1999 softail rear brake self engaging after a few minutes of riding disc becomes extremely hot. whats wrong ?

 

Hi from the UK and welcome to HDF. Suggests your pads are rubbing, getting the rotor and brake fluid hot, which in turn applies the brake. Have you recently changed the pads? If so the problem may simply be too much brake fluid. If the pads have been there a long while, then if you can do so, jack your rear wheel up a little, so you can rotate it. I suspect you will find it is stiff and will not turn over easily by hand. Let us know what you find.

 

Like grbrown said above, only it's air that is in your line, heating up and expanding, thus pushing the pistons out.

 

ok I guess I need to bleed the brakes again . thx ill give it a try .

 

or is there a better way to remove the air ?

 

I doubt if you have air in the system, it is much more likely that you have too much fluid. If you have pushed the pistons back to install your new pads, that has created pressure in the system, which you need to relieve. Then the pads can retract correctly, taking the pressure off the pads, and allowing the rotor/wheel to rotate normally. Bleeding the brakes is the simple way of taking off surplus fluid and relieving that pressure.

 

my rear brake reservoir is about half full but its not getting as hot and braking itself now . thank you for the help .

 

I think I'm ready to find a great mechanic in Savannah Ga .Any suggestions ?

 

Did you try pushing in your caliper all the way and relieving the pressure in the reservoir like suggested? I'm guessing you did when you inspected it.

 

Hey Rocketyman sorry I'm just getting back to you now . I have blead the rear brake with about 2 pints of brake fluid through the line and still having the same problem after riding about 20-25 minutes the brake begins to compress itself and slow the bike and as I continue riding trying to get home , then the rear brake goes out completely and I got nothing . At least I still have front brakes . After the bike cools later I have rear brake again as I should .Weird !!!!