Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => The Knowledge => Topic started by: Valiant on 12 April, 2008, 08:30:30 pm

Title: Brake removal help!
Post by: Valiant on 12 April, 2008, 08:30:30 pm

My rear brake is stuck, I've applied WD40 a couple of hours ago and the most it will do is budge sideways but not unscrew at all, and now the rear allen recessed nut is starting to wear away. I need to sort this tonight as tomorrow I go touring :S

How to remove?
Title: Re: Brake removal help!
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 12 April, 2008, 08:33:18 pm
If you can't get an Allen key to undo the nut, may I suggest a fuckin great hacksaw through through the bolt, between the calipers?
Title: Re: Brake removal help!
Post by: MSeries on 12 April, 2008, 08:34:20 pm
If you can't get an Allen key to undo the nut, may I suggest a fuckin great hacksaw through through the bolt, between the calipers?

Yup. My mate Warburton had do to this, the nut and bolt have co-joined.
Title: Re: Brake removal help!
Post by: Valiant on 12 April, 2008, 09:38:01 pm
Right the bolt is hacksawed through, so I'm hitting the little stub with a hammer and it's still not coming out :( heck it's not budging.
Title: Re: Brake removal help!
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 12 April, 2008, 09:43:03 pm
*bites fingernails with tension*

So everything is off the bolt, just a stub left? Nut must be seized to the fork brake bridge but that's v unusual.

Anyone?
Title: Re: Brake removal help!
Post by: MSeries on 12 April, 2008, 09:45:19 pm
I had a 'nut' seized it the frame once, it was a rear brake. I had to drill it out I think, though I do remember sacrificing a screw driver that day to knock something out so perhaps I just hammered it out.
Title: Re: Brake removal help!
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 12 April, 2008, 09:47:17 pm
Would applying heat help, with differential expansion and all that??

Also, as you are hammering, is the frame well secured and braced solidly in some way at the seat stays?
Title: Re: Brake removal help!
Post by: Valiant on 12 April, 2008, 09:48:24 pm
It seems it's attached to the bridge :(
Title: Re: Brake removal help!
Post by: MSeries on 12 April, 2008, 09:51:14 pm
But it did move before, you could twist it ? Now you can't hammer it out because the seat tube prevents access ? I think you'll have to drill it. Drill the shoulder off first, then a smaller drill to remove the part that's in the bridge.
Title: Re: Brake removal help!
Post by: rogerzilla on 12 April, 2008, 09:52:31 pm
If it's sawn through on the caliper side, the seat tube isn't in the way.  Will the stub twist with molegrips?
Title: Re: Brake removal help!
Post by: MSeries on 12 April, 2008, 09:53:51 pm
If it's sawn through on the caliper side, the seat tube isn't in the way.  Will the stub twist with molegrips?

You are right, what was I thinking.
Title: Re: Brake removal help!
Post by: Valiant on 12 April, 2008, 09:54:04 pm
The whole thing used to move sideways. I've tried hammering it out, seat tube isn't preventing access as it's on the other side.
Title: Re: Brake removal help!
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 12 April, 2008, 10:00:45 pm
Will the remnant of the bolt come out of the (seized on) nut then, can you grip it? If so,  drilling out the nut might be possible. Sorry, I'm stuck for suggestions here and not sure how much you have in the way of tools. 
Title: Re: Brake removal help!
Post by: Hot Flatus on 12 April, 2008, 10:09:13 pm
Do you have a blowtorch?
Title: Re: Brake removal help!
Post by: Torslanda on 12 April, 2008, 10:12:19 pm
Sam.

Post us a piccie of what's going on so far. . .

We should be able to sort this.

John
Title: Re: Brake removal help!
Post by: Valiant on 12 April, 2008, 10:15:26 pm
Right, no blow torch, don't have any metal bits and wooden/masonary bits would bite. I can't drill out the nut from the other side as there's no clearance.

To make matters worse, the rack doesn't fit Freyja.

:(

So road bike with one decent brake or fixie and no panniers but bring my backpack to use on rides and the panniers for transport to and from airport?


PS - I look like my avatar before the tongue bit.
Title: Re: Brake removal help!
Post by: fruitcake on 12 April, 2008, 10:21:58 pm
Or put the fixed wheel on the bike wit the damaged rear brake
Title: Re: Brake removal help!
Post by: MSeries on 12 April, 2008, 10:23:56 pm
Is there a 24hour Asda that has drill bits ?
Title: Re: Brake removal help!
Post by: Valiant on 12 April, 2008, 10:24:36 pm
But it's a geared system :(

I think I'll take the road bike with one brake on the front. Just ride slow. I'll bring the brake with me incase Sergert Pluck, TT or Reg have a bright idea or attaching it back.
Title: Re: Brake removal help!
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 12 April, 2008, 10:26:07 pm
I'd bring the bike with one brake - and bring your new brake with you, probably find someone to do it in Malta. We are staying at a dive place so there will be practical folk about.

It's not very hilly, and we will not need to travel far, if at all, with loaded panniers.

We won't need to take much with us as we ride around. I'll probably leave one pannier on for a few bits and bobs.

TBH very little of my braking is done with the back anyway.
Title: Re: Brake removal help!
Post by: Adam on 13 April, 2008, 07:57:50 am
I'd bring the bike with one brake - and bring your new brake with you, probably find someone to do it in Malta. We are staying at a dive place so there will be practical folk about.

It's not very hilly, and we will not need to travel far, if at all, with loaded panniers.

We won't need to take much with us as we ride around. I'll probably leave one pannier on for a few bits and bobs.

TBH very little of my braking is done with the back anyway.

{Concerned mode}I hope one of you has packed a first aid kit.{/Concerned mode}
Title: Re: Brake removal help!
Post by: Rob S on 13 April, 2008, 09:12:17 am
So the nut is stuck in the brake bridge after you have removed the caliper?

Put the caliper partially back in the nut (or ideally a crappy old caliper if you have such a thing) and then tap the caliper with a hammer (putting a bit of wood between caliper and hammer) and push the nut out.
Title: Re: Brake removal help!
Post by: Valiant on 14 April, 2008, 02:40:54 pm
Nowt worked. The LBS in Malta is taking a blowtorch it in a few mins lol