Riding with the wife yesterday and all of the sudden no front brake! Any advice on what might have happened? I don't see anything missing or loose. I would think even if the pads are worn out I would have some sort of brake! Any help appreciated.

 

Scary! I would check for leaks in the brake line or calliper, check if there is fluid in the reservoir if not you most defintely have a leak and probably a new brake line is in order, while you install a new one you may as well replace the pads as well. Hope you find out what the deal is.

 

Check your fork drain screw and see if it is leaking. This happened to me a few weeks ago. I have no idea why that drain screw suddenly started leaking after 15-20K, but it did. Me and gf rode to a rally and about half way there I noticed I had no front brakes. Got the bike home and started checking things and it was the drain screw on the caliper side. Took pads out, cleaned them up,and changed the fork oil. Problem solved.

 

Now that's strange CJ...

 

What does fork oil have to do with front brakes? Nothing? One time i noticed my rear valve stem cap was loose then my lights went out!!!! I then proceded to tighten the cap up and BINGO!!! Lights came back on!!! JUST KIDDING....

 

You don't state what year, make or model your bike is, or number of miles. If you have fluid in the master cylinder and your brakes don't work, very possibly you have an internal leak in the master cylinder. Another problem may be an accumulation of sludge in the front caliper, or dirty pucks in the caliper. Hope this helps.

 

Ok Einstein, since you don't think fork oil leaking from the drain screw, why don't you loosen it until there is a small leak there and go ride your bike for a few hours and see if it doesn't leak onto the rotor, which will end up on the pads.

 

i had stuck pistons one time.
http://www.lyndallracingbrakes.com/service_tech.htm

 

My friend had the opposite. The front brake would seize up. Luckly a little bit of drag for a warning before it happened. Never thought air in the line would cause it to lock up. Still don't know if it is really fixed. Do you know if your brakes have been bled properly?

 

I have an 06 FXSTS. While ridding on the freeway I felt a slight vibration coming from the rear wheel area, then it went away. A few minutes later traffic went from 60+ to a stop, rear brake peddal went all the way forward! Fortunatley I was on the front and gears too. Turns out the brake pad material came off the backing plate. Went to the dealer to buy a replacement set, and when I mentioned what happened he said "you have a v-twin...you should expect things to vibrate off" (exact quote). He then sold me the wrong pads.

I realiaze it's a different bike and the opposite end brake...but give a look and make sure all the stopping parts are present and accounted for.