If the calipers are in working order and brake sticking or locking occurs at all four wheels, then the problem may be with the master cylinder. If the piston moves out this far and doesnt suck back into the caliper, then it is working correctly. safety tips; prohibited items; product recalls; avoiding scams. And it's probably time to rebuild the front brake system too ! Then release the lever. So I was getting my 1980 XJ650 ready for spring riding, and I noticed that my front brake is stuck, the front wheel wouldn't roll at all. The caliper pistons are an essential part of the brake system. When the brake lever is released, the seal restores its normal shape causing the piston to be pulled backward. When problems arise within the front brake circuit, your safety, as well as the motorcycle's ability to brake, are put at risk. Taking detailed notes of the symptoms, such as a mushy brake lever, abnormal noises or vibration, will help you to pinpoint the exact problem. Apr 22, 2012. i was pushin my 1981 XS400 into the garage bout 15 minutes ago, and the damn front brake is stuck! Motorcycle brakes are the life line to your safety on the road. If the brake really is binding, then the most normal explanation is that the caliper piston is sticking or (if the brake has only one piston, on one side) that the sliders on which the other half of the caliper rests are sticking. 6. from the left side of the caliper, empty out brake fluid from inside piston housing through the brake line hole. 52152 Rebuilt the front caliper. 2. Forums > XJ Motorcycle Forums > XJ Technical Chat > Hello Guest. Their double disc ground finish reduces rotor vibration and increases braking performance. Are these the orignial brakes? 52151 Actively working on the bike now. Remove wheel If its a rear brake caliper, it could be a faulty parking brake cable. This is because only one of the front brakes is working to slow the vehicle. Front brake lever has sticky spots when engaging. 1. Replace the brake hose and fittings if they are damaged in any way. A low brake fluid causes the brake pad to wear off quickly and can also lead to a The most common cause of a sticking brake caliper is a rusty caliper piston caused by a damaged piston boot. 5. level 2. Fluid honey-colored. Step 1. Troubleshooting Motorcycle Brakes. Th e wheel should return to an easy spin by hand. Brake Fluids: make sure its not low or leaking. In this video we dive into how to proper clean out and lube up an entire brake caliper. How to easy fix sticky brake caliper on motorcycle - YouTube It's nothing real trick except to I drained the oil (2 years ago) out of the front caliper in order to transport the bike. Failed Master Cylinder. In this video you will learn how to replace front motorcycle brake pads. Causes of a Sticking brake caliper. These high strength solid grey cast iron discs are E-coated which prevents rust and sticking. The master cylinder could be defective and not allowing fluid to flow properly. If it does not spin easily, the front brake system should be fully cleaned out and freshened. It did this same thing last fall, too. After the swap I noticed my front brakes are sticking, the pistons aren't returning. Now, some several months later, the front brake lever is again staying just slightly engaged so the brake light is staying lit. Pull it in more, hits another sticky spot, etc. took it out for the first ride today and the brakes felt fine until I got on a back road and kicked it up to 55mph, brake started dragging and by the time Seized front bearing is also possible. My guess is the fluid once you hit the brakes isn't going back to the resivour right away and is stuck in the caliper. If you remove the cable, use an aerosol solvent (or even WD-40) to flush any dirt or debris from the cable tube while the cable is out. Finally, when it depresses, the front brakes work great. 7) Burning Smell Tap the brake handle a couple times or even pop the top off the master cylinder to relieve any internal pressure. Discuss the GSX-R600, GSX-R750, GSX-R1000, and GSX-R1100, and more! So the more pressure, the harder the braking. Now, then I release the brake lever, the front brakes release perfectly. Repeat this at least 5 times. It could be a simple fix. Re: Front brake calipers locking up "SOLVED". The red goop in the master cylinder is rust particles. I've noticed if I don't the thread soon nackers itself after about 2 or 3 sets of pads and I don't want to use WD40 to free them up as its a disaster to get that on your brakes. In that case, replace the brake hose. I mic'ed the new rotors and the old rotor and the newer ones are actually a hair thinner. 1. SCHMIDTY. Bled the brakes, and still have the same problem I Grabbing Brakes any ideas of whats goin on? Squeaky brakes can be caused by grit getting stuck between your motorcycle brake pads and the disc, dust on the drum brakes or unlubricated calipers. Yes, don't replace the brake line, take apart the caliper, clean it and put in new seals. You will also learn how to fix sticking motorcycle brake pads. Trouble shooting a disc brake system on a motorcycle. If you notice smoking or an acrid burning smell coming from one wheel, you might want to check on the brakes. When I grab the front brake it goes in easy, then hits a slightly sticky spot. Full Forum Listing. Only show this user. WD40 is good. Having some issues with 98 Honda Nighthawk 750. Essentially a lever or pedal provides manual pressure and compresses the brake fluid to the