Front brakes seized

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Sidecar Bob
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Re: Front brakes seized

#16

Post by Sidecar Bob »

I always recommend servicing the brakes completely unless you know when they were last done and that they were done properly. The brakes are the most important part of any vehicle.
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Re: Front brakes seized

#17

Post by low-side »

A couple thoughts that may or may not be useful. The piston in the photo is shot. Even if it seals, it won't return properly with all those pits. On the rear, are you sure it's dragging or is it normal pad kiss? If the rear is easy to turn, what you're hearing might just be the leading edges of the pads skating along the rotor surface.
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Re: Front brakes seized

#18

Post by Track T 2411 »

low-side wrote: Tue Apr 27, 2021 6:06 am On the rear, are you sure it's dragging or is it normal pad kiss? If the rear is easy to turn, what you're hearing might just be the leading edges of the pads skating along the rotor surface.
This. It is normal for the pads to remain 'lightly' in contact with the rotor. There is no return spring to move the pad back. It may be hard to gauge on the rear wheel due to the resistance from the final drive and shaft, but the wheel should turn freely.
That said, as Bob recommends above, if the front brakes need attention, the rear usually do too.
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Re: Front brakes seized

#19

Post by Cakey »

The rear wheel does not return freely, I believe. It takes a bit of force to free spin the rest wheel.
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Re: Front brakes seized

#20

Post by ericheath »

Do you put anything in the dust seal? Brake lube? Or is it best to keep it dry?
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Re: Front brakes seized

#21

Post by redglbx »

Casey, looks/sounds like you’re due for a complete brake rebuild. The piston above is toast, I wouldn’t use it unless like whisker said it’s a must-do deal. It’ll just kill a new seal. I suspect you’re gonna find more of the same in the other calipers & m/c’s. Buy new stainless pistons and m/c rebuild kits which normally have all new parts and hopefully the bores are still good. Flush the brake fluid every 2 years or so, it’s one of those things we tend to forget about.
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Re: Front brakes seized

#22

Post by robin1731 »

Cakey wrote: Tue Apr 27, 2021 6:45 am The rear wheel does not return freely, I believe. It takes a bit of force to free spin the rest wheel.
"Bit of force". That is relative. It does take a bit to turn the rear wheel when all is perfect. Impossible to describe how much force. Even when right the rear wheel won't make a complete revolution if you turn it with some good force with the bike on the center stand.
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Re: Front brakes seized

#23

Post by gltriker »

ericheath wrote: Tue Apr 27, 2021 7:34 am Do you put anything in the dust seal? Brake lube? Or is it best to keep it dry?
.

I did. A light smear of Sil-Glyde (silicone grease ) under the dust seal seemed a proactive step to reduce possibilities of water intrusion corrosion on the exposed piston outside diameter. Will probably wipe the inner bore of the caliper piston with high temperature silicone brake lubricant to reduce corrosion in there, too.
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Re: Front brakes seized

#24

Post by Cakey »

robin1731 wrote: Tue Apr 27, 2021 1:33 pm
Cakey wrote: Tue Apr 27, 2021 6:45 am The rear wheel does not return freely, I believe. It takes a bit of force to free spin the rest wheel.
"Bit of force". That is relative. It does take a bit to turn the rear wheel when all is perfect. Impossible to describe how much force. Even when right the rear wheel won't make a complete revolution if you turn it with some good force with the bike on the center stand.
How you describe it Robin, is how it is. I have ordered the parts and will do a complete rebuild back and front. They have not been done for 9 years, so it won’t hurt. The only parts I cannot get here is OZ are brake pistons and front master cylinder kit. It coul be a painful wait once I find were to order them from 🙁
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Re: Front brakes seized

#25

Post by Sidecar Bob »

Old Fogey still has some sizes available
http://wingovations.com/stainless-steel ... 4588600239
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Re: Front brakes seized

#26

Post by Cakey »

Sidecar Bob wrote: Tue Apr 27, 2021 3:05 pm Old Fogey still has some sizes available
http://wingovations.com/stainless-steel ... 4588600239
Thanks Bob, that’s a really good lead. I need to get the back calliper off to see if I need any rear pistons now.
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Re: Front brakes seized

#27

Post by flyin900 »

That contact on the rear is normal as the pads do lightly touch the rotor as you rotate the wheel. If they are releasing well, I would leave them alone. Possibly only do a complete flush of the old brake fluid in
the entire rear system.
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Re: Front brakes seized

#28

Post by redglbx »

Cake, as others have said it is normal to hear the rear pads drag the rotor a bit, but the wheel should turn fairly easily but like Robin said it won’t spin freely.

Also, make sure that the rear brake pedal returns very freely, not uncommon for those to drag a bit with time, so while you’re pulling it all apart clean and lube the brake pedal pivot. Also while we’re spending your money😁 have you given any thought to adding braided brake lines to improve the brake feel/feedback and a little power ?
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Re: Front brakes seized

#29

Post by pidjones »

The reservoir is held on very tight by the o-ring. Those o-rings do not usually come in the rebuild kits. There is a tiny hole under the reservoir that relieves pressure back when you release the lever/pedal. It must be open. I usually rod it out with a high E guitar string. The hole on the rear master may be behind a seaming unused bolt head. I hate brakes.
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Re: Front brakes seized

#30

Post by Cakey »

pidjones wrote: Wed Apr 28, 2021 7:19 pm The reservoir is held on very tight by the o-ring. Those o-rings do not usually come in the rebuild kits. There is a tiny hole under the reservoir that relieves pressure back when you release the lever/pedal. It must be open. I usually rod it out with a high E guitar string. The hole on the rear master may be behind a seaming unused bolt head. I hate brakes.
For the life of me I cannot pull the reservoir off. It’s not the original one, it’s a new one I put on when I built the bike. I don’t want to destroy it to try and get to that hole to see if it’s blocked. Anyone have any ideas?
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