sticking brakes

brianfisk · May 10, 2021

Hi all, 1998 R1100RT front brakes are sticking and I cannot seem to get them to to let go all the way. Just rebuilt the M/C. I have had stainless lines for awhile. Brake fluid is clean and I cleaned the calipers (letting the pucks out and cleaning them. They seem to push back in okay).
Brakes drag more than I like. Any thoughts from the group?

Brian

chrisinsc · May 10, 2021

I eventually rebuilt my calipers with new cups and seals to make this problem go away on my 99 RT.

giarcg · May 10, 2021

My first guess, since you rebuilt the MC, is somehow the compensating port may not be allowing pressure to bleed off.

Check out this explanation of how it all works.... one of the best I've seen.

http://www.st-riders.net/index.php?topic=11931.0

henzilla · May 10, 2021

Level of fluid in m/c?

I’ll fix the title in a bit...unless you meant it

dieselyoda · May 10, 2021

Check your grub screw adjustment.

AntonLargiader · May 10, 2021

If your pads are old, and specifically if they have been in the bike for a long period of disuse, they are the problem. Replace them. I can't explain it authoritatively but I have some theories, not going into them, just replace the pads if they are old. Wear doesn't matter. Old.

brianfisk · May 11, 2021

brakes

I should have added that the brakes were sticking before I did any work to them. I will check the grub screw as I did not play with it when I did the rebuild. Brake. pads are fairly new

BC1100S · May 11, 2021

brianfisk said:
I should have added that the brakes were sticking before I did any work to them.

In that case, refer to Post #2. And replace the pads while you're at it.

brianfisk · May 11, 2021

fix?

Well I tried to do the grub screw, was tearing it apart after using a solder iron to try and loosen it up. No good!

took the front wheel off just to check (again ) that the bearings were okay, they were. I put it back together and pumped the brakes back up. I think that might have loosen the calipers up as it no longer is sticking as bad did a short ride and really hit the brakes hard, still seemed okay. will ride a longer distance soon and check again.

thanks for the replies, Brian

pglaves · May 11, 2021

Sometimes removing the wheel and disk, and then spreading the pads fully will cause pistons that seem to be sticking to again be normal. In typical use the movement of the pistons is minimal - retraction is very slight. Retracting the pistons fully seems to correct sticking.

69zeff65 · May 11, 2021

Did you clean both tiny little holes ?

There are two (2) little tiny holes leading from the reservoir to the piston chamber. One is the feed to the piston and the other smaller one is the return. If the return is restricted or blocked completely your caliper pucks will be slow to retract or stay stuck out and cause the problem you are describing.

giarcg · May 11, 2021

69zeff65 said:
There are two (2) little tiny holes leading from the reservoir to the piston chamber. One is the feed to the piston and the other smaller one is the return. If the return is restricted or blocked completely your caliper pucks will be slow to retract or stay stuck out and cause the problem you are describing.

Read post #3

brianfisk · May 12, 2021

clean

69zeff65 said:
There are two (2) little tiny holes leading from the reservoir to the piston chamber. One is the feed to the piston and the other smaller one is the return. If the return is restricted or blocked completely your caliper pucks will be slow to retract or stay stuck out and cause the problem you are describing.

I did clean the holes. I think Paul's suggestion that I spread the pads did the trick ( I had done it when I cleaned the surface of the calipers a couple of times, I thinking I just needed to do it one more time)

Brian

sticking brakes

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