Break Issues
Break Issues
Here’s a story and a question for you guys:
A week ago I am riding around and notice it’s time for new front break pads so I tell myself that when I get home that evening I will run out to the local HD store and pick up some pads and do the job the right way. Well….that all changes about an hour later because I get a call from a buddy that I have to be somewhere on my bike in 2 hours! So I freak and drive directly to the HD store and do a parking lot break job. I am proud of myself for getting it done and go about my business.
I get through that week and this weekend running my bike hard the entire time. I am proud of my break job because it holds up through the rough weekend. I am trying to keep up with these guys and I am successful in doing so. Any way when I go out to lunch yesterday, I start to head back to my office and I am approaching a road I will be turning onto. I apply my front break and it feels spongy and I am unable to stop completely!!!! So I hit my rear break and thankfully make the turn. When I get back to my office I take a look at my front break assembly and notice its SMOKING! The rotor is now slightly discolored and I’m freaking out.
I limp home last night and run out to Autozone and pick up break cleaner and piston lube. I get home and tear apart my front break assembly and do the job again the right way. I take my time….clean everything….lube the pistons…clean the rotor….put everything back together and my break is still spongy!
Now I didn’t mess with the fluids other than making sure I was still full.
Could the spongy breaks be from air in the lines?
Or am I missing something else???
A week ago I am riding around and notice it’s time for new front break pads so I tell myself that when I get home that evening I will run out to the local HD store and pick up some pads and do the job the right way. Well….that all changes about an hour later because I get a call from a buddy that I have to be somewhere on my bike in 2 hours! So I freak and drive directly to the HD store and do a parking lot break job. I am proud of myself for getting it done and go about my business.
I get through that week and this weekend running my bike hard the entire time. I am proud of my break job because it holds up through the rough weekend. I am trying to keep up with these guys and I am successful in doing so. Any way when I go out to lunch yesterday, I start to head back to my office and I am approaching a road I will be turning onto. I apply my front break and it feels spongy and I am unable to stop completely!!!! So I hit my rear break and thankfully make the turn. When I get back to my office I take a look at my front break assembly and notice its SMOKING! The rotor is now slightly discolored and I’m freaking out.
I limp home last night and run out to Autozone and pick up break cleaner and piston lube. I get home and tear apart my front break assembly and do the job again the right way. I take my time….clean everything….lube the pistons…clean the rotor….put everything back together and my break is still spongy!
Now I didn’t mess with the fluids other than making sure I was still full.
Could the spongy breaks be from air in the lines?
Or am I missing something else???
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,601
Likes: 189
From: east texas
this is just a guess..
you put in new pads in the parking lot .
you pushed the caliper piston back in over old build up of grit and grime.
you rode the bike with dragging brake.
dragging brake heated up.
dragging brake caused the rotor to turn color (lotsa heat)
heat fried your brake line, softened the rubber lining.
now you cleaned the caliper , but still have damaged brake line.
also may have damaged the seal in your caliper.
you are lucky , I have seen front wheels lock up from dragging disc brakes to the point of rider down.
you put in new pads in the parking lot .
you pushed the caliper piston back in over old build up of grit and grime.
you rode the bike with dragging brake.
dragging brake heated up.
dragging brake caused the rotor to turn color (lotsa heat)
heat fried your brake line, softened the rubber lining.
now you cleaned the caliper , but still have damaged brake line.
also may have damaged the seal in your caliper.
you are lucky , I have seen front wheels lock up from dragging disc brakes to the point of rider down.
Last edited by heybaylor; Nov 9, 2011 at 09:14 AM.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 334
Likes: 1
From: Valdosta, GA
AJ, I don't really have a theory, but the one above sounds as good as any... I do have a question though.. how many miles have you put on that thing to already need new pads?? last time I looked at mine they still look practically new at 4K miles.
I'm over 8k and never touch my rear break.
I only use my front.
So yeah my **** will wear pretty fast.
I'm thinking about integrating both my front and rear.
I'm going to go home tonight and disassemble the caliper completely and clean it.
Change the break fluid and see what happens.
If I damaged the seal or line I'm just going to get a new caliper (180 at HD)
I only use my front.
So yeah my **** will wear pretty fast.
I'm thinking about integrating both my front and rear.
I'm going to go home tonight and disassemble the caliper completely and clean it.
Change the break fluid and see what happens.
If I damaged the seal or line I'm just going to get a new caliper (180 at HD)
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,054
Likes: 26
From: Florida
Hope you figure it out and everything goes well...
Just have to comment on the life of brake pads; 8K miles and they need replacing? Hard to imagine even after you say that you only use the front brake. I finally changed my stock front pads at 25k miles and they still had some life in them. I went ahead and did it since I had my front wheel and fender off and figured it would be one less thing to do later. On the other hand I have had to replace my rear pads twice now. It seems like I go through a set of those right along with my rear tire which is about 12k miles. Am I maybe braking too much with my rear brake?
Just have to comment on the life of brake pads; 8K miles and they need replacing? Hard to imagine even after you say that you only use the front brake. I finally changed my stock front pads at 25k miles and they still had some life in them. I went ahead and did it since I had my front wheel and fender off and figured it would be one less thing to do later. On the other hand I have had to replace my rear pads twice now. It seems like I go through a set of those right along with my rear tire which is about 12k miles. Am I maybe braking too much with my rear brake?
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 334
Likes: 1
From: Valdosta, GA
AJ... funny that you mention you don't use the rear brake.... not sure if I mentioned, but when my wife took the Riders Edge course they let me stick around that first night to observe.. the next day my wife mentioned that she wished I could take the whole course with her.. long story short, she called and they agreed to let me take the course since I was there the first night...
Anyway, I too never used the rear brake much.. and during the 2 days of riding skills, I was basically forced to start using it... now, after the course, I use both brakes as a habit...
As a side note, I was the only one in the class to get a perfect score on the riding tests.. of course I do have quite a lot of years of riding experience... but I did learn a lot, it was fun.. and I am a better braker now!
Anyway, I too never used the rear brake much.. and during the 2 days of riding skills, I was basically forced to start using it... now, after the course, I use both brakes as a habit...
As a side note, I was the only one in the class to get a perfect score on the riding tests.. of course I do have quite a lot of years of riding experience... but I did learn a lot, it was fun.. and I am a better braker now!
I would love to use my rear break but because of my height it's pretty awkward reaching it.
I am getting a set of forward controls for xmas so I can start to use it then.
I guess I run through my break quickly because I'm 350lbs and the guys I run with ride it like they stole it.
I am getting a set of forward controls for xmas so I can start to use it then.
I guess I run through my break quickly because I'm 350lbs and the guys I run with ride it like they stole it.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: east texas
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 2,477
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From: Western MD
if you can take the caliper apart to clean it out, you can just put in a new o-ring and dust boot.. no need to buy a caliper if you can overhaul it..
i think you may have overheated the fluid. i would flush the system out and go from there.
i think you may have overheated the fluid. i would flush the system out and go from there.