What do I do? Take the thing off and try and get some form of lubrication down the side? If so, what's best to use?
Thanks
what brakes?
sounds like you need to give em a service, take em off and strip them down completely, you can get kits for that.
XT - short term fix for tomorrow?
christ knows! Shimano is a dark art to me!! 😀
someone else will be along in a minute!
Take the caliper off the forks/frame.
Remove pads.
Use a tyre lever/spoon handle to hold one piston in, squeeze lever gently so the other one starts to move out. Clean piston and lube it up (with mineral oil)
Lever piston back in, and do the same for the other side.
Give the caliper a wipe to get rid of excess oil, fit pads and caliper.
[b]Do not squeeze the lever too much, or the piston will pop out and you'll need to bleed the brake[/b]
It could be as simple as needing new pads. I've known some brakes in the past where the piston comes out so far it ends up sitting at a wonk. Push them back, fit new pads, problem solved. It's only a possibility, it could be something more complex or just a case of them being very dirty.
Pads are a bit old and could be some dirt in there as well. Will take them apart this afternoon.
When you say mineral oil, can I use the same stuff I use on the chain? Finish Line? Is that mineral oil?
About to do this now. Anyone answer last question for me?
Have you not got any oil for bleeding them? This would be best. I suspect finish line is synthetic. Silicon grease is the alternative
Only things I have are:
Lithium Grease
Pedros Ice Wax Chain Lube
Prolink Chain Lube
Disc Brake Cleaner
Any of those any good?
I has exactly the same with my XT brakes. I did the following-
1 Removed pads
2 Remove caliper from frame / fork
3 Hold one piston in
squeeze lever to extend free piston ( careful you don't pop it out!!)
4 Got a cotton bud and some meths and thoroughly clean all around the sides and face of the piston.
5 Push the piston back and repeat for the other side.
6 Extend the pistons again one at a time and rubbed mineral oil around the side of the pistons.
7 Pushed the piston home.
8 Thoroughly cleaned all the surfaces with a drop of meths and a cloth
9 Refit caliper pads etc, set up as normal....all okay 😛