Changing Rear Brake Caliper

[Tommo.]

Need to change one of my rear calipers tomorrow. Anybody able to give me a quick guide to removing them?

Thanks,
Tom

 

[Oggy997]

Pop the wheel off (on stands)
Handbrake off to slack in the cable
Remove pad carrier (2 * 17mm bolts) - can't recall if that's required or optional
'Knock' handbrake cable through caliper
Loosen brake pipe Union
Remove caliper (2*19mm bolts)
Fully remove brake line.

Pretty sure that's it. Be sure to bleed the brakes after.

Be careful that the brake line goes in straight, very easy to cross thread the caliper.

 

[Tommo.]

Thanks for that.

When it comes to the handbrake cable, can they be a bit of a problem to remove?

Also, is it essential to bleed the brakes afterwards? Or could I get away with dropping it into a garage next week to have this done?

 

[Oggy997]

Oh, you'll want to unhook the handbrake cable first from the swing arm in the caliper.

 

[Ads29]

You'll need to bleed the brakes, new caliper will have air in it and once you take brake line off old one it'll start to leak, with the potential to allow air into brake line/s if apart for long enough

 

[JKC172]

"'Knock' handbrake cable through caliper"
This isn't always that easy! Did mine last weekend and the caliper was so corroded that nipple holding the cable in the caliper was so pretty much welded to the caliper. I found trying to knock it out resulted in the nipple bending and starting to pinch the handbrake cable (not good). I resorted to hacksawing the nipple out of the old caliper (the point of no return). Other than that the job is pretty easy. Bleeding is definitely recommended though not that easy unless you have a kit or another person to help.

 

[Tommo.]

Thanks all for your help. Swapped the caliper over this morning, following @Oggy172's instructions, and also did new discs and pads. Hopefully that's my DCI sorted for a while now, so I can concentrate on getting my Trophy finished... :smile:

 

[Oggy997]

All go smoothly?

 

[Tommo.]

Yeah, went fairly smoothly, mate. The handbrake cable was a bit tough to get out, but got there in the end.

 

[haimsey]

My handbrake cable was a bit of a PITA to get out, its the most awkward bit about it tbh. I ended up using a centre punch to dislodge the end of the cable (tap it at the top, 12 o'clock. Move around the sides if needs be). Then use a pair of grips/pliers on the swing arm, twist it and the cable will pop out.
Soak everything in penetrating fluid the night before if you can, give everything a right good soaking.