F
FatChance
Guest
During my winter of major bike maintenance on my 50k miles '00 1150GS forced by stripped clutch splines, I decided to also refresh as much of the rest of the bike as I could in preparation for a lot of happy and carefree riding miles this summer. So, after putting in a new transmission input shaft and seals, a whole new clutch assembly and new clutch slave cylinder, I also rebuilt the final drive (the big seal was weeping and the pinion seal was leaking), did a major service including air, oil, and fuel filters, plugs, fuel injector O rings, alternator belt, refreshed the starter, and installed the upgraded cam chain tensioner. I am also going through the brake system by cleaning up the calipers, new pads and new braided brake lines.
While following the good report in the ADVRider Hall of Wisdom about the rear caliper, I had some trouble pulling the floating caliper off the mounting base. The sliding pins weren't sliding. Once I realized the problem, I got a little medieval and got it apart. Here is what one of the sliding pins looked like:
The pin was badly corroded and stuck in the bushing. It is supposed to be shiny brass plated. I don't rely too much on my rear brake, but this would explain why it didn't work all that well.
There was a little hole in the rubber gaiter, so that could have let in contaminants. The mile long road from Wildcat Canyon to our house used to be unpaved and was sprayed with mag chloride before it was paved. Otherwise, the shop that installed the last rear pad set about 6 years ago may not have taken apart the caliper and properly greased the sliding pins.
At any rate, I put a want ad in the ADVRider flea market last night and have already bought a good used caliper replacement from an inmate. Brand new rear calipers go for $425!
So, just a reminder of the importance of proper brake maintenance.
While following the good report in the ADVRider Hall of Wisdom about the rear caliper, I had some trouble pulling the floating caliper off the mounting base. The sliding pins weren't sliding. Once I realized the problem, I got a little medieval and got it apart. Here is what one of the sliding pins looked like:
The pin was badly corroded and stuck in the bushing. It is supposed to be shiny brass plated. I don't rely too much on my rear brake, but this would explain why it didn't work all that well.
There was a little hole in the rubber gaiter, so that could have let in contaminants. The mile long road from Wildcat Canyon to our house used to be unpaved and was sprayed with mag chloride before it was paved. Otherwise, the shop that installed the last rear pad set about 6 years ago may not have taken apart the caliper and properly greased the sliding pins.
At any rate, I put a want ad in the ADVRider flea market last night and have already bought a good used caliper replacement from an inmate. Brand new rear calipers go for $425!
So, just a reminder of the importance of proper brake maintenance.
