Scary brake issue !!

**nudemetalz** · 18th February 2007, 23:21

Once again my rear brake on my Guzzi gave me a fright.

I went for a ride on Sunday (yesterday?) to Wanganui.
I did my bike check before we went and notice a little brake fluid leaking around the swingarm. I cleaned it up, pumped the rear brake, and all seemed fine.
Anyway,...got to about McKay's Crossing and the Guzzi started feeling sluggish. Thought "hmmm this is weird.." so I opened her up and it wasn't increasing in speed !! so gave it more throttle and the engine started pinking.
Thought "oh sh1t !!"
So pulled over to the side of the road as the bike rapidly slowed without me even needing to touch the brakes.
Got to the edge of the road and the bike stopped rock solid !!
Got off to check and the rear caliper had smoke coming out of it and was wickedly hot.
The rear disc was blue and the Brembo plastic caliper cover and become molten plastic !!!
I couldn't move the bike and the rear brake pedal was stuck solid.

So I signalled to my buddy who was a wee way up the road. He gingerly road back on the side of the road and we checked it out trying to figure what just happened.

Left it for 10 minutes, and was able to push the bike. The rear brake decided to work again.
So I took off heading for Paraparaumu to have a better look.
Then my friend's Buell Cyclone refused to start !!!!!!!!

He got it going eventually (they must not like hot weather, slow running)
and we got to Paraparaumu.
Looked at the rear caliper, all seemed fine but for a drip of fluid coming from the banjo bolt. Gave that a tweak and all was well.

Rest of the ride was fine, so one can only assume it got some sort of airlock in the line causing the rear brake to come on.
Buggered if I know.

NDMz

**Mr. Peanut** · 18th February 2007, 23:40

Yeeeeeesh, at least it didn't seize up midcorner!

I want a pretty blue disc!

**Gremlin** · 18th February 2007, 23:46

Have you checked your rear disc isn't warped from the serious heat it went through, then cooling, but not where the brake pad was? Its a common cause for warped discs. You ride hard, then stop. The whole disc cools, but doesn't cool as fast under the brake pads...

**T.W.R** · 19th February 2007, 00:02

Geez mate that could have been interesting

I'd be giving the caliper a thorough checking over & checking the disc run-out too.

**j_redley** · 19th February 2007, 00:10

Holy crap, that could have been a whole lot worse had you tried to free it up by going faster, as Im sure people have tried to do.

**scumdog** · 19th February 2007, 01:51

Weird eh?

I have had a hot-rod do that on a hot day and with the the exhaust being too close to the brake pipe.
Had to put cold water on the brake pipe to take the pressire off.

**Bonez** · 19th February 2007, 03:37

I'd be checking the orientation of the disk pads. Just in case..............

**iwilde** · 19th February 2007, 04:59

Back brakes? where are they?

**nudemetalz** · 19th February 2007, 11:14

Going to pull the caliper apart and see what's happening inside it.
And yes the disc will be checked for runout.

Funny thing is, is that the brake is working fine now.

It really gave me a bit of a scare, especially that I was thinking it was the gearbox about to seize up on me !!!
$$$$$

**imdying** · 19th February 2007, 11:34

Wow, owning a Jap bike is boring in comparison!!

Bike: Give the rear brake master cylinder pushrod a jiggle. It should have free play, and should jiggle fairly easily. You should be able to wiggle the rear brake level up and down say 3-5mms (depending on linkage slop etc of course) without the mcyl even thinking of coming on.

Rider: Check you're not dragging your right foot on the rear brakes, easy mistake to make, especially if you're new to a bike

Ride safe

**nudemetalz** · 19th February 2007, 12:15

Thanks for the advice. Will do that

Definitely don't drag the brake, I've been brought up on sports bikes, hence ride with balls (no , not them !!) of feet on the pegs.

**Paul in NZ** · 19th February 2007, 12:48

Originally Posted by imdying

Wow, owning a Jap bike is boring in comparison!!

Bike: Give the rear brake master cylinder pushrod a jiggle. It should have free play, and should jiggle fairly easily. You should be able to wiggle the rear brake level up and down say 3-5mms (depending on linkage slop etc of course) without the mcyl even thinking of coming on.

Rider: Check you're not dragging your right foot on the rear brakes, easy mistake to make, especially if you're new to a bike

Ride safe

Wot I would have said....