New brake pads, rotor won’t fit in.

So I recently decided to change my brake pads because why not. Changing them was easy, old ones dropped out and new ones put in. But I cannot fit the rotor in between the two new pads in order to put the wheel back on. I used a clamp to push the piston back in and yet there still isn’t enough room to either fit the rotor in with both pads in, or fit the rotor with one pad in and trying to fit the other pad in. How can I fit them all in together?

I’m new to motorcycles so I apologize if I missing an obvious solution.

Thanks for the help guys!

1982 XJ650 Maxim

 

In this situation I open the bleed valve slightly which will let you push the pistons back into the caliper, (assuming they are not fully in now) fluid will weep from the valve. Then tighten the valve this should give the sufficient clearance to get the rotors in with both pads fitted to each caliper. I have a Ford Mondeo car and I always slacken off the bleed valves on the calipers when fitting new pads because it has been known for the master cylinder seals to flip the other way and all the brake pressure is lost. Never heard of this happening on a bike. Finally check the fluid in your master cylinder too. This should sort it.

 

What brand of pads are you using and are the right ones? If they are Caltec they many not fit right , EBC will fit good . Or did you hopefully get them from xj4ever then they will be correct pads.

 

Opening the bleeder valve worked, thank you!

 

Great glad you got it fixed.

 

Good call Franz. Leads me to believe that his master cylinder may need service soon.

 

Yes Toomanybikes he would be as well rebuilding it although as I said I have never heard of brake pressure failure on a bike due to back pressure when retracting the pistons.

 

Back pressure may be debris in the lines or the master cylinder was so full that it wouldn’t go all the way back.

 

Yes true.