I think my back brake is sticking?

satanicguardian · 16 Jan 2015 at 15:49

Hi guys,

Slight issue with my bike, I've noticed it in the last few weeks since it's been really cold/gritters out; my brakes started to get squeaky (front and back) and sometimes feel a bit spongy.

Recently though I've noticed that when I try and get my bike out of the garage in the morning, I try and wheel it back whilst sitting on it, at certain points it will be really hard to push back (as if a certain part of the disk is sticking or something?) then will roll freely again for a few feet until that part of the disc comes back round to the caliper

I'm borrowing a paddock stand over the weekend to get the back end up in the air, I'm fairly novice to servicing, but is there anything I should look out for?

Cheers

satanicguardian · 16 Jan 2015 at 16:02

Ahh, now you say chain - I did recently replace my chain because my old one was stretched and floppy (giggity), I applied some WD-40 chain wax (spray can) about 2 weeks ago, do I need to be using it more often than that?

satanicguardian · 16 Jan 2015 at 16:08

Ah ok, I've done about 8500km on my current discs/pads, should they be ok at this point?

satanicguardian · 16 Jan 2015 at 16:25

Ahh ok, I need to work out how to get my back brakes off.. think it could be haynes manual time.. forgive my stupidity on this but is there anything I can take off that I won't be able to A) put back on again once removed, B) can leak and dribble etc?

satanicguardian · 16 Jan 2015 at 16:38

Ah ok, it's a 14 plate sport style bike so I imagine they all use a similar system? Would I have to search anything specific on youtube do you think or are they all very much the same?

satanicguardian · 16 Jan 2015 at 17:01

Cool thanks mate!

I'll probably post again at some point tomorrow when I can't put it all back together again!

I can do PC's but bike mechanics is new to me..

satanicguardian · 16 Jan 2015 at 17:33

Ahh that's very kind, quite a way with dodgy brakes though but I'll keep it in mind for the future if the offer still stood?

and won't grease make them like..useless?

satanicguardian · 16 Jan 2015 at 17:52

wazza300 said:
on the back of the pad,not the face that touches the disc

the part that the piston pushes against

Ohh.. I knew that.. I was just.. testing...

satanicguardian · 16 Jan 2015 at 19:01

ShakenNstirred said:
it depends on the weather and the mileage you do as to how often you need to do the chain

At this time of year probably only 500 miles a month, and well typical UK weather

satanicguardian · 19 Jan 2015 at 14:54

Update - Sooo I managed to successfully take apart, clean and rebuild my rear brakes, I used brake cleaner on all components and applied some light grease to the back of the pads/spring and pistons, reassembled and unbelievably it still worked!

It helped initially free up the back wheel, but this morning after a night in the cold garage it had seized again slightly.

I've been told I should make sure that the piston that pushes into the rear master cylinder is going in straight and true because this could make it seize, especially if the bike has been dropped.

My bike has only gone over once, and that was very gently being lowered onto gravel because I lost my footing and couldn't hold it up.

If it's not the above issue, can anyone else suggest why it could be binding when left standing for a while?

Cheers,

Jamie

satanicguardian · 21 Jan 2015 at 12:20

I took the calliper apart, cleaned the top edges of the pistons, rested a pad on both and use mal-grips to push them back in after cleaning, then I took the pad off, applied copper ease liberally and rebuilt it.

Now I'm getting an issue I've had before on my front brake, I can't remember exactly what caused it but basically if I apply my front brake decently hard the bike shudders at the front end as it's slowing down, it kinda feels like it's lurching up and down on the front forks rapidly.. I remember phrases like "head something out of alignment" and perhaps a warped front disc, but this has happened twice within like 4000 miles, is that bad?

Cheers!

satanicguardian · 21 Jan 2015 at 15:10

It's very definitely a lurching, the faster I'm going, the quicker the lurching feel, I remember the mechanic before said something on the headstock(?) being out of alignment?

satanicguardian · 21 Jan 2015 at 15:36

Headstock bearings sounds familiar, but yeah there is a slight scuffing, it's only really present in the first 10-15 minutes of riding, perhaps the brake heating up helps?

satanicguardian · 21 Jan 2015 at 16:12

I think that's probably it, am I right in saying that if my brakes are sticking to a certain degree it could affect my acceleration and top speed?

satanicguardian · 26 Jan 2015 at 09:50

After a few days riding I can confirm that it's very definitely front brake sticking, when I first start up and try and wheel my bike backwards off the drive it totally jams up every one rotation on the disc and I have to really put my back into moving it!

Once I'm riding the bike pulls off forward easily but I notice if I leave my revs lower (for just cruising along) then try and accelerate to overtake, the bike really struggles, I then have to drop a gear or two to build up some speed.

Also I notice over 40mph + I can feel the front end of the bike shuddering, I'm guessing the disc is warped?

After about 10 minutes (not using the front brake at all) it starts to loosen up, my acceleration improves and it doesn't stick anywhere near as much. Also the shuddering starts to decrease as it heats up.

When I get into work I tested the temp of the brake disc this morning and you could have fried an egg on it.

Thoughts please guys? Is it without question a new disc I need or could the pads/callipers have anything to do with it?

Cheers!

satanicguardian · 26 Jan 2015 at 10:10

I'll do that next weekend then I guess, can I do that without it being on a front stand? (I did the rear brakes on a paddock)

satanicguardian · 26 Jan 2015 at 14:47

Ok, I'll have a go at it!

satanicguardian · 2 Feb 2015 at 10:19

Still haven't got round to this, I've tried riding without using the front brake at all for the last few times, the disc is still red hot but not actually got round to doing it yet, temporarily I just blast the inside of the calliper with brake cleaner and don't use the brake, tends to help a lot to start with!

satanicguardian · 2 Feb 2015 at 11:11

Fireskull said:
Red hot discs with little to no use its not a good sign
Are both discs red hot or just one? If it was me I would be ordering a new piston seal kit this week and sorting this weekend, brakes not working correctly will not end well

Well the rear one is hot after riding but that is the only brake I'm using at the moment, trying to use engine compression to slow me steadily to not overuse the rear brake.

The front one is hot from 0% usage!

I'm totally reliant on my rear brake at the moment, and I took that apart and cleaned it a few weeks ago (for the first time I've ever done it)! :eek: