Need some help guys

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Aug 29, 2009 | 03:52 PM

jaysonL

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Elite HDF Member

Joined: Nov 2005

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From: Pa.

Need some help guys

After reinstalling the wheels and tires on my bike, I now have all most no rear break. I never touched the break pedal while the wheels were off, the caliper rested nicely on the swing arm the whole time, reinstall went smooth. Just now I have no rear breaks. Thoughts ?

Aug 29, 2009 | 03:57 PM

skip3406

Road Captain

Joined: Apr 2007

Posts: 582

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From: North Eastern Pa.

Bleed the rear brake

Aug 29, 2009 | 04:07 PM

jaysonL

Thread Starter

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From: Pa.

Just did that. Still don't have much break to speak of.

Aug 29, 2009 | 05:03 PM

Ratbob

Road Master

Joined: May 2008

Posts: 894

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From: Newberg OR

Could bet the rear master cylinder piston. Remove the top of the reservoir and pump the brake a few times. You should eventually see a bubble or a pulse of fluid rising from the small hole in the bottom of the reservoir each time your release the brake pedal.

Also - could you have contamination on the pads?

Last edited by Ratbob; Aug 29, 2009 at 05:05 PM. Reason: After thought - contamination on pads?

Aug 29, 2009 | 05:54 PM

jaysonL

Thread Starter

Elite HDF Member

Joined: Nov 2005

Posts: 4,608

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From: Pa.

When I bleed the break, I get a ton of fluid, so it would seem to me that the master cylinder is working fine. One thing I just thought of. When the shop had the wheels, and replaced the tires, they marked the rotor, front, and back wheel, with a directional arrow. I can only assume to help them know which way to mount the tires. When I put the wheels back on, I sprayed the rotors with break cleaner and removed the marker. I did the same to both wheels. The front breaks work just fine. That's the only other thing I did. Could this have glazed the pads/rotors ?

Aug 29, 2009 | 06:29 PM

jmpancoast

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: Jan 2007

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From: Chesterfield, VA

Just because you are moving fluid doesn't mean there is not air in the lines.

If the pedal is soft, keep bleeding them. A hand operated vacuum pump works great.

Aug 29, 2009 | 08:02 PM

jaysonL

Thread Starter

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Joined: Nov 2005

Posts: 4,608

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From: Pa.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmpancoast

If the pedal is soft, keep bleeding them. A hand operated vacuum pump works great.

That's just it. The pedal isn't soft. In fact, it just the opposite. It's rather hard, and little movement, or "push" .

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Aug 29, 2009 | 10:11 PM

Phrogman

Road Warrior

Joined: Nov 2006

Posts: 1,699

Likes: 2

From: Deltona, FL

Just out of curiousity, did you have to spread the pads when you put on the rear wheel? Most of the time when I let my calipers sit I have to spread them a bit when trying to get the rotor back in there.

Also, to ask the obvious, you do have two pads in there right? You might think it's a dumb question, but I did see a guy put his wheel on once with only one pad in the caliper. The back one fell out and he didn't notice.