Modern Vespa

Hi , I'm trying to remove my brake pads to inspect them , I can't remove the pin that locks the pads in place , I have removed the e clip but the pin at all I've tried everything but it just won't move , any suggestions please ? Many thanks

I usually use a small hammer to tap them the first little bit until the end is flush with the caliper. Then just pulling with pliers usually works. If not, use a drift to bang it through some more.

It's worth keeping a couple as spares, as they can get corroded and cause pads to stick or wear unevenly.

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And a quick note to those who have allen keyed pins - the factory do them up tight. They then become completely stuck in after a year or so, especially in climates where salt gets used on the roads in winter. This means a new caliper, not just pads when those need changing.

These should be undone ASAP after acquiring the bike, then tightened back up, THEN backed off 1/4 of a turn. They can then be removed easily in the future, even several years later. This is often done at the first service by clueful workshops.

a small amount of heat, like a kiss with a torch or a heat gun. shoot some penetrating oil at it. let it sit a hot minute (have a beer) then a small amount of heat again with a long punch and hammer. clean and copper grease on install.

but if you just want to inspect, you can usually spot it at just the right angle between the spokes of the rim. if not, then just yank the rim, pull the dust cover and look at it from the top.

hth

So, how do you store a snow-drift, and even if you could how does that help? Not that kind of drift? Do you drift left or drift right? Translate for me? So I can catch your drift?

Hammer. Not a BFH, just a normal hammer. Personally I'd start with a tap, then move up to a good whack, before I went and banged away, but that's just me I guess.

A 'drift' is a hard pin that can be used to push things through holes.

Thanks for your replies 👍