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Sticky brakes
Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2013 7:56 pm
by skull-candy18
My brakes seem to be sticking making it hard to push the bike.
As it has been stood for a while is it a case of riding it to free them up or should I take the calipers off and push the pistons back?
With my cars I usually just take the caliper off and pop the piston out and clean it up and put a new seal on, not too sure about bikes though.
Thanks
Re: Sticky brakes
Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2013 8:26 pm
by cal
Pistons might be a bit sticky with lack of use? try opening the bleed nipple a touch to let a tiny bit of fluid out, this should relieve the pressure, and let the wheel turn free, check it after a ride though to make sure its not keeping stuck on,

a good way to loose your fingerprints would be to touch the disc after a ride

HOT HOT HOT
Re: Sticky brakes
Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 12:17 pm
by guysie99
Do you have blue spots or stock? I found this sick post by Fung. Search "Blue spot maintenance guide" to find it. I intend to do it next pad change. prob could work with stock too...
Re: Sticky brakes
Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 3:10 pm
by Silver
If you ride it with sticking pistons you have a good chance of warping a disc. Much better to get the calipers serviced. Minimum undo the calipers from bike, push pistons out till you see clean piston showing, clean all the crud off with plastic pan shiner (ask your mum) then re lube with red brake grease, push pistons back in reassemble.
Dave
Re: Sticky brakes
Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2013 10:03 pm
by skull-candy18
Thanks for the advice, ordered some red grease so will get cracking on that.
One more quick question, with blue spot calipers, which disc's do I use ? Or do you use them with the trx disc's?
Re: Sticky brakes
Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2013 10:18 pm
by cal
standard discs, straight swap,

Re: Sticky brakes
Posted: Thu May 16, 2013 11:03 am
by brenyw
Usually 2 causes of brakes dragging
1. Dirt on the piston - clean of using a paddlepop stick or old toothbrush
2. Stuffed brake hose - usually a bit of rubber comes loose inside due to age and it can act like a 1 way valve - replace.