BRAKES
WARNING
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE - READ AND TAKE NOTE OF THE FOLLOWING

You should only attempt any of the following procedures if you're sure you know what you're doing with brakes. If you are in any doubt, or are not in doubt but have reason to believe you should be in doubt, get someone who knows what they're doing to do it for you.

No, really - I mean it - brakes are important. Only do these things if you know what you're doing.



Brakes : Rubbermat's Binding Brakes Fix
As recommended by Rubbermat, and endorsed by at least one other FOC-U board user:
(Originally intended as a fix for binding front brakes, I can't see any reason why what's there can't be applied to the back)

1/ Use a "brake cleaner spray can" and lots of rags to clean as much dirt from the pistons and calipers as possible. Gently and carefully move the pistons out 2 or 3 millimetres and clean again. Do not let pistons come out too far. Use a piece of wood to stop pistons moving too far.

2/ Use a "rubber grease" specially for brake pistons and smear a little around the clean pistons. Push piston back in (make sure the other pistons do not come out!!). Use brake lever to bring piston forward again and smear a little more grease on. Keep doing this until they move back in easily.

3/ Use "brake pad grease" on the edges of the brake pads to make sure they move easily.

4/ Use "copper slip" on the guide pins and all bolt threads.

5/ Bleed the brake fluid using ONLY new fluid from a newly opened bottle.

6/ Ride very carefully for the first few miles and brake gently to ease the brakes in. After this ride the wheel shouldn't be stiff.

NOTE - rubber grease for brake pistons is different to grease for brake pads. Do not use anything except rubber grease (aka caliper grease) on the pistons as it rots the rubber seals and the brakes will become useless.


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Brakes : Changing Rear Pads
(Courtesy of Alan Sherman)

Loosen the two allen bolts (pad retaining pins)
Undo caliper bolts and remove caliper.
Remove allen bolts - thats why you loosened them when the caliper was still attached to the bike!
Pads will drop out - look to see which way round the shim on the back of the pads sits.
Clean up caliper, aerosol brake cleaner is great for this.
Rubber grease pistons and push pistons back in (To make room for the thicker new pads).
Copper grease the rear of the new pads and the allen bolts and re-fit.
Torque up the caliper mount bolts.


May as well bleed the caliper too whilst you are there.

Press the lever a few times to ensure the pads are near the disc before riding off - otherwise you go to use it and it ain't there!


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Brakes : Blue Dot Calipers on Rear (600s only)
Just a warning:

If someone tries to sell you a blue dot brake caliper for the back of your 600, don't.

It won't fit.

Honest.


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