Avid BB7 - replacing pads

[wheres_my_beard]

I know there is another thread about problems setting up BB7's, but this problem is with getting new pads to fit inside the caliper...

I bought some new pads yesterday, expecting the job to be quick and straight forward (silly me), and later found that after an hour of fiddling with the two pads and the spring retainer that I had achieved nothing except getting myself really wound up and pissed off.

Am I the only person to fail at doing this simple task? I have managed to take the both calipers completely apart to clean and reassembled them before so I know how it all fits together, but I can't for the life of me get these new pads in properly!! I have resorted to booking my bike into the shop where I bought the pads from, which is not something I am happy with but I really have given up.

Any advice?

 

[ianrauk]

I guess you have checked You Tube?

They do go a certain way in.
I make sure I have screwed both the callipers out.
Put the spring inbetween the callipers.
Hold together with fingers, then slip them in.

 

[wheres_my_beard]

I guess you have checked You Tube? ✓

They do go a certain way in.
I make sure I have screwed both the callipers out. ✓
Put the spring inbetween the callipers. ✓
Hold together with fingers, then slip them in. ✓

Yes I have, and it all looks very straightforward!!

However, I have ended up with the spring slipping out from one side of the pad, or both pads squeezed against each other, with one in the right place and the other one jammed in the caliper. This happened over, and over and over (and over).

Do the internals of calipers ever get worn and need replacing? Mine are about 10 months old.

 

[ianrauk]

The callipers may get sticky due to crud, but don't wear out.
I wedge a screwdriver in there to make sure they are open.

It's one of those things I think.
Do it once, then you shouldn't find it a problem again.

 

[MrJamie]

I just happen to have a BB7 caliper on my desk, so I just took out and put the pads and spring back out of curiosity.

I had dialled both dials out fully, then put the spring between the pads, slid them in between the calipers all the way back and gave each one a little wiggle from the little prong that sticks out until it clicked into place.

 

[wheres_my_beard]

I popped out the shiny metal retaining clip from the top/ back of the caliper which seemed to be issue. The pads went in fine after that, and the clip eventuality fitted back in with some wiggling.

Thanks for the advice everyone

 

[Globalti]

You have to push them in positively until they click.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

You have to push them in positively until they click.

and they don't always click that easily.