Urgent help needed

[copper]

So on my way to work today my front pads got down to metal. So I rode home on the rear brake. I changed over to the blue dots last winter and used up the pads they came with and bought new EBC pads at the same time. So the problem is, I got the pads in the left side but I cant get the pistons to go back far enough on the right side.

I took a small brush and some brake clean and clean the pistons before pushing them in. I haad a little trouble with the left because when you compressed one side the other would come out. I used two pair of channel lock plies and that side closed up. and i got the pads in. On the right side the pistons either move side to side or when I squeeze with both pliers it is as hard as a rock.

Any ideas? I have to ride to work tomorroow and working outside in the car port with a flashlight on my head sucks and it is alredy 10:30.

HELP PLEASE

[racerrad8]

Copper, I am still at the shop working if you want to call, I can help you figure it out.

Randy - RPM
209-844-9831

[copper]

Thanks Randy. I found a post the leopard made about brake service and started giving it a ready. It then dawned on me the master cylinder was probably full and would not allow anymore fluid into the reservoir. So not wanting to allow air into the sytem by opening the bleeder I took off the cap and it was full. the fluid started coming out as i lossened the lid. I drained it down about half way and then reinstalled the lid. I was then about to compress the right caliper and finish the job. I had a time line of midnite, so it is a shower and bed.Thanks guys

[copper]

WOW I had heard all of the great things about the blue dots over the years and when I bought and installed them I was disappointed.  I disappointed, because it really didnt stop any better than it did with the stock caliper. Well, now I see the light. When I got the calipers the pads had a lot of life so I figured I would use them up, which I did. The other night I put on the EBC HH pads that Randy sells and they stopped better at the first stop than the other pads ever did. They continue to wear into the rotors and the stopping power is getting even better. WOW Thanks Randy for the great parts & service and leopard for the write up which made me think of draining the master cylinder the other night. WOW

[FJmonkey]

They continue to wear into the rotors and the stopping power is getting even better. WOW Thanks Randy for the great parts & service and leopard for the write up which made me think of draining the master cylinder the other night. WOW

I have discovered that once fully bedded in they back off a bit on the bite. Not bad, I still like the predictable lever feel even if it is a bit stiff. My wave rotors had a growl when bedding in, when it stopped I knew then that the brake feel would be the same till I need new pads.

[bigbore2]

EBC knows how to make a nice pad.  Have them in my car, they really have a nice feel.

[ribbert]

WOW I had heard all of the great things about the blue dots over the years and when I bought and installed them I was disappointed.  I disappointed, because it really didnt stop any better than it did with the stock caliper.

I agree with you, but don't expect a round of posts from anyone else that does.

I went from stock calipers with EBC pads to blue dots with standard Toyo pads (while I waited for the HH's to turn up) and actually went backwards, the brakes were terrible.
While other components like the M/C and braided lines offer improvement, it is the EBC HH pads that transform them.

I now have my old calipers and HH pads on another bike and the brakes work and feel just as good.

Noel

Noel

[copper]

Noel,

My blue spots with the stock pads did not stop as well as my stock calipers and HH pads no matter how hard I squeezed the lever the braking would not increase. But since I got the blue spot with pads that still had a liot of life, I wanted to use them up because why spend money on pads if you have plenty of life left. I then added the HHpads to the blue spots and they are much better than the stock calipers with the with HH pads. The front brake seem to be more responsive and even though there is the intial bite (as monkey) calls it they are easy to modulate and I can increase the stopping power the more i squeeze. I love my blue spots and HH pad combination and I wont be going back to stock. sorry if my previous post was confusing, but my disappointment was the same performance level of the blue spots with stock pads was equal or slightly less than the stock calipers with HH pads, but I have no idea what pads were on the blus spots when I got them. Now blue spots and HH pads the front brake are better than ever.

[ribbert]

Noel,

...... sorry if my previous post was confusing, but my disappointment was the same performance level of the blue spots with stock pads was equal or slightly less than the stock calipers with HH pads, but I have no idea what pads were on the blus spots when I got them. Now blue spots and HH pads the front brake are better than ever.

Oh well, I enjoyed having an ally for at least 10 minutes....sigh 

Noel

[mark1969]

The other night I put on the EBC HH pads that Randy sells and they stopped better at the first stop than the other pads ever did. They continue to wear into the rotors and the stopping power is getting even better.

Good to hear. Have to say that my blue spots with SBS ceramic pads (and ZZR master cylinder / SS lines) give amazingly powerful 2 finger braking, yet with plenty of feel to be in control. With the right pads the blue spots are great, and it gives reassurance / confidence when stopping a powerful heavy bike like the FJ! 

[ribbert]

......Have to say that my blue spots with SBS ceramic pads (and ZZR master cylinder / SS lines) give amazingly powerful 2 finger braking, yet with plenty of feel to be in control. With the right pads the blue spots are great......

Mark, why did you choose ceramic pads?

Noel

[mark1969]

......Have to say that my blue spots with SBS ceramic pads (and ZZR master cylinder / SS lines) give amazingly powerful 2 finger braking, yet with plenty of feel to be in control. With the right pads the blue spots are great......

Mark, why did you choose ceramic pads?

Noel

I was recommended SBS by another biker, and after some research thought the Ceramic were worth a try. Another bonus, they don't squeal or make any noise..and for the reasons below.. 

- Stable brake performance, high level of comfort and long-lasting brake pads and rotor friendliness under various conditions such as wet roads, changing temperatures and different brake pressures.
- Recommended for earlier Sport, Touring and Custom models as well as daily transport and touring on small motorcycles which are mainly not originally equipped with sinter metal brake pads.

[fj1289]

Anytime you purchase used calipers, you have absolutely no idea the history of the pads in the calipers.  Were they ever contaminated with brake fluid from a ham fisted bleeding or line replacement?  Were the pads contaminate during shipping?  Were they overheated and glazed?

In my opinion - you really can't make an accurate performance assessment with unknown used pads - and you should replace the pads when you buy used calipers.


And yes, I made this mistake when I swapped to blue dots - and was shocked at how bad the used pads were - and very happy with the new HH pads.

[FJmonkey]

Trusting used brake pad(s) is like trusting a parachute packed by an unknown person.