be chipped by metal objects.
We use a plastic tyre lever to push the pistons back with.

[/quote']

 

I didn't say hammer a chisel in there, I said "gently twist the screwdriver..."

 

You can even move glass pistons apart with a well-applied screwdriver. No need for alarm, kid gloves or semantics.

 

 

 

 

[WillemT]

Or just stick in the screw driver before you remove the old pads that way even if you don't do it gently you wont break anything because you still have the pads in between...

[TYGA]

JB's posts rate highly for pure entertainment value.

[hyper7]

JB's posts also rate highly for accurate and helpful information value IMHO.

 

Thank you, Johan.

 

 

[Johan Bornman]

Thanks guys, glad I can help.

 

 

[Tumbleweed]

Wheelz' date='I see from your posts that you have changed your pads successfully. If you need more info on your Magura brakes their website has manuals that you can down load along with lots of tech info.www.magura.deJust a point with respect to the process of changing pads.When pushing the pistons back into the caliper, never use a screw driver, or for that matter any metal object. The pistons are made of a material that can very easily crack or be chipped by metal objects.We use a plastic tyre lever to push the pistons back with.If you need any further information please feel free to contact us. 011 888 3700Cycles Africa are the agents for Magura in South AfricaRobertOwnerwww.cyclesafrica.co.zaCycles Africa

 

[/quote']

 

 

 

what about using that skinny screw driver thingie you get on some multitools? i find a screwdriver doesn't get the job done. much abrasion and not enough leverage. but if you part them with something uniformly skinny, like the flat, flat screwdriver on my multitool, surely less damage would be done. i can kinda understand why i conventional screwdriver could cause some hassles. holy roller2008-10-18 10:12:13

[Johan Bornman]

what about using that skinny screw driver thingie you get on some multitools? i find a screwdriver doesn't get the job done. much abrasion and not enough leverage. but if you part them with something uniformly skinny' date=' like the flat, flat screwdriver on my multitool, surely less damage would be done. i can kinda understand why i conventional screwdriver could cause some hassles. [/quote']

 

Barry, you're confusing the issue. Any bladed instrument, including a large screwdriver works. There is no abrasion as nothing gets rubbed, sanded, filed or fretted. Best to leave the last advice as it was.

 

 

 

 

[Sammajoor]

Is it just me or are a lot of people turning to DIY on the bike scene too.

 

Is this a sign of the times where people are turning over a cent before spending it, or just doing it themselves as a way of boosting the ego

 

[Tumbleweed]

what about using that skinny screw driver thingie you get on some multitools? i find a screwdriver doesn't get the job done. much abrasion and not enough leverage. but if you part them with something uniformly skinny' date=' like the flat, flat screwdriver on my multitool, surely less damage would be done. i can kinda understand why i conventional screwdriver could cause some hassles. [/quote']

 

?

 

Barry, you're confusing the issue. Any bladed instrument, including a large screwdriver works. There is no abrasion as nothing gets rubbed, sanded, filed or fretted. Best to leave the last advice as it was.

 

?

 

?

 

?

 

?

 

 

 

hi johan. i reckon you get something in there that has a "tapered" end like a screw driver and it'll work to get the piston back. but getting something in there that can fit through the entire "slot" of the brake rather than doing it from the edges would surely be better. i have just done this as my 10-year-old thought he was being helpful when he took my trance out of my car and pulled the brake levers without the wheels being attached, and thus the rotors in between the pads not being in the "right place"...or there at all. had a little tussle, but all is sorted now.

 

 

 

edit to take a word and plural out...holy roller2008-10-18 13:11:41

[Johan Bornman]

Is it just me or are a lot of people turning to DIY on the bike scene too.

Is this a sign of the times where people are turning over a cent before spending it' date=' or just doing it themselves as a way of boosting the ego
[/quote']

 

It's not just you. However, I think it isn't the money thing as much as the trust thing. Every one of my DIY students have some horror story to tell about bike service shops.

 

Last week we found a BB submerged in water inside the frame because the LBS mechanic smeared grease all over the inside of the BB shell and blocked the drain hole. Cost - One fancy BB kaput.

 

Today one of my students had a fancy Colnago. It took us a long time to get the BB off because some supposedly professional mechanic torqued the BB 500NM.  I'm not kidding. It required a 1.8m lever to get the BB off. Luckily Colnagos (and me) are strong and only a few threads were damaged.

 

It's an issue of trust. People are learing that there are better methods of determining chain health than asking a shop. They're learning that it inspires confidence to do things themselves.

 

Most of these guys I see are professionals - IT guys, risk managers, engineers etc. They're clever, driven and believe in themselves. They know they can do things as well or better than Frikkie the mechanic and just want to be shown once.

 

Not one of these students have complained about the average cost of a service, just about the quality of the service.