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Blinkin Motorcycle Brakes
Blog Date - 14 July 2015
I have a big problem with motorcycle brakes. I don't like them and they don't like me. Pfffft.
Motorcycle brakes are fairly simple things. In the case of the front brake I simply squeeze the lever that pumps brake fluid down a pipe. This pipe is connected to the calliper and the pressure from the brake fluid causes small pistons to be pushed out of the calliper. This pushing force acts upon the brake pads, squeezing them hard against the brake disc causing friction that slows the bike down. It is a very simple system, what could possibly go wrong?
1. Seizure. Car brakes seem to work and work and work and work. Every now and then it might be advisable to take the wheel off and strip the callipers for cleaning, you know, once every blue moon or so. Motorcycle brakes on the other hand are finicky little gremlins that just absorb dirt, brake dust, grit and salt. Unlike car brakes that are protected by the wheel as well as rubber boots and covers motorcycle brakes have small unprotected parts and are completely exposed. This causes muck to build up around the moving parts, stopping them from moving. In nearly all cases the now seized parts stick in the "brake on" position causing premature pad wear.
Nasty 'orrible dirty little things are brakes.
2. Corrosion. Car brakes rust like hell but only the bits that don't matter, the moving bits are protected. Motorcycle brakes however, being exposed to the elements, will rust or corrode just at the mere sight of rain or perhaps even washing. Being covered in crud as above means any wetness remains in place long after the rest of the bike has been cleaned leading to more rust. This also leads to further seizure and therefore more premature pad wear. Unless you strip the calliper each time you wash the bike you won't get to the crud that matters either.
These are the bits that can't be cleaned unless you strip the brake completely.
3. Farty Little Pads. Let me recall a story, are we sitting comfortably? A car driver with some mechanical experience purchased his first motorcycle. Upon inspection of his new velocipede he noted that the front brake pads were quite worn and being a responsible chap he thought it prudent to replace them. When he purchased some new pads from his local two-wheeler emporium he noted that the new pads appeared to be worn out too. What he learned that day is that motorcycle pads are thin, very thin, compared to the pads suitable for cars. This means motorcycle pads wear out quicker as they start out thin (worn out) in the first place.
There's not much pad there to start out with.
So over the years I have had an ongoing battle with bike brakes. Oh, you've never had this problem? I guess then that you're a fair weather rider? I suspect your motorcycle doesn't take you to work through the salty savages of winter. I doubt you take long trips away on your bike? You do?!? Gosh, then you probably replace your bike every 3 years before the rot really sets in then huh? Either that or you're the kind of chap that likes to spend his weekends in a warm garage stripping and servicing his brakes every month and replaces the pistons, sliders and pins with stainless examples.
Reader's Comments
Monk said :-
Yeah,fair weather riders eh...not real bikers at all...I was about to go out for a spin but...it's raining...and... a little bit windy. :-)
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
Yeah...pffft...ya not a real biker unless you've done 4,000 miles with a seized calliper, warped discs and pads so worn out it's metal against metal. HARDCORE!!
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Latchy said :-
Ren I have just done a free up of my cbf250 brakes myself, couldn't believe how bad it became so soon (18 months?)
The last time I serviced the calliper I used coppa slip on the main sliding pin but all of a sudden this year it stopped sliding and braking effect dropped right off. Long story short, it was rusted solid, managed to finally get it all apart clean off the rust and dust etc. and this time I sprayed the sliders and filled the holes with synthetic chain lube, let's see how long it lasts this time.
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
I have used grease in the past...it seemed like a good idea. What actually happened for me is the grease just held on to the dirt and...seized.
Will SOMEONE make a brake that keeps working!
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Henrik said :-
The Innova brake just keeps working, its from 2005, and I got it around 2007, as far as I remember the brake has never had any service, just some new pads, nothing that I am proud about, becourse I should have taken more care of it, but it always just worked perfect,...
My first bike was a MZ Saxon 250 ccm, I had to disassamble the brakes apart in peaces, and clean, and renew many things, and had a nightmare getting the air out of the fluid and get them working again. as far as I remember I made a tool with plastic bottle some tubes, and a vacuum cleaner, and got it working finally,..
Generally I use WD40 to protect the bike in winter, also on the brakes, but one must be VERY carefull to keep it from the the disc and pads obviously,..
I will have to do much more brake-work in the future, a compressor and air pistol is a handy help cleaning small corners, I got that also already for the car, and a brake-fluid vacuum toll as well for the compressor, used it successfully on the car and see no reason not to use it for the bikes as well:
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
Hi Henrik. I owned a CLR125 which had a cheap and nasty Grimeca brake. While the casting corroded and the bolts rusted it never seized! Why? Firstly the pistons were made of some weird metal that did not corrode at all and the tolerances were so vague and slack there was room for movement at all times.
I miss that brake and your everlasting Innova brake is making the pain even worse. You are a cruel man. I'm sure one of your other bikes will have issues and that makes me feel better.
I still can't get over the fact you once owned an MZ though...
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Henrik said :-
Same with me, I also can't get over the fact that I once owned a MZ :-)
(terrible, always at least 3-4 things wrong at the same time)
Let me trust you another stupid thing I have done, (but you must promise
me to keep it secret), that GS500, well, ahem,.. I bought with a trailer
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
John S said :-
I had a Suzuki DL650 Vstrom with brakes that looked suspiciously like the ones in your picture there. They were awful! Had to strip clean them fortnightly in the winter and they still seized up. Bought some second had callipers from Arizona (nice dry hot state) and they were perfect right up until winter struck. Actually, it was partly the brakes and their inability to work during the winter that made me get rid of that bike.
The YBR on the other hand... Other than new pads, they've gone untouched in 4 winters now. It seems to thrive on neglect that thing.
We have an old Moto Guzzi for our big bike these days. It's beautiful, a blast to ride and full of character but regularly comes over all Italian in the fairest of weather. I dread to think what would happen to it if we got salt and dirt on it.
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Ben said :-
Hi all,
I always clean the brakes and use Copper Ease/grease on the calipers every time that I change the oil on all my bikes( K75S, CB 250 and Innova) and strip down the calipers at least every 6 months. Don't forget the calipers are the (moving) part of the bike that is closest to the road!! (apart from the wheels!!)
Ren, I suspect that, as you live in the "Wet North/West", maybe you need to strip down the calipers on a regular basis, say every 2-3K miles.
Cheers
Ben
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
You're probably right Ben - but that's like every 2 months or less! What drives me to distraction is that they're just not set up for British rain and salty winters. There's too many exposed parts. I think I need to invent the rubber brake cover for British bikers. I'm going to be a millionaire!
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
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