Sodding Brakes...

Dee · Post by **Dee** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 1:32 pm

Just an update....

Turns out the calipers looked far worse than they actually were. When I got them home and had a closer inspection, everything on there was superficial surface dirt. They were cleaned in less than an hour and came up like new. Most importantly, the seals were in great nick.

The boyfriend was kind enough to fit them for me on his afternoon off, as I just aint got the time...and Jeez! The brakes are fantastic!

And when I parked on Douglas prom yesterday, I had a great big smile on my face as I was looking at the bike...not only do the brakes work really well, the bike looks well cool with the blue spots on!

Doyle171 · Post by **Doyle171** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 3:24 pm

Good on Ya! Post a pic

Red Rex · Post by **Red Rex** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 9:46 pm

Yeah Dee, Been there, Done that, back in the summer. Isn't it great to be able to just feather the brake with one finger to scrub of just a couple of mph half way round a corner and actually feel what's going on at the front?

Post by **phuk72** » Thu Nov 09, 2006 10:45 pm

Isn't it great to be able to just feather the brake with one finger to scrub of just a couple of mph half way round a corner and actually feel what's going on at the front?

tut tut tut, accident waiting to happen

seriously though, rear brake only in corners

Red Rex · Post by **Red Rex** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 9:03 am

No chance, I go along with the philosophy of paint the pedal red and stick a label on it "For Emergency Use Only"

Post by **phuk72** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 9:07 am

burty · Post by **burty** » Fri Nov 10, 2006 12:38 pm

phuk72 wrote:
seriously though, rear brake only in corners

So that's what it's for then.

Dee · Post by **Dee** » Tue Nov 14, 2006 10:30 am

Doyle171 wrote: Good on Ya! Post a pic

Will do when I get a chance, but the weather hasn't been too good here recently, so Trixie needs a good clean first....

Dee · Post by **Dee** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 10:24 am

Sorry to be asking silly questions again, all, but I'm now finding that the brakes are binding. It's definitely the front, as I've checked.

I haven't fitted them, as you know, and haven't had the time to check them over yet, apart to ascertain it's definitely the front brakes binding. I've kept the standard pads in, as they've got life in them yet, and they seem to be moulding in nicely with my discs. The binding normally goes away when everything has warmed up a bit, but it's really noticeable when I first move the bike.

Any idea what could be causing this at all? Has anyone else had similar problems?

Post by **Max** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 2:40 pm

Probably hard / dirty seals... Push the pistons out as far as you can without popping them out of the caliper and give them a thorough 360 degree cleaning, then smear a THIN coat of moly rubber grease on them and push them back in (wipe off the excess). If that doesn't do it, they are in need of an overhaul...

Doyle171 · Post by **Doyle171** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 2:47 pm

Good advice Max, i use Brake fluid to clean and lub the pistons. Before pushing them back in.

It sometimes helps clamping one of the pistons in so that you can pump the other one out without having to top up your brake fiuld and also eliminated the risk of air bubbles.

Post by **Max** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 2:50 pm

That'll work to.

When racing, I overhaul them after each round. I can only imagine what a couple years of road riding will do to them.

Doyle171 · Post by **Doyle171** » Wed Nov 15, 2006 2:52 pm

Yeah i do mine at the start of summer and then every 2 months during the winter. So all the time basically with the weather we get.

Dee · Post by **Dee** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 11:18 am

Cheers for the advice, all. I know the seals are fine, and the calipers have had a clean up, but I'll get some brake cleaner on them at the weekend and give them a really good going over

Post by **Max** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 11:58 pm

You want the pistons to be completely free of any build up. Sometimes hard to see and not easy removed with just a shot of brake cleaner (requires a little rubbing). When you say the seals are fine, do you just mean they don't leak? Or are the pistons freely pushed in and out?