Hi l'm new here and new to ATV's we just bought a used baja 250-u. I'm trying to change the front brake pads but for the life of me l can't get the pistons in the calipers to retract. I know their not seized cuz if l push 1 piston in the other one comes out. Am l missing something? Help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Try using the old pad. Put it against the pistons and use a c-clamp to squash the pistons back in.

 

Open the bleeder screws.Just rember to refill the fluid when you pump the brakes out.

 

Yes l tried a c clamp and the old pad, nothing. I also thought of bleeding off till they go back in. But then wouldn't the brakes also not retract when you use them normally and wear the pads out quickly? Or is there some kind of flow restrictor in the system some where in case one side of the brake line were to burst you would still have the other side braking?

 

Make sure you can get the cap off the master cylinder to add more fluid before bleeding the system. If you don't you will end up like me and have to buy a new master cylinder.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: 05BigBear400

Open the bleeder screws.Just rember to refill the fluid when you pump the brakes out.</end quote></div>


TheZiggys,

No, ATV's don't have any restrictors in their brake line systems.

Actually you don't want to open the bleeders... The reason one piston is going out as you press one in is because you need to remove the cap from the Master Cylinder resevoir - this will allow the fluid that is currently "behind" the piston to be pressed back up the line.. into the Master Cylinder resevoir (spelling) instead of into the other caliber... I recommend turning the c-clamp slowly.. because if you crank away... the fluid will "fountain" out of the resevoir making a mess [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] haha..

Also since it sounds like both calibers are off, I would put the old pads on one and temporily install it onto the disc again, this way that piston is NOT getting pressed out and the fluid will go up into the resevoir.

 

Thanks Everybody for your help so far.
No I had the reservoir cap off when I was c-clamping and still nothing would move. The pads won't be in for a week so l will wait till then to try again. If worst comes to worst l will just back the bleeders off.