Front Rotor grinding - [FIXED = was just dirt]

AndrewGZ250_02 · 04-23-2012, 06:50 PM

So, I learned my first lesson today: Don't ride on muddy roads.

I came back to my garage and found my front wheel was grinding. Removed the caliper, checked the wheel and the sound was gone, so I deducted that its the brake pads grinding against the rotor. Cleaned a little dirt off the pads, they looked fine, but on second inspection I discovered that they were actually worn right past the danger zone. So I need new pads. [ Did not clean the rotor well enough and that is why the grinding remained. ]

Before I realized how worn they were, I had figured the grinding was from dirt in the caliper causing misalignment. So I cleaned it a bit, pumped the piston out a little and cleaned some gunk on it, only to find I couldn't press it back in.. Now I'm looking at having to bleed the lines a little bit. [ Just C-clamp the piston in. ]

So I took off the master cylinder cap only to find a white piece of plastic which looks and feels totally sealed in place. I can't find any instructions on how to get past it and to the brake fluid resevoir underneath, so I'm stressing out. [ The white plastic piece does come off, just gotta stick a knife in beneath the thin black rubber seal. MAKE SURE CYLINDER IS LEVEL :roll: . ]

Several problems here, being:

A) Where do I get new pads.

B) What is causing the wheel to grind (brake related).

C) Do I need to bleed the brake fluid to depress the piston? If so, how do I get at the brake fluid resevoir, under the white plastic seal.

JWR · 04-23-2012, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndrewGZ250_02

So, I learned my first lesson today: Don't ride on muddy roads.

So I took off the master cylinder cap only to find a white piece of plastic which looks and feels totally sealed in place. I can't find any instructions on how to get past it and to the brake fluid resevoir underneath, so I'm stressing out. The manual isn't very helpful here, the only info I could get out of it was, the piston is very difficult to depress.

Several problems here, being:

A) Where do I get new pads.

B) What is causing the wheel to grind (brake related).

C) Do I need to bleed the brake fluid to depress the piston? If so, how do I get at the brake fluid resevoir, under the white plastic seal.

A) Dealer or internet.

B) Brakes

C) Knife blade and lift up, gasket is stuck.
Put the old brake next to the piston and use a pair of plires to squeeze the piston in.

This will get you started.

AndrewGZ250_02 · 04-23-2012, 08:17 PM

Thanks. Plyers worked, finished off with a C-clamp. Caliper all cleaned up now, just a matter of finding some pads.

5th_bike · 04-23-2012, 10:31 PM

Don't forget to keep the two brake pad shims. And, if the wear on the old pads was uneven, you need to silicon lube the caliper pins.

AndrewGZ250_02 · 04-23-2012, 11:11 PM

Hmm.. there were no pad shims!

AndrewGZ250_02 · 04-23-2012, 11:12 PM

Nevermind found em, looked like they were part of the pads. Thanks for the protip woulda tossed em for sure !!

AndrewGZ250_02 · 04-23-2012, 11:18 PM

Here is the worn pad.. Note the paint goes right to the edge and is chipping off. I feel that this looks dangerously low, can I get a confirmation on that?

alantf · 04-24-2012, 05:23 AM

When you get the new pads, look at them. You'll see a groove cut into them. When they wear down until you can no longer see the groove, it's time to replace them. :2tup:

AndrewGZ250_02 · 04-24-2012, 10:08 PM

The Parts-Dealer took a look at the old pads and, being able to see the groove, said there was still life on them. However, we both agreed that they looked strangely trashed, with chunks missing.

I made the call to replace them, made sure to pump the brake to get them in place, and mated the pads and rotor. The grinding sound was gone after a few stops on the driveway, so I can only assume that it was dirt on the rotor that caused it.

Thanks for the help all, I am quite relieved.

**jonathan180iq** · 04-25-2012, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndrewGZ250_02

I just posted a giant picture

It's already been taken care of. But make sure your pictures are scaled down just a bit for forum viewing. (Everyone)
I use Tinypic a lot too. They have a "Message Board" size which is 640x480. That seems to work very nicely around here.

