While cleaning out the brake pads and rotor of the front wheel, I inadvertently pressed the brake lever. This closed the brake pads to the point where I can't slide the caliper onto the rotor now. How do I release the brake pressure so that I can then place the caliper back on?
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Simply pry the brake pads back apart (which will push the brake cylinders back into their bores) with a screwdriver or knife blade. Alternatively, remove the pads, and press the brake cylinder(s) back in their bores with a c-clamp. If there are two of them, they have to be pushed in together - or one restrained from popping out as the other is pushed back in.
As long as you didn't pop the caliper pistons out altogether, it is fine.
Thanks! It worked and I attached the caliper back on. Pressure on the brake lever now seems lower. Thoughs on how to up brake pressure?
During the pads replacement some air could go in the circuit.
You should need to bleed it.
It's not difficult (much easier than replacing the pads).
By "pressure on brake lever is lower" do you mean the lever travels further or feels spongy? Disk brakes are, by their nature, self-adjusting. But if the lever is spongy feeling, you may have introduced air into the system somehow. Do search on "bleeding motorcycle brakes".
All done! Bled the line, and now everything works as it should. I even alleviated some of the scratching I'd been hearing while I ride. Some brake cleaner helped do the trick. Thanks everyone for your help!