Brakes help needed

[HowardQ]

Only thing that worked for me was taking them off and holding them so the nipple is at the very top and a piece of plywood as a spacer. Even it then needed somebody else to work the lever whilst I opened and closed the nipple on every stroke of the lever, (did have an auto bleed kit but still used the old method as well). I did try at some slightly different angles but always with the nipple at the top. I never got all the air out whilst doing it on the bike, although I spent more than an hour trying.
I finally sorted it this way quite quickly, with the wife pulling the lever.
You also obviously need to sort the two pistons that are not moving, as others have commented.
Good luck!

[Firestarter]

Have you pushed the pistons back in too far, and they're now stuck somehow?

I'd be surprised that one side moves and the other doesn't because of trapped air, there might be a bit of sponginess (technical term?), but they would still move once the other side has reached their limit (i.e. pads pushed up against the disc). Someone else suggested jamming the two that do move, then pumping the lever, I'd go with that as a starter, air or not if there's enough pressure to move one set, jamming that set should cause the others to move when pumping the lever. If the lever is solid (or spongy with no movement) I'd have a look at how the pistons are seated, and as Howard suggested if you've stripped the blocks apart, make sure that everything has gone back together correctly.

[old git]

OK, so firstly thanks to everyone who bothered to comment with hints tips etc. etc. was most appreciated seeing as I was pulling my hair out every evening.
Now once upon a time........
Despite me put everything from each side in separate cartons marked left & right, seals in envelopes marked left / right & made sure everything was kept appart, it would seem I am a complete plank
Reason for only the outer pistons moving was that I had somehow inadvertatly witched the inner halves of the calipers over, left to right & right to left.
This means that the fluid gallery crossover from one half of the caliper to the other did not line up & I missed this upon re-assembly.
So, despite all my pumping & bleeding, it was impossible for the fluid to cross over the join & fill the inner half of the calipers, hence why there was no movement in either inner set of the pistons, they were both on the wrong side having been switched.
Now I know you are all having a laugh at my expense, I know I would if i was in your position reading this, but at least by posting for the future maybe someone as daft as me (if there is such a person) may read this & find a solution if they have cocked up & have the same symptoms.

Thanks everyone once again, I am a berk, but I am also big enough to admit it.
Now all back together, all fluid through tested & is perrrrfect.

Hope to see some of you round the block soon.

Keith

[D-Rider]

Have you stripped the calipers down as far as splitting the two halves? There are 4 x M8 socket head bolts holding the two halves together. If you have, there's an outside chance you've mixed the two caliper halves up and put both back on the wrong one.

There's a little drilling between the two halves (with an o-ring to seal it); if you've got them mixed up I guess you could have blocked that drilling off, leading to the symptoms you describe.

Of course it may not be that at all, but if you've had the calipers apart it would be worth checking.

Mangocrazy - you win this week's star prize


(shame we don't actually have a star prize ...)



Keith : ROFLMAO

[anzacinexile]

Experience can be a cruel teacher

Glad you've got it sorted matey

[HowardQ]

Glad you got it sorted Keith and top marks for Mango!

[Willopotomas]

Thanks everyone once again, I am a berk, but I am also big enough to admit it.

A fool that admits his mistakes and learns from them is no longer as much a fool as he was..

Good to hear you got it sorted.. And top marks to Mangodude!

[Aladinsaneuk]

glad you got it sorted

[mangocrazy]

Glad to hear you got it sorted, old git; I hate brake problems as they invariably end up with brake fluid in places where you don't want it. On this occasion it was a case of no brake fluid where you needed it...!

I have to say the only reasons I thought of this was a) it fitted the symptoms b) I've had quite a few sets of Brembos apart in the last year or so and I very nearly made the same mistake myself.

Glad to hear all your pistons are pumping...

[joecrx]

have you put them together the righ way , someone on af1 had the right side on the left an vicversa thers is small holels tolet fluid through to push the other pistons

ooops just read it again it was you