Keep it up and have a good day.

04-23-2012, 06:50 PM	#1
AndrewGZ250_02 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Tottenham, ON Posts: 20	Front Rotor grinding - [FIXED = was just dirt] So, I learned my first lesson today: Don't ride on muddy roads. I came back to my garage and found my front wheel was grinding. Removed the caliper, checked the wheel and the sound was gone, so I deducted that its the brake pads grinding against the rotor. Cleaned a little dirt off the pads, they looked fine, but on second inspection I discovered that they were actually worn right past the danger zone. So I need new pads. [ Did not clean the rotor well enough and that is why the grinding remained. ] Before I realized how worn they were, I had figured the grinding was from dirt in the caliper causing misalignment. So I cleaned it a bit, pumped the piston out a little and cleaned some gunk on it, only to find I couldn't press it back in.. Now I'm looking at having to bleed the lines a little bit. [ Just C-clamp the piston in. ] So I took off the master cylinder cap only to find a white piece of plastic which looks and feels totally sealed in place. I can't find any instructions on how to get past it and to the brake fluid resevoir underneath, so I'm stressing out. [ The white plastic piece does come off, just gotta stick a knife in beneath the thin black rubber seal. MAKE SURE CYLINDER IS LEVEL :roll: . ] Several problems here, being: A) Where do I get new pads. B) What is causing the wheel to grind (brake related). C) Do I need to bleed the brake fluid to depress the piston? If so, how do I get at the brake fluid resevoir, under the white plastic seal. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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04-23-2012, 08:17 PM	#3
AndrewGZ250_02 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Tottenham, ON Posts: 20	Re: Multiple issues multiple possible answers Thanks. Plyers worked, finished off with a C-clamp. Caliper all cleaned up now, just a matter of finding some pads. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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04-23-2012, 10:31 PM	#4
5th_bike Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: HoCo, Maryland Posts: 1,349	Re: Multiple issues multiple possible answers Don't forget to keep the two brake pad shims. And, if the wear on the old pads was uneven, you need to silicon lube the caliper pins. __________________ 2005 "Saturn Black", stock + tach
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04-23-2012, 11:11 PM	#5
AndrewGZ250_02 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Tottenham, ON Posts: 20	Re: Multiple issues multiple possible answers Hmm.. there were no pad shims! Login or Register to Remove Ads
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04-23-2012, 11:12 PM	#6
AndrewGZ250_02 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Tottenham, ON Posts: 20	Re: Multiple issues multiple possible answers Nevermind found em, looked like they were part of the pads. Thanks for the protip woulda tossed em for sure !!
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04-23-2012, 11:18 PM	#7
AndrewGZ250_02 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Tottenham, ON Posts: 20	Re: Multiple issues multiple possible answers Here is the worn pad.. Note the paint goes right to the edge and is chipping off. I feel that this looks dangerously low, can I get a confirmation on that?
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04-24-2012, 05:23 AM	#8
alantf Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Tenerife (Spain) Posts: 3,719	Re: Multiple issues multiple possible answers When you get the new pads, look at them. You'll see a groove cut into them. When they wear down until you can no longer see the groove, it's time to replace them. :2tup: __________________ By birth an Englishman, by the grace of God a Yorkshireman.
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04-24-2012, 10:08 PM	#9
AndrewGZ250_02 Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Tottenham, ON Posts: 20	Re: Front Rotor grinding - [FIXED = was just dirt] The Parts-Dealer took a look at the old pads and, being able to see the groove, said there was still life on them. However, we both agreed that they looked strangely trashed, with chunks missing. I made the call to replace them, made sure to pump the brake to get them in place, and mated the pads and rotor. The grinding sound was gone after a few stops on the driveway, so I can only assume that it was dirt on the rotor that caused it. Thanks for the help all, I am quite relieved.
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