When replacing brake pads, do you all loosen or open up the master cylinder lid when spreading the caliper pistons for new pads? Any tips or advice for changing pads would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

 

Yes or you'll find it much harder to retract the pistons!

 

I can't say that I've ever noticed a difference in pressure to retract caliper pistons with the master cylinder cover on or off. It's not really a true sealed system. When I replace brake pads on ANYTHING I do these things:

Clean the pistons while they are extended; I use a shoestring to get to the part of the piston at the top of the caliper.

Put a hose on the bleeder valve and crack it open, seat the pistons and then close it. That does a few things. One, it makes it one heck of a lot easier to seat the pistons. Two, it allows me to feel excess resistance of the pistons without being fooled by fluid pressure. Three, it removes the fluid that has been exposed to the highest heat in the system.

After that, I top up the master cylinder, bleed the caliper of any air (usually there is none), top up again and test ride after seating the pads with the lever or pedal.

It takes less time to do something right than it does to half azz it and do it twice. With something like brakes, you may not get a second chance.

 

 

yup. That's what I do.

 

Depends! If as your old pads became worn you added fluid to the master cylinder then manually reseating the pistons prior to replacing the old pads will be more difficult. U can't compress a liquid.

Probably a good idea to leave the master cylinder open while ur trying to reseat the pistons. Ensure that any adjacent paintwork is protected.

 

I do none of the above. Channel locks with thin wood shims to protect the surfaces from the jaws. Clean then compress piston, insert new pads, reinstall, pump up brakes. Just like on cars and light trucks.

 

You shouldn't have to open the master cylinder reservoir unless someone has added brake fluid at some point.

 

Well, if it is on your 2013 and the brake fluid has never been changed, I would open the master cylinder and do a fluid change while changing your pads. I’d also clean the pistons. Otherwise, as others have said it is subjective whether you do or don’t.

 

I don't remove the covers to change the brake pads, I just loosen em a bit. Once the pistons are cleaned, reset and new pads installed I remove the covers. Furthermore, I don't ever replace pads without flushing the brake fluid. It's just to cheap and quick not to do so, especially using a Mity-Vac vacuum pump. I can nearly change both front caliper fluid faster than checking tire pressure.

I use a clean syringe to add brake fluid to MC which avoids any spills.

On a side note, I have yet to find an easy way to remove the rear caliper from rotor without using the affixed rotor to press the old pads against to reset the pistons a fraction of the way. Therefore, cleaning the entire piston surface is impossible. Any pointers?