Help, i have broken my bike

[mrjsrbond]

Confession, I have read everything via a search and need your help.
I have a 06 speed triple which have radial caliper brakes.
Ok
Last week they where acting horrible, all kind of grindy at low speeds and i ignored it for two days ( 200 miles!)
I then pulled the pads out of the left capiliar and examined the pads
One side was ground down to the metal shoe and this has lighltly scored the disc, the other has about 5mm left.
I then played with the caliper and in the process of cleaning it and working out how it worked took it off the bike and opened it up ( two half's)
I also pumped the brake lever and closed the pistons fully shut.

During this process I lost what I thought was three or four drops of fluid but I noticed the reservoir on the handlebars was just below low.
I then open the reservoir to see how it worked and then closed it.

I have brought two new sets of pads and would like ideally to fix them myself.

please tell me what to do,
I realise i am mechanical idiot and therefore please make it simple.

Jim

[kmannth]

That grindy noise way you chewing up your front rotor that is now lighltly scored. I would replace the rotor but that is up to you.... Damage has been done, might be fine might eat pads and have weird braking who knows. Maybe you can have your rotor turned.

Put the pads back in and bolt everthing on, just like how you took them apart. Be sure to torque everthing down to the correct spec.

Sounds like you took everthing apart so now you need to get the air out of the system. Use the air bleeder valves and pump the brake untill everthing works as expected.

[Joemomma]

I hate to be the "one" to say this, but without a service manual, proper tools, or some mechanical experience ( any 2 of those will do ) you might really be better off going to a real mechanic. I mean, do you really want to f up your front brakes any worse than you have?

Lesson: "grindy" noises are never good. Taking apart stuff you have no experience with is usually not good either.

[mrjsrbond]

yeah well downloaded service manual
used my tools
learnt some new skills thanks to my first poster.
In hindsight it was a piece of p to fix, i think taking things apart is the only way to learn,
taking it to a mechanic is just a excuse not to think for yourself,

thanks to Kmanth, i just lacked a bit of confidence.

Anyway thanks for the help
Jim

[BanditBrad]

Originally Posted by mrjsrbond

i think taking things apart is the only way to learn

I agree....sort of. I would have gotten the manual first and then taken things apart.

But I guess you had the brake problem before you go the manual.

Lesson to be learned: Get a manual when you get your bike, or shortly after.

I have a suzuki 600 bandit (looking to trade up to Speedy) and I have done valve clearance, completely rebuilt forks, torn down and rebuilt carbs with jet kit, sprockets changed, ignition advancer added, and more. Thank goodness for Clymers...at least for the Bandit.

Just have to take that first step. And then be willing to have parts strewn about your garage with your car stuck outside for a month while you wait for the additional part you suddenly realized you needed to order...lol