AdventureBoy
Pack Dog
- Joined
- Oct 15, 2007
- Messages
- 339
- Reaction score
- 4
- Location
- Randburg, Gauteng
- Bike
- Honda CRF-1000L Africa Twin
My KLR has never had very good back brakes. Recently they have detariorated. After my recent fall I had to rebuild the bracket that hags the brake pedal, and replace the adjuster that goes into the mater cyclider. I decided to put new pads in as the old ones were about 70% worn. I have also just purchased new braided hoses. The front ones have improved the braking, but the back remains a problem. I can sit on the bike and apply the back brake and still get the bike to move (with some effort). Applying them at a slow speed will not lock the wheel up. The disc does get hot when used, so there is some pressure being applied to the disc. Done the following;
1) Stripped and check the whole system.
2) Checked the bolts holding the brake line to the master cylinder and caliper to ensure there was no restriction.
3) Bled the brakes several times. When applying the brake it seems pretty solid. (no squishyness when there is a bit of air in them)
4) Checked for leaks - none.
Check the disc to see if it is warped. Did this by holding a screw drive in a fixed position next to the disk and spinning the wheel. Disk appears to run true. This is a crude method and a more precise measurement may reveal something. When applying the brake there is no 'pulsating' on the pedal, which could indicate an unevenly worn disk. A visual inspection of the disk shows one that is in the best condition of all the disks on my bikes. The KLR front and Honda both looked more worn.
My plan is to ride the bike a bit white trying to use the back brakes more than the front ones and then take the pads out to see where the wear is showing. As they are new pads this should show how much of the pad is making contact with the disk.
If I were to describe the problem it feels like there is some mechanical restriction at the point where the brakes provide some braking, but do not allow the pads to clamp the disk with their full force. On inspection I cannot see how this could occur.
Any suggestions would help, as I am at my wits end - seem to have tried everything.
Thanks
1) Stripped and check the whole system.
2) Checked the bolts holding the brake line to the master cylinder and caliper to ensure there was no restriction.
3) Bled the brakes several times. When applying the brake it seems pretty solid. (no squishyness when there is a bit of air in them)
4) Checked for leaks - none.
Check the disc to see if it is warped. Did this by holding a screw drive in a fixed position next to the disk and spinning the wheel. Disk appears to run true. This is a crude method and a more precise measurement may reveal something. When applying the brake there is no 'pulsating' on the pedal, which could indicate an unevenly worn disk. A visual inspection of the disk shows one that is in the best condition of all the disks on my bikes. The KLR front and Honda both looked more worn.
My plan is to ride the bike a bit white trying to use the back brakes more than the front ones and then take the pads out to see where the wear is showing. As they are new pads this should show how much of the pad is making contact with the disk.
If I were to describe the problem it feels like there is some mechanical restriction at the point where the brakes provide some braking, but do not allow the pads to clamp the disk with their full force. On inspection I cannot see how this could occur.
Any suggestions would help, as I am at my wits end - seem to have tried everything.
Thanks
