Rear Brake Caliper Locking up
Banned
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 17,265
Likes: 21
From: Los Angeles, CA
On my fatboy you gotta remove the wheel to pull the rear caliper. I would first remove the caliper, and clean the pistons real good with brake cleaner. Test it and see what happens. If it is still sticking, pull the pistons out and sand them smooth and reinstall and try again. Then proceed with rebuild if necessary. As someone else said a lot of brake dust can build up and stick to the piston causing it to not operate smoothly. Either way let us know.
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Novice
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From:
I'm going to head over to his house tomorrow to check it out. So, from what I'm hearing the caliper can be rebuilt with the wheel still on? Does anyone know where there may be step by step instructions online? I'm sure he doesn't have a repair manual.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,123
Likes: 1
From: Dallas TX
ok I know that this may sound strange but it happened to me. Does he have forwards? If so he needs to check to see if his linkage is binding and not letting the brake pedal fully release. some how mine got a little bent where the rod attach's to the brake pedal and it would bind up and not let the pedal come all the way back up which had the brake locked up in the rear. Just a thought he might want to check before having to tear things down.
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Novice
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
From:
Well, I checked everything out. The linkage isn't binding up and the master cylinder is pushing brake fluid nice and strong, so it has to be the pistons not working smooth.
The only thing is, I don't see how in the world I would ever get a piston out of the caliper in between the caliper and disk. The side that comes off isn't the problem but the pistons that are on the side of the main caliper piece, I just don't see coming out, unless the pistons are narrow enough to slip between the caliper and disk after removing the brake pads. I think the rear wheel has to come off.
The only thing is, I don't see how in the world I would ever get a piston out of the caliper in between the caliper and disk. The side that comes off isn't the problem but the pistons that are on the side of the main caliper piece, I just don't see coming out, unless the pistons are narrow enough to slip between the caliper and disk after removing the brake pads. I think the rear wheel has to come off.
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 213
Likes: 1
From: Southeast New York
Well, I checked everything out. The linkage isn't binding up and the master cylinder is pushing brake fluid nice and strong, so it has to be the pistons not working smooth.
The only thing is, I don't see how in the world I would ever get a piston out of the caliper in between the caliper and disk. The side that comes off isn't the problem but the pistons that are on the side of the main caliper piece, I just don't see coming out, unless the pistons are narrow enough to slip between the caliper and disk after removing the brake pads. I think the rear wheel has to come off.
The only thing is, I don't see how in the world I would ever get a piston out of the caliper in between the caliper and disk. The side that comes off isn't the problem but the pistons that are on the side of the main caliper piece, I just don't see coming out, unless the pistons are narrow enough to slip between the caliper and disk after removing the brake pads. I think the rear wheel has to come off.
Supporter
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 15,788
Likes: 5,621
From: along the shore of Mishigami
To remove rear caliper the wheel needs to come off cause the axle goes thru the caliper housing. Let us in on what you find.
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Stage I
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: pulaski co virginia
[QUOTE=rbabos;4557013]Most likely the pistons are stuck in the bores from crud or corrosion. They are held in position and won't retract to ease the pressure off. You will see it when you take them off, and pull the pads. Are you sure you need to remove the wheel, or just the caliper off of the bracket? It needs to be removed from the disc, pads off and broken down enough to work on it. Sometimes going the way that looks like the most work ends up being quicker in the long run
went to step on breaks and they stayed down? If the pads wouldve been better on it , it might get not of rolled at all, anyways, bled the breaks, got two good streams, but the pedal wouldnt return took of off and cleaned it all up,pushed the pistons back in.still foot pedal wont return??They are Revtech 4 piston rear breaks, can I get a rebuilt kit?and new shoes? And how do I get the pistons out of caliber any specific way to get out??
went to step on breaks and they stayed down? If the pads wouldve been better on it , it might get not of rolled at all, anyways, bled the breaks, got two good streams, but the pedal wouldnt return took of off and cleaned it all up,pushed the pistons back in.still foot pedal wont return??They are Revtech 4 piston rear breaks, can I get a rebuilt kit?and new shoes? And how do I get the pistons out of caliber any specific way to get out??