caliper, which pushes the pads against the rotor. Sometimes, instead of the piston sliding forward through the seal when the brakes are applied, the piston gets stuck to the seal and rolls the seal forward when the brake lever is pulled. norfolk > motorcycle parts - by owner Front brake have been sticking a little bit $3500 obo do NOT contact me with unsolicited services or offers; post id: 7492635280. posted: 2022-06-05 13:21. If the caliper is a floating caliper, like many bikes have , where the caliper slides on a pin, that pin may be cruddy or corroded, not allowing the caliper to slide to a proper position, a sort of self centering set up. Now we are really going to see what these brakes can do. Take and unscrew the bleeder the whole way out. Remotely possible that there is a problem with the master cylinder not releasing properly. I noticed the front brake lever is VERY hard to squeeze! Forums > XJ Motorcycle Forums > XJ Technical Chat > Hello Guest. The caliper floats. And it's probably time to rebuild the front brake system too ! If the brakes seize when the vehicle has been unused then the symptoms are fairly obvious as you try to pull away it feels like the brakes are stuck on! Apply a The ratcheting action is lost. This helps draw fluid down into the system quicker and prevents 'air locks' in the master cylinder during filling. You can try massaging the piston if its not a super old bike. I once had a sticky cable disc best of . All brake parts must be perfectly clean and 100% dry prior to any assembly. What to Check if Your Motorcycle Brake is Spongy. Yes, don't replace the brake line, take apart the caliper, clean it and put in new seals. Reservoir in good shape. No drag. Restoring my Dad's old 1978 R100/7. 2001 XR650R supermoto. The most likely reason for brakes sticking on cars and bikes will be sticking caliper pistons due to dirt or light corrosion. The motorcycle braking system is simple. A forum community dedicated to the Suzuki GSX-R motorcycle. Th e calipers in particular may need to be removed, disassembled and cleaned out. But there will always be noise from the brakes. 1981 Yamaha XS400. If you replace the brake pads and refill the fluid when its necessary, will help you to avoid this problem. MeltingDog. First, remove the clamp at either the caliper or brake lever. OK so if you are trying to compress a piston and it is not moving, a way to determine where the blockage is would be to loosen the bleeder valve and try again. You have limited privileges and you can't "SEARCH" the forums. Also good: go to a gas station, grab the airhose for filling up the tires, and blow out the lever's pivot point. Brakes have been bled a few months ago and new fluid added on my '86 R80. the front tire just barely spins when i really push on the bike. Inspect the front brake hose and its fittings on the master cylinder, positioned on the right handlebar, and the front wheel's brake caliper. When a brake caliper gets stuck in a clamped position, it generates an excessive amount of heat. This is much more likely than play in the front wheel bearings. It's nothing real trick except to get both pistons to pop out about the same time. Posted April 23, 2011. The solution here is to replace the brake caliper assembly. 5. finish removing 10mm brake line fitting nut and drop inside and outside halves of the caliper. Then pump the lever so that the piston moves out about . Reinstall the brake pads and calipers using the pins or bolts. The front left and rear calipers seem to stay engaged after applying either front or rear brake pressure. Most likely a stuck piston in the front caliperthat will require a caliper rebuild. Pull the brake lever to move the piston out about . A low brake fluid causes the brake pad to wear off quickly and can also lead to a spongy brake. Use a small hand held syringe with a line attached to the open bleeder on the caliper while pumping the master cylinder. Try rolling the bike backwards, that usually releases stuck calipers. Such noises indicate that your brake system needs attention and shouldnt be ignored. Brakes sticking is another problem not to dismiss one with potentially serious safety considerations. When brakes stick, there are two possible problems to consider. Begin by ruling out one possibility first. Helped me when my turn signals were sticking. Well the Honda dealer has just sorted it "Mastercylinder" changed. 7) Burning Smell. After installing Progressive Monotubes in my 2013 F6B over the winter I decide to get the bike out today and test. You have limited privileges and you can't "SEARCH" the forums. If it's stuck there may be your problem. Sat garaged for over 20 years. 8m. Yes.404 miles 159.4 hrs.i bought it new & haven't used it much in the last 10yrs or so.the front brakes completely locked up last time I Follow the directions on the can of brake grease. I tend to apply a small bit of copperslip to the thread as well and have done on most of the brakes I've rebuilt. Inspect for any obvious problems. When brakes seize it can be because the piston becomes stuck within the caliper, the pads become stuck to the disc, or on single-piston calipers the slide pins can seize. Wipe excess off. Bought it with a sticking front brake, tore everything down and rebuilt the master cylinder, the caliper (new seals and pistons), new stainless brake hose, new pads and rotor. Step 3. in car, Front left wheel caliper sticks. If the brake really is binding, then the most normal explanation is that the