[Closed] Hayes 9 - Stuck Pistons! Help!

Did you push the pistons back into the caliper before you bled?

If yes, did you clean them first?
If no, the brake probably has too much fluid in it.

So it'll be dirty pistons then...

I was thinking more along the lines of clogged up seals; but you might get away with extending/cleaning/lubing the pistons. If that doesn't work then you'll need to remove the pistons to check there's no build-up at the seals. If all is clean, then it's possible that one or other of the seals has failed.

Thanks guys. Sounds like major surgery. 🙁

I know it sounds kind of obvious, but make sure that the bleed is spot on before you go pulling things apart.

They feel OK, it just the issue that the pistons don't retract when the lever is released.

Hayes 9 pistons have a habit of becoming corroded, if it's not to bad (minor corrosion) you can manually push them back in (use a set of old pads, to avoid snapping the pad locator pin in the middle of the pistons), push em back out with the lever and repeat to see if you can get them to start moving 'normally' again. I used to lube mine with brake fluid while you work em back and forth, though I have read silicon lube is supposedly a good for brake pistons too.
Otherwise have a look for the service kits, as Hayes brakes spares are (or at least used to be) readily available.

Cheers zippy, sounds like a plan!

I got a replacement OEM nine for something like 30 quid from CRC last year, but it looks like you can't anymore. Maybe worth looking elsewhere - if there's corrosion that can't be sorted with a clean up it's a cheap replacement.