Ummmm, yeah...back brake

:wink:

 

I'm no expert but............ I'd say that's a classic case of old rear brake delamination.......Whats the story behind the picture?

 

That's exactly what it is my friend!

Had time today to pull the rear and take a look and that is pretty much as it looked when I pulled the brake cover off.

Good thing I haven't done any real riding...basically around the block a few times to test my carb rebuild is all

 

That's not delamination....that's CRITICAL FAIL

 

Yeah for reals. PS give your bearings a look while you have it in that state. $10 says you have some rust inside one or more of them now that will eat them if it hasn't already.

Also, don't know if you've looked, but bearings are cheap...

 

That my friends is the reason for this post: http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=15874.html WAAYYY too common.

As a matter of fact, if it's not locked, please add your experience (and pics) to it.

And since you basically have to destroy the bearings to remove them for "inspection", order up a set and be done with it.

 

I'd say you're ready for the Moto GP! Fire that baby up!

 

LOL!

I think for now I'm just going to order a set of bearings and shoes for the Virago rear I have and finish the season with it...after I mod/paint this winter the Virago wheels were going on anyway so no sense buying 2 pair of shoes/bearings.

Never noticed any amount of binding or noise from the rear wheel at all. Then again I was aware of the potential for problem so haven't rode it much because I wanted to be sure...now I am sure ;-)

PS - Tried to add a post to the thread BigFitz but it is locked.

 

AArgh. Why it got put in "Announcements" is beyond me; nobody ever looks there. At least enough of us keep bringing it up.

If that delaminated shoe had "come back around" and wedged in between the other shoe and the drum, your rear could have LOCKED UP.

For anybody who hasn't checked their rear brakes yet: imagine the consequences of a rear wheel lockup, out of the blue, for no apparent reason, and at any random time. NOW GO LOOK.

 

Oh I read the thread which is how I knew to look.

Definitely should be stickied somewhere more visible. I'm just glad folks like yourself make it a point to keep bringing it up.

 

I experienced a LOCK-UP, different reason than brakes but the same basic result....the rear wheel won't turn and you can't do a damn thing about it, squeeze the clutch, jam gears....nothing will free it up. You gotta ride it out until either you, the bike (or hopefully both of you at the same time....with you on top) come to a stop.

In my case the bike came to a stop quite a ways before I did! You do not want that to happen!

 

I'm just glad you LOOKED. Scary stuff; it had me a bit shook up for a few days after I discovered it in my bike. I'd had it up to 90 or so on a couple of early test rides.

I'VE LEARNED NEVER TO DO THAT AGAIN. Absolutely gotta