Rear brakes stopped working

[Lil_Green_Demon]

I checked Google for an answer but didn't find anything similar to what I'm experiencing, as others end up having overheating issues.
It's cold in Southern California right now, so it's an overheating issue & the rear caliper is cold to the touch, even after riding on the highway for 20 mins.
The brakes were working perfectly fine this morning, but I noticed they weren't braking effectively on my way home around 12 pm. I rode again just now to work and they weren't working at all. Front brakes are fine, though.
I've checked the connections, but I didn't identify anything specifically wrong.
Any ideas before I rush the bike to a mechanic tomorrow?

[Lil_Green_Demon]

As I'm looking at it more, I get a feeling the caliper isn't supposed to be at this angle: http://imgur.com/a/lV0xA

[Triple Jim]

Right, when it's about to fall off, braking efficiency declines.

[Lil_Green_Demon]

Originally Posted by Triple Jim

Right, when it's about to fall off, braking efficiency declines.

Well, holy ****. I'm taking it to the dealer tomorrow then. Any idea why this would happen? I've owned the bike for 8 days now and I don't remember if the caliper was sitting correctly when I bought it. I wish I had taken pics from multiple angles.

[Z1R rider]

If the rear wheel was off for any reason, I'd guess it wasn't reassembled properly.

[Triple Jim]

Right. I'd like to see it in person. It's rotated way out of position because the channel in the caliper mount that's supposed to be located by the swing arm isn't, but I don't see why the pads have come out of the disk if it rotated around the axle.

It's just academic though, putting it back together properly should be an easy fix.

[cbinker]

where did you get the bike? they are likely responsible for that messed up caliper.

[Lil_Green_Demon]

I bought it used from a college freshman last Monday. Damn. It only lasted 9 days before going bad on me.

[Z1R rider]

Did you check the brake fluid level? The way it's kinked around it may have cracked the hose, most likely where the end fitting crimps onto the hose.

[ninjamunky85]

Wow!

[Triple Jim]

I don't know that anything has gone bad at all. As Z1R rider said above, it's most likely just that the parts are out of place because of improper assembly when the wheel was installed. Even if something was damaged as a result, those parts are not expensive on the used market.

[taz]

[Lil_Green_Demon]

Originally Posted by Z1R rider

Did you check the brake fluid level? The way it's kinked around it may have cracked the hose, most likely where the end fitting crimps onto the hose.

Fluid level seems fine.

So to fix this, should I remove the caliper, bring it back to the correct position and tighten the bolts there?

[Triple Jim]

You need to understand how it is supposed to go together. There is a channel in the caliper bracket that should be held in place by a protrusion on the swing arm. This keeps the caliper bracket from rotating like it did. I expect that you need to remove the rear wheel, get things in position, and install them correctly, then tighten the rear wheel. There may be a spacer or spacers out of position, but I don't know for sure because my 250 is a pregen.

Verify that everything is intact, nothing is broken or assembled out of position, and in any case, if you are unsure of what you're seeing in the repair manual in the section on how to install the rear wheel, you should get someone with experience to help you.

[Z1R rider]

^^^^^

[DannoXYZ]

Originally Posted by Lil_Green_Demon

Fluid level seems fine.

So to fix this, should I remove the caliper, bring it back to the correct position and tighten the bolts there?

Sort of, like Triple Jim said:

1. remove rear axle
2. remove rear wheel note position of spacers
3. rotate brake-caliper bracket so that its slot is over the stub on the inside of the swingarm
4. re-install rear-wheel being careful not to disturb the caliper bracket
5. re-install rear axle

[Lazarus]

^ this. Its a little difficult to do with only one person but its not impossible.

[DannoXYZ]

I find putting my foot under the rear-wheel and "toe-ing" it up and down helps position the wheel while I shove the axle through. Or you can make some ramps out of blocks of wood to roll the wheel up into position.

[cadd]

Originally Posted by Lazarus

^ this. Its a little difficult to do with only one person but its not impossible.

Not difficult to do solo at all. Have a rear stand. Use a piece of 2x4 under the tire to help guide the wheel back in place so the axle can easily slide back in.

OP, to fix your problem, you MUST remove the rear wheel off the bike. Or at least slide the axle out enough so that that black grove in the rear caliper can go back on the INSIDE of the right swingarm.

If you've never worked on a bike before, maybe it's best to bring it to a shop. Should be no more than $50 bux to get that fixed.

Or if you have the time and you're willing to learn, look at youtube videos of how to change a rear tire and you should see the process of removing the rear wheel and reassembling the rear wheel (with the brake caliper in the proper position).

[Lil_Green_Demon]

I paid a local mechanic $85 to fix it just now. I feel a bit gypped but at least the caliper is back in place.
Next time, I'll take it to a mechanic who works on all bikes and hopefully not be charged so much. This mechanic advertises as a cruiser mechanic. He wouldn't adjust the rate and still charged me for the full hour, even though it took him less than 20 minutes to get the job done. His shop, his prices. I have to respect that.
Still, I can't complain too much.

[Triple Jim]

I hope you were able to watch how he got things back in the correct position.

[Lil_Green_Demon]

Originally Posted by Triple Jim

I hope you were able to watch how he got things back in the correct position.

Unfortunately, no. The area where he was working was facing away from where customers had to sit.

[Triple Jim]

You definitely need a new mechanic, or better yet, learn to do the work yourself.

[Lil_Green_Demon]

Originally Posted by Triple Jim

You definitely need a new mechanic, or better yet, learn to do the work yourself.

Yup. I can do basic things, like oil changes and I just did the coolant flush on Tuesday, but more complicated work worries me. I'll have to try, though. It'll save money long-term.

[Flying]

Whoever you bought it from certainly didn't play with legos as a kid....

[cadd]

My shop charges $40 to change the rear tire ($20 if you carry the wheel and new tire in for him). This is 1/2 the work of changing the rear tire. You gotta find a new shop. For future reference, if you're comfortable changing the oil and coolant, this should be within the same skill level needed. Just gotta watch youtube videos!

[MrAtom]

Originally Posted by cadd

My shop charges $40 to change the rear tire ($20 if you carry the wheel and new tire in for him). This is 1/2 the work of changing the rear tire. You gotta find a new shop. For future reference, if you're comfortable changing the oil and coolant, this should be within the same skill level needed. Just gotta watch youtube videos!

Same here. I was recommended a shop by a local rider who had a very well-taken-care of bike and he knew what he was talking about. Good way to find a good shop.