Changing pad in Hope discs?

A friend is trying to change a set of worn pad in his Hope mini mono disc
brakes. Problem is when he's taken the old pads out the pots don't return
to their original positions so the pads won't fit.

He's tried to force them back in but is scared to brake something.

I used to have Hope XC's with the manual adjustment on the top, so when you
put new pads in you simply wound the adjuster off and fitted the pads. It
seems as though his has an automatic adjustment feature so you can't
un-adjust!

Thanks

On Sat, 04 Sep 2004 15:42:35 +0100, Daz N wrote:

A friend is trying to change a set of worn pad in his Hope mini mono disc
brakes. Problem is when he's taken the old pads out the pots don't return
to their original positions so the pads won't fit.

Coat the pistons in a bit of brake fluid and push them back in.

Dirty fluid. You've a piece of debris stuck in the passage. Drain, clean,
refill, bleed, ride.

"Daz N" darren(AT)clara.co.uk wrote in message
...
A friend is trying to change a set of worn pad in his Hope mini mono disc
brakes. Problem is when he's taken the old pads out the pots don't return
to their original positions so the pads won't fit.

He's tried to force them back in but is scared to brake something.

I used to have Hope XC's with the manual adjustment on the top, so when
you
put new pads in you simply wound the adjuster off and fitted the pads. It
seems as though his has an automatic adjustment feature so you can't
un-adjust!

Thanks

Yeah, but it's both front and rear, seems strange that they should both "go"
at the same time.

Thought there might be something special like pull level, push pistons back,
fit pads...

Looks like a bleed and clean is required, d'oh!


"Jerry Bone Jr" wrote in message
m...
Dirty fluid. You've a piece of debris stuck in the passage. Drain,
clean,
refill, bleed, ride.

"Daz N" darren(AT)clara.co.uk wrote in message
...
A friend is trying to change a set of worn pad in his Hope mini mono disc
brakes. Problem is when he's taken the old pads out the pots don't
return
to their original positions so the pads won't fit.

He's tried to force them back in but is scared to brake something.

I used to have Hope XC's with the manual adjustment on the top, so when
you
put new pads in you simply wound the adjuster off and fitted the pads.
It
seems as though his has an automatic adjustment feature so you can't
un-adjust!

Thanks

"Daz N" darren(AT)clara.co.uk said...

A friend is trying to change a set of worn pad in his Hope mini mono disc
brakes. Problem is when he's taken the old pads out the pots don't return
to their original positions so the pads won't fit.

He's tried to force them back in but is scared to brake something.

I used to have Hope XC's with the manual adjustment on the top, so when you
put new pads in you simply wound the adjuster off and fitted the pads. It
seems as though his has an automatic adjustment feature so you can't
un-adjust!

Thanks

I have never owned Hopes, but with Hayes (and most other hydros) the
pistons automatically move in as the pads wear, and with new pads you
have to force the pistons back. Hayes said to use the round end of a
double end wrench inside the piston to push the piston back. I never had
any luck with that, so I used the shaft of a screwdriver laid flat
against the piston to push it back. This is the very thing the warned
against because it is theoretically possible to pinch the seals, but it
worked great for me. I just had to be careful and work them back mm by
mm. I believe that earlier Hope systems were what is called a closed
systems and newer ones and most other Hydros are what is called an open
system. Open systems automatically adjust for pad wear and closed
systems don't, if I'm not mistaken, and that sounds like the difference
between the two Hope systems you describe. You just have to force that
piston back into the caliper. It isn't easy, just take your time and try
different approaches. IMO, it is unlikely that you need to replace the
fluid.