caliper piston is sticking or (if the brake has only one piston, on one side) that the sliders on which the other half of the caliper rests are sticking. Tap the brake handle a couple times or even pop the top off the master cylinder to relieve any internal pressure. The pistons in the caliper could have froze up,locking the wheel. Too-high fluid level (causes binding of disc brake) Solution: removing the excess; Jammed brake shoes Solution: lubricating anchor pins over which the brake shoes jam; Prolonged use (common cause of overheating) Solution: let the bike cool down; Seizure of the piston in the caliper Solution: replacing the piston and reboring the caliper; 2. Brake Fluids: make sure its not low or leaking. Use a thin penetrating lubricant (tri-flo or similar, not WD40) Be very careful not to contaminate pads, rims or disc rotors though. Makes it hard to gradually brake without sudden It did this same thing last fall, too. 6 yr. ago 08 FZ1S. The front brakes do the vast majority of the braking on most vehicles. I still went for a ride, but kept wondering - If I need that front brake in a panic situation, I'm screwed! Accelerate to 40 miles an hour, and brake moderately down to 5 miles an hour. Drain the system and clean all components. Try rolling the bike backwards, that usually releases stuck calipers. For clogged up holes in the master cylinder reservoir, use a small wire to unclog the hole. Once cleaned, the holes in the master cylinder reservoir will function properly and will automatically unlock the front brake. In order to prevent the motorcycle front brake from locking up, you can follow certain preventive measures. XJBikes - Yamaha XJ Motorcycle Forum. In this video we'll show you how to clean and rebuild the brake calipers on your motorcycle. Clean and lightly grease the pins with high temp wheel bearing grease. This heat will melt the brake pads and heat up one wheel more than the others. Doesnt matter how much mileage your vehicle has, most of the calipers will work as long as your car does. Do not grease the fronts of the brake pads because this compromises the gripping power of the brakes, making them less effective. There will always be a little bit of drag on the wheel, it will be very slight however. Rusty Caliper Pistons & Piston Boot. Clean and grease it. level 2. Rebuilt the master cylinder. 7. remove brake pad (puck). This is much more likely than play in the front wheel bearings. It is it's possible that the pads are dragging more than they really should be, due to things like, dirty retaining pin, build up on pistons, corrosion on pistons etc. 04-08-2020, 06:29 PM. This time, Accelerate to 50, and brake aggressively back down to 5 miles an hour. Carefully open the Sep 9, 2020. 1. Using a soft clean cloth to remove any debris can help, but there may also be other reasons for your brake pad problem. The most likely reason for brakes sticking on cars and bikes will be sticking caliper pistons due to dirt or light corrosion. Avoiding a Stuck Brake Caliper. Now grab a good fist of front brake and hold it for a couple of seconds. Cleaning and re-greasing the slider pins is quite easy. Put some blankets or some such covering on any painted surfaces that are below the RH grip, so any drips of brake fluid won't get on the paint. XJBikes - Yamaha XJ Motorcycle Forum. This is usually caused by the idle screw on the carburetor being out of adjustment, an out of place throttle handle screw, a bad carburetor throttle spring, If one of the front calipers is stuck open, you may notice the vehicle pull strongly to one side under braking. It could have gotten stuck when you applied the brakes and stayed there. 1986 Honda ATC200X. In this video you will learn how to replace front motorcycle brake pads. The seal gets dry n stuck. If youve noticed a low brake fluid tank leaking from either end of your bike (brake reservoir or brake line), this may mean that the seals need to be replaced and fast. You will also learn how to fix sticking motorcycle brake pads. Alternatively, if a brake hose has worn out, it can also cause the caliper to stick. Then, pull the cable out the opposite end. I only rode 1/4 mile and after hitting the brakes could tell there was a problem. The problem was that the Mastercylinder would not let any fluid go back to it, so as the fluid got hot and expanded the only place to go was down (sounds familiar) thus applying the brakes. Stuff happens, but when it does, we'll take care of you. Spray brake cleaner around the piston to clean away any dirt and press the piston back into the caliper. So I was getting my 1980 XJ650 ready for spring riding, and I noticed that my front brake is stuck, the front wheel wouldn't roll at all. Lubricate everything, all moving parts of the calliper, inside the housing etc. The front brake lever was staying ever so slightly engaged before the bleed and cleared-up afterwards. Cleaning and re-greasing the slider pins is quite easy. The rotor could be bent which is easy to see as you spin the wheel. Front brake caliper seized in storage. Explore Our Forums. Since the braking system is airtight, any air in it decreases allowable pressure. A well-maintained car will never have a brake caliper sticking problem. Don't believe everything that you think. Now, you may well need to clean the calipers and pistons. Jun 20, 2015 (Edited) NICAT M. said: Hi friends. Look for obvious signs of damage, such as cracks or leaks that can allow air and dirt to enter the brake circuit.