July 16th, 2014, 09:44 AM | #1 |
Captain 2 Sexy
Name: Newton
Location: South TN
Join Date: Apr 2014 Motorcycle(s): Kwaka EX250 Posts: 241
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Rear Brake Lever Travel is Excessive and Rear Brake won't Lock Tire.
Background:
I completely pulled and cleaned the rear braking system on my '06 with less than 5,000 miles. Caliper was disassembled and cleaned and works well. Disc is above minimum thickness. Line was replaced with Galfer SS. Rubber hose from reservoir to MC was replaced with OE part, and reservoir was thoroughly cleaned. I did not tear into the rear MC but it seems to work well. The disc and pads are factory and the pads still have life. I have new pads but decided against using them just yet. I have bled, rebled, hung a weight overnight and searched for another air bubble. I get nothing at the bleeder but fluid. Performance: You could stop with the rear if you were alone in the desert with miles of pavement. This morning while standing on gravel I hung my whole leg off the lever and could still drag the bike w/o the rear tire locking up. Not only that but the lever has inches of travel. If I replace pads I will eliminate some lever travel due to thicker pads but it's not going to correct two inches or more and will return as pads decrease in thickness. What do I want? A lever that is not all mushy, has only a small amount of travel and can lock the rear down if I lay into it. Are my standards too high? What is next step? Bleed, replace existing pads, adjust lever? |
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July 16th, 2014, 09:56 AM | #2 |
The Corner Whisperer
Name: Chris (aka Reactor)
Location: Northern KY
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much.
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Possibly you still have some amount of air in the system/caliper that your tore apart. Or... your rear rotor is pretty glazed over. A light sanding should take care of a glazing problem.
I don't think your standards are too high, sadly... it should all too easy to lock the rear.
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July 16th, 2014, 10:57 AM | #3 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Robert
Location: South of you blokes.
Join Date: May 2013 Motorcycle(s): '92 GPX 250 (Gone and replaced with '08 V-Strom), 2005 Suzuki C50. Posts: 186
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Sounds like too much pad/piston travel. Try taking the caliper off the disc and push the pistons out a little using the brake lever, (make sure not to go too far and push them out of the caliper) then spread the pads enough to go over the disc. Should be an improvement.
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Originally Posted by jgcable; I ride a 2006 Custom HD Wideglide..... and I almost have to sign autographs when I park it. Last futzed with by baxtc1; July 16th, 2014 at 04:07 PM. |
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July 16th, 2014, 12:16 PM | #4 |
I'm crazy,your excuse is?
Name: Winston
Location: Connecticut
Join Date: May 2013 Motorcycle(s): 250 2007 ninja Posts: A lot.
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my guess is worn rear master cylinder.
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July 16th, 2014, 12:32 PM | #5 | |
ninjette.org sage
Name: bob
Location: Earf
Join Date: Apr 2013 Motorcycle(s): 2005 Ninja 250, 2006 SV650N Posts: 642
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Quote:
Link to original page on YouTube. |
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July 16th, 2014, 12:59 PM | #6 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Jason
Location: Bay City, MI
Join Date: Apr 2014 Motorcycle(s): 1980 Yamaha XS850G Midnight Special, 32k Miles; 2000 EX250F, <5000 Orig Miles Posts: 98
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Or use a handheld vacuum pump to suck all the air out.. be mindful of the reservoir level when doing this, it drains quickly.
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July 16th, 2014, 01:11 PM | #7 | |
Captain 2 Sexy
Name: Newton
Location: South TN
Join Date: Apr 2014 Motorcycle(s): Kwaka EX250 Posts: 241
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Quote:
While caliper was off I took some Emory cloth to both sides of the disc. I tried this on the old pads but decided the small amount of pitting that covered a large amount of the face of each pad could be causing me issues so I chucked those and installed the new ones. |
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July 16th, 2014, 01:14 PM | #8 | |
Captain 2 Sexy
Name: Newton
Location: South TN
Join Date: Apr 2014 Motorcycle(s): Kwaka EX250 Posts: 241
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Quote:
I did notice that each piston seemed to slide easily, but if you remove pads and then gently pressurize caliper one piston begins moving long before the other. Sticky pistons that need to be replaced? |
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July 16th, 2014, 01:15 PM | #9 |
Captain 2 Sexy
Name: Newton
Location: South TN
Join Date: Apr 2014 Motorcycle(s): Kwaka EX250 Posts: 241
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July 16th, 2014, 01:17 PM | #10 | |
Captain 2 Sexy
Name: Newton
Location: South TN
Join Date: Apr 2014 Motorcycle(s): Kwaka EX250 Posts: 241
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Quote:
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July 16th, 2014, 01:18 PM | #11 |
Captain 2 Sexy
Name: Newton
Location: South TN
Join Date: Apr 2014 Motorcycle(s): Kwaka EX250 Posts: 241
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I did all of the above and threw in the new pads. Lever travel decreased dramatically and the lever feels more solid now. I am about to run another errand and will report back. Thanks for all the info and help.
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July 16th, 2014, 02:46 PM | #12 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Paul
Location: UK
Join Date: Apr 2014 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250, Yamaha RS200 (classic) Posts: A lot.
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I had a similar thing when I changed the rear tire recently.
I had pushed the pads apart to make it easier to slot the disk back in and the brake would not work afterwards. Pumped it dozens of times but that sucker would not grip.and the travel stayed long. Left it to make a cup of tea and when I tried again everything snugged up in a couple of presses like usual. One thought I had was that, with the long strokes of closing up the caliper, possibly the master cylinder piston had got stuck in internal deposit of the years near the top of its travel where it doesn't usually wander. |
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July 16th, 2014, 02:51 PM | #13 |
The Corner Whisperer
Name: Chris (aka Reactor)
Location: Northern KY
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 250 (track), 1992 250, 2006 R6 (street/track), 2008 R6 (track) Posts: Too much.
MOTY 2015, MOTM - Nov '12, Nov '13
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__________________________________________________
Goal: Shake A Million Hands | Look through the corners | Track Day Prep | Closest track? | The Mid-Ohio School |
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July 17th, 2014, 04:10 AM | #14 |
Captain 2 Sexy
Name: Newton
Location: South TN
Join Date: Apr 2014 Motorcycle(s): Kwaka EX250 Posts: 241
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The Man! Tea, toast, and a Ninja with unlocked rear brakes. How you gonna beat that?
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July 17th, 2014, 04:13 AM | #15 | |
Captain 2 Sexy
Name: Newton
Location: South TN
Join Date: Apr 2014 Motorcycle(s): Kwaka EX250 Posts: 241
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Quote:
Currently the rear is working really well with the lever feel and distance being much more responsive and shorter. Still not where I would like for it to be but a ton better than yesterday. I will be riding this morning and hope to try out the "drag the rear tire with brakes locked across gravel" technique to see if I can lock up the rear in that situation now. If not I am sure I will be closer. Thanks to everyone for their input. We are getting there. |
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