Front R Inside Brake Pad Falling Out

Hi folks,

this might have been mentioned elsewhere but I can't find anyone who's had this specific issue and am unsure what's causing it.

I've got VFR 800 V4, 2nd hand a couple of months back. A couple of weeks ago a sudden loss of front brake, and when I stopped I saw the inside right brake pad hanging from the pin - it had fallen out of the caliper. Also the retaining clip at the top of the pads was missing.

I've changed the pads as that was needed, got a new retaining pin, cleaned up the pistons and the caliper generally, checked brake fluid levels, degunked the valve, checked the master cylinder (which looks fine). Put it all back together and had smooth riding for 150 miles or so, and also everything is moving as it should a lot better.

BAM. Today going slow (just pulled out of work) and without touching the brakes, there's a loud thunk, a jolt, and a loss of front brake. I look at it and the pad has slipped out and also the retainer clip is nowhere to be found. I think the thunk was the retainer clip coming out, and honestly can't see how it has given once it's all together there's not a lot of room to move things about!

I'm trying to work out next step and I don't really know. I've had it suggested that maybe the rotor is warped and this could somehow be causing the problem, but from a check by eye it looks fine and I'd presume it would have to be really bad to cause this to happen. I can see that the top of the caliper where the clip goes looks to have worn a tiny bit so maybe it's not quite sitting securely, but I can't tell if that's from today or previously.

At this point I'm pretty willing to buy a new caliper to be sure, but from what I can see and what I've been advised, it should be near impossible for the pad to slip out anyway. So I thought I'd come on and see what you guys suggest as the next step.


(thoughts on that are -
+ buy a dial gauge and check properly that the rotor is sound
+ fully take apart the caliper and rebuilt with new seals etc, new retainer clip, hope that sorts it!
+ just buy a new bloody caliper
+ give up and just hand it to a pro mechanic and hope they can think of something I can't

While I'm not against the latter, it doesn't APPEAR to be something beyond my capabilities to deal with given it's hardly rocket science, but I am feeling somewhat alone at the moment given I can't find reference of anyone having the same problem (possible because the relevant words bring up a lot of more common related stuff in searches)).

 

Stinks that your first post it about a problem!

I can't help you out, but maybe someone else will be along that can. Post up a few more details on the bike:

Year?
Miles?
ABS?

 

how about some pics, so I can give you some use less info.

 

You already did. You're one step ahead of yourself.

 

thanks mate! yeah, I'm a bit of a lurker (had another VFR a few years back too) and am enjoying getting back in to getting the tools out and getting grubby so hopefuly some more positive posts in the near future once this is sorted!

to answer -
year - 2004
Miles - just over 40000
ABS - no - it was the year before that was introduced I think. Has linked brakes though.

 

No idea what 2004 pads look like but they just can't fall out , they are mechanically held in place, so the only way it could come out is something is broken or the retaining pins have come out