Seized brake pins

[Dr Bones]

My front brake, pad retaining pins are seized and won't move. I intend to replace both the pins with stainless ones once I get them out! Any tips on how to get them out without resorting to violence ? My initial thought was to grip the pin inside the caliper with a pair of mole grips and see if I can move it that way.


(Bike is a 97 r1100gs)

 

[boxer]

Don't they unscrew (IIRC).

 

[flatdog]

copper head hammer / bronze drift, both softer than the pin material, so should free after a few clouts. Once the pin is level with the casing, use a matching diameter bolt or nail to help it through the hole.
Plusgas also helps free it.

If they don't unscrew.............that is.

 

[Dr Bones]

I'm not sure if the unscrew or not (they certainly aren't moving at all). There is a flat in the end of the pin for a screwdriver so I suspect they do unscrew. Just looking for some advice, before I start hammering anything. You can see the end of the pin in the other side of the caliper though so drifting it out may be an option. Anyone else with a R1100GS and Brembo calipers got any experience with this ?

 

[Fanum]

I'm not sure if the unscrew or not (they certainly aren't moving at all). There is a flat in the end of the pin for a screwdriver so I suspect they do unscrew. Just looking for some advice, before I start hammering anything. You can see the end of the pin in the other side of the caliper though so drifting it out may be an option. Anyone else with a R1100GS and Brembo calipers got any experience with this ?

According to my haynes manual, the EVO (BMW branded) caliper pins unscrew but the Brembo ones just need to be driven out.

That's only according to Haynes mind.......YMMV

 

[Dr Bones]

Just looked at the BMW repair manual and that says the same

I'm pretty sure these

are the part I need to buy, and I can't see any threads on there (but you can see the slot for the screwdriver).

Description says

Stainless steel brake caliper pad pin ( R850 / R1100 / R1150 / Cruiser early Brembo 4 pot calipers up to 11/00 ) | SSA30418

Sounds like mine.

I've dropped Chris at Shaw Stainless and email asking if he can supply the pins.

 

[Smug]

Sometimes the front ones are threaded and the rear are pressed in.

 

[stever1]

Before you do ANYTHING spray each end of the pin with a release oil such as WD40, and leave for a few hours.
I emphasise a small amount. You dont want to coat the pads or discs in it.

 

[Steptoe]

1997 brembo caliper pins DO NOT unscrew.

You have to hit them out. And sometimes takes a few hard hits .

You could clamp the pin inbetween the pads and turn them back and forth to break the seizure before whacking the life out of them.

 

[Dr Bones]

Thanks for the replies, I've ordered the new pins from Chris at Shaw stainless (very helpful bloke, and quick to reply to emails). I gave one of the pins a whack with a drift tonight and it looks like it'll shift easily enough. I feel a thin smear of anti seize compound will ensure they are easy to remove next time.

 

[Matt Padgham]

Had sticky pins myself!
A damn good whack with a drift will shift them.

 

[Dr Bones]

Top marks to Chris at Shaw Stainless, answers emails very quickly and ships stuff quickly too. I had the replacement pins delivered on Tuesday morning.

Shame the garage is freezing tonight, I had hoped to get out there and sort this out.

 

[Dr Bones]

Well not as easy as I thought, ended up needing a good whack with a lump hammer and a steel punch to shift the things. New pads fitted and nice stainless pins to replace the nasty corroded ones that came out.

 

[bowser]

Had sticky pins myself!
A damn good whack with a drift will shift them.

get some Duralac should stop all the problems in the future, any good boat chandlers will stock it.

 

[Dr Bones]

get some Duralac should stop all the problems in the future, any good boat chandlers will stock it.

Don't worry, already assembled with anti seize compound.