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Rear Brake Help

  1. #1
    Member throttlejunkie's Avatar
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    Question Rear Brake Help

    I rebuilt my rear brake on my 2k5 GSXR 750 because I could not get a solid feel in the peddle, and it went all the way down. I know have a rock hard peddle, but the rear brake barely slows me down. I've bled the system using a hand type vacuum and have no air bubbles coming out of either bleeder on the caliper. I thought it may have been a piston stuck so I pulled the caliper apart again and they both moved freely in, put it back to gather and come to the same result. Does anyone have any ideas, or advice on where to go from here?

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  2. #2
    Lifer
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    Re: Rear Brake Help

    Did you spray brakecleaner on the pad and rotor surfaces? You probably have a ton of grease on the surfaces.

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  3. #3
    Member throttlejunkie's Avatar
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    Re: Rear Brake Help

    Both are clean. Would a bad/warn out stock brake line cause this?

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  4. #4
    Super Moderator OreoGaborio's Avatar
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    The rear brake on my Aprilia has been shot for four years now.

    There's a reason why I haven't fixed it (well, besides the fact that I'm lazy) and it's the same reason why your rear brake barely slows you down.... Because it's not your primary means of stopping.



    If its operating properly and the only symptom is that it just barely slows you down, that's probably just normal and it's likely not your lines. Pads maybe but not lines.

    If you STOMP on it will it lock up?

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    Last edited by OreoGaborio; 08-18-12 at 03:03 PM.
    -Pete LRRS/CCS #81 - ECK Racing, TonysTrackDays
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  5. #5
    Lifer DuncanMoto's Avatar
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    Re: Rear Brake Help

    Go to a track day with instruction.
    You need to rely on your front brakes more.
    My rear brake is squishy and I like it that way.

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  6. #6
    Super Moderator OreoGaborio's Avatar
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    Is that the only squishy thing you like?

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  7. #7
    Member throttlejunkie's Avatar
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    Re: Rear Brake Help

    Quote Originally Posted by OreoGaborio View Post
    Wirelessly posted (iPhone 4s)

    The rear brake on my Aprilia has been shot for four years now.

    There's a reason why I haven't fixed it (well, besides the fact that I'm lazy) and it's the same reason why your rear brake barely slows you down.... Because it's not your primary means of stopping.




    If its operating properly and the only symptom is that it just barely slows you down, that's probably just normal and it's likely not your lines. Pads maybe but not lines.

    If you STOMP on it will it lock up?
    I know its not the primary means of stopping, but I have already had one bad accident when the front brakes failed with a poor working rear brake, I do not want to go through that again.

    If I stomp on it it barley slowed me down at all, no locking up not even at 10mph.

    Quote Originally Posted by DuncanMoto View Post
    Go to a track day with instruction.
    You need to rely on your front brakes more.
    My rear brake is squishy and I like it that way.
    I don't mind squishy, I just want the brakes to work when I need them. The rear used to lock up any time I hit them hard enough.

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  8. #8
    Banned G21forme's Avatar
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    Re: Rear Brake Help

    What pete said, my rear brake pads were down to nothing when I bought the bike four years ago, don't care don't use it.

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  9. #9
    Super Moderator OreoGaborio's Avatar
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    Re: Rear Brake Help

    Quote Originally Posted by throttlejunkie View Post
    I know its not the primary means of stopping, but I have already had one bad accident when the front brakes failed with a poor working rear brake, I do not want to go through that again.
    Fair enough. Just so long as you're aware.

    What caused the failure of the front brakes?

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    Re: Rear Brake Help

    I was pretty irritated when a shop denied my inspection because my rear brake pad was down to maybe 1/3 left, I literally said, "what the fuck:? You dont even use the rear brake". 22k miles on the bike at the time, Im pretty sure it was the stock pad. 30k now.. I dont think I ever changed it... I cant remember.

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  11. #11
    Member throttlejunkie's Avatar
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    Re: Rear Brake Help

    Quote Originally Posted by OreoGaborio View Post
    Fair enough. Just so long as you're aware.

    What caused the failure of the front brakes?
    The brake like burst. It was on a mid 80's YZ at a practice track at the end of a long straight (5th gear) heading into a tight 180 degree turn. I don't remember anything beyond the line bursting and me getting sprayed with fluid. I apparently hit a tree. I don't remember anything that happened for about the next three days. apparently the "arm" on the out side of the rear drum broke when I slammed on the rear brake so I hit the tree going at a good clip, there was no evidence of the rear brake ever working in the dirt leading up to where I hit. I "walked" away without any broken bones, but like I said I don't remember a thing. Ever since then I've been a little paranoid about my brakes working 100%

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  12. #12
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    Re: Rear Brake Help

    So you piled on the rear brake at the end of a 5th gear straight and youre mad about the results? broken parts or no broken parts.... something honestly doesnt make sense here.

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  13. #13
    Super Moderator OreoGaborio's Avatar
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    Re: Rear Brake Help

    Reading comprehension fail.

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  14. #14
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    Re: Rear Brake Help

    Quote Originally Posted by OreoGaborio View Post
    Reading comprehension fail.
    my bad, you see where I was coming from though

    - - - Updated - - -

    cant fault the guy for wanting working brakes

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  15. #15
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    Re: Rear Brake Help

    Quote Originally Posted by xrocket21 View Post
    So you piled on the rear brake at the end of a 5th gear straight and youre mad about the results? broken parts or no broken parts.... something honestly doesnt make sense here.
    Not mad about that result, it happened almost 15 years ago. I was just giving a little back story as to why I am wanting to get my current problem fixed when some people are saying just leave it alone, you don't need back brakes. I am looking for advice on what to do about my current situation of non working rear brakes.

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  16. #16
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    Re: Rear Brake Help

    Quote Originally Posted by throttlejunkie View Post
    Not mad about that result, it happened almost 15 years ago. I was just giving a little back story as to why I am wanting to get my current problem fixed when some people are saying just leave it alone, you don't need back brakes. I am looking for advice on what to do about my current situation of non working rear brakes.
    Since I cant read obv, Ill try to offer constructive advice. The rear brakes are a VERY SIMPLE hydraulic system. There is the brake lever, the master cylinder which is just a piston that pushes on the fluid, the lines, then a piston at the other end that presses the brake pad.

    Usually I would say bleed them, but you bled them already, so that rules out the hydraulic system, and leaves only the pads. Are the pads down to metal?

    If you get pressure in the lever like you say, then the hydraulics are operating, and the rotor is getting squeezed by the pads, if that isnt working, then its the pads. Pads are pretty grippy, so that means it must be down to the rotor, and that would be noisy and visually obvious by an ugly rotor.

    I hope this helps.

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  17. #17
    #331 CBR929RE's Avatar
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    Re: Rear Brake Help

    Quote Originally Posted by xrocket21 View Post
    So you piled on the rear brake at the end of a 5th gear straight and youre mad about the results? broken parts or no broken parts.... something honestly doesnt make sense here.
    different bike. his front brake line burst so he stomped on the rear to slow him down only to have a mechanical failure of the rear drum brake. That has made him paranoid of brakes on his current bike.



    OP try sanding the rotor and pads.

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    Last edited by CBR929RE; 08-18-12 at 08:37 PM.

  18. #18
    TWINS! xrocket21's Avatar
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    Re: Rear Brake Help

    Quote Originally Posted by CBR929RE View Post
    different bike. his front brake line burst so he stomped on the rear to slow him down only to have a mechanical failure of the rear drum brake. That has made him paranoid of brakes on his current bike.



    OP try sanding the rotor and pads.
    you thinking glaze?

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  19. #19
    Member close2reality's Avatar
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    Re: Rear Brake Help

    fresh brake fluid?
    proper fluid level?
    piston seals rebuilt kit?

    are you properly bleeding the brakes and using a piece of clear hose to check for air?

    i would start there before taking anything abrasive to your rotors..

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  20. #20
    Member throttlejunkie's Avatar
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    Re: Rear Brake Help

    Quote Originally Posted by close2reality View Post
    fresh brake fluid? check
    proper fluid level? check
    piston seals rebuilt kit? check

    are you properly bleeding the brakes and using a piece of clear hose to check for air? check

    i would start there before taking anything abrasive to your rotors..
    I'll check the pads, I know I sprayed them with brake clean and wiped them down before I put them back in, but I guess theres a chance I got some fluid on them at some point. I don't think the rotor is glazed but I will check that as well.

    Is it at all possible there is one "large" air bubble somewhere in the system? I am using a hand pump vacuum to bleed the system, there are no air bubbles coming out, just fluid. I was told I could try to empty the system, then push the fluid through one of the bleeders and fill it that way, I have no idea how I would go about doing that, has anyone ever done this?

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  21. #21
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    Re: Rear Brake Help

    in my experience mity vacs's and all those other pumps are great to get fluid down to the bleeder... but as far as getting a nice effective bleeding use the old fashioned brake lever pump/crack bleeder valve.

    remember have someone pump until resistance is felt, have them hold it on last pump, and when you crack valve make sure your closing it back up before all the pressure is released....this assures your not back tracking yourself and that air is not allowed back in.

    remember all your using is a a piece of clear tubing off the bleeder, be sure it fits snug over the bleeder nipple so that it holds a seal and it airtight so you get a proper view of air bubbles......use a soda can or etc to drain into.

    repeat process untill you have a good lever.

    to be honest this sounds like air in the system....usually if your pistons are not sliding freely you will have alot of resistance if you spin your wheel as the pistons are not being allowed to retract back into caliper...

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    Last edited by close2reality; 08-18-12 at 10:03 PM.

  22. #22
    #331 CBR929RE's Avatar
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    Re: Rear Brake Help

    Quote Originally Posted by xrocket21 View Post
    you thinking glaze?
    yup. seems weird to glaze the rear though. but then again I never use mine.

    I usually just use a paint stripper disc in a drill to clean my rotors. gets rid of any glaze and residue when switching pad compounds.

    I also agree with Close2. just bleed them by hand. the rear is so easy to do since its all right there. easy for one person to do

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    Last edited by CBR929RE; 08-18-12 at 10:09 PM.

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