Brake Pads

[Pass]

How do you replace the front brake pads? :question

[Ed Miller]

What year and specific model is your bike?

On my '81 R65 with dual disk front brakes I would have to remove one of the calipers and hang it from a wire so it doesn't strain the brake hose.  Then remove the front tire.  After that, both brake calipers are accessible and I would just wiggle out the old pads and wiggle in the new ones.  If your old ones are worn down a lot, then take off the top of your master cylinder up on the handlebar, and use a turkey baster or syringe to remove most of the brake fluid.  Then you can press the new brake pads into the calipers, which will force some fluid up into the master cylinder.  You may need some sort of C clamp or other tool to apply enough pressure to do that.

When the the new pads pushed in far enough you can put the tire on, slipping the disks back into the calipers.  Replace the caliper you removed.

Suck out the rest of the fluid in the master cylinder, and refill with new fluid.  It should be DOT4 brake fluid.  If you have not done it in the past couple of years you should bleed out the old fluid down at the calipers and top up the master cylinder with more new fluid.  Changing the brake fluid is a sort of regular maintenance procedure on these.

Hope this helps,

I've never done this job on an LS which is what you have for your avatar, but it should be similar.  

[arthurshort]

What year and specific model is your bike?

On my '81 R65 with dual disk front brakes I would have to remove one of the calipers and hang it from a wire so it doesn't strain the brake hose.  Then remove the front tire.  After that, both brake calipers are accessible and I would just wiggle out the old pads and wiggle in the new ones.  If your old ones are worn down a lot, then take off the top of your master cylinder up on the handlebar, and use a turkey baster or syringe to remove most of the brake fluid.  Then you can press the new brake pads into the calipers, which will force some fluid up into the master cylinder.  You may need some sort of C clamp or other tool to apply enough pressure to do that.

When the the new pads pushed in far enough you can put the tire on, slipping the disks back into the calipers.  Replace the caliper you removed.

Suck out the rest of the fluid in the master cylinder, and refill with new fluid.  It should be DOT4 brake fluid.  If you have not done it in the past couple of years you should bleed out the old fluid down at the calipers and top up the master cylinder with more new fluid.  Changing the brake fluid is a sort of regular maintenance procedure on these.

Hope this helps,

I've never done this job on an LS which is what you have for your avatar, but it should be similar.  

Hey Pass, as Ed says, I don't know what year and specific model your bike is. On my 1982R65LS I have Brembo dual discs, I agree with Ed on everything except the removal of the front wheel. My Brembo calipers have a plastic cover over the pads. Pop off the cover pull the two pins holding the pads, pull out the old pads. No need to remove front wheel or caliper. That is the way mine work, I don't know how yours or Ed's work. 8-)

[Justin B.]

Ed probably has ATE calipers.  You will still need to lever the pistons back into the caliper housing to get the new pads to fit, just be careful you don't bend or gouge something.  If you don't think you can get the pistons pushed in without tearing something up them remove caliper and use the C-clamp.

[Pass]

Thanks for your help. My LS is a 1982.   I'm off to give it a try.

[Justin B.]

I also have an '82 LS and you have Brembos so pop the cap, and pull two pins...

[Semper Gumby]

...and watch out for the spring between the two pins.  

[Justin B.]

Heh, I'm sure he will on the second side!  I can't remember if that spring is strong enough to get away very far or not...

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

If you don't know the history of this bike, maybe now is a good time to do a complete brake rebuild?

I was astonished when I opened up my caliper!


clickable image

[Ed Miller]

Good grief Rob, some of us are trying to eat!  




Luckily not me.  What an object lesson.

I do have ATEs.  I didn't know Brembos were so easy to change.  

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

You know Ed, that is one of my favorite pictures, for some sick reason!  

[MrRiden]

Not to quibble but my '82 LS [01/82 manufacture date] has dual ATE calipers. I think we discussed this in the past. Some came with Brembos some ATE for some reason.
rich

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Not to quibble but my '82 LS [01/82 manufacture date] has dual ATE calipers. I think we discussed this in the past. Some came with Brembos some ATE for some reason.
rich

And from the outside, at least, they appear to be duplicates of each other.

[Ed Miller]

Not to quibble but my '82 LS [01/82 manufacture date] has dual ATE calipers. I think we discussed this in the past. Some came with Brembos some ATE for some reason.
rich

Same as mine.  Can we also change the pads without removing the calipers, like they can with their Brembos?  We have those plastic snap on covers, but I never tried to see if the pads would come out that way.

[goomicoo]

Thanks for your help. My LS is a 1982.   I'm off to give it a try.

Is that a pic of your bike. I didn't know they came orange. (my favorite color)