Topic: 1973 CB500 Four Brake calipers

[Bear Four]

I've removed the front caliper.  Its in 2 pieces, front and back of the front disc. Do you pry  the brake pads out?  How thick should the pads be?  I see a groove on the sides of the pads, is this a wear indicator?  The brake fluid had completely evaporated, any tips on how to dismantled the calipers?  Thanks for your help.

[DaveBarbier]

If you have an air compressor you can put the caliper in a rag and blow out the piston and pad. Or grease gun on the bleeder and close off the brake line input.

Yes, that line is the wear indicator.

[DaveBarbier]

A wood screw in the pad might get you some grip to pull it out. Of course that would destroy the pad.

[Bankerdanny]

The pad on the thin half of the caliper is fixed and held in place with a cotter pin. It should just fall out without the pin, but on a bike that has been sitting for a long time it isn't unusual for the pad to be frozen in place by corrosion. It will ruin the pad, but you can usually free it up with some penetrating fluid and a few raps of a hammer.

I used the grease gun method recently on a stuck piston on one of my calipers. You can also try adding fluid to the master and seeing if it actually pumps. If it does just re-attach the hose and use the brake fluid to push the piston and pad out.

[Scott S]

 Be forewarned: if it's stuck enough to need the grease gun method you're probably going to need a new piston and seal.

[Stev-o]

The grease gun method works good but air compressor method is more fun!

[Scott S]

 Stuck: air compressor.

 REALLY stuck: grease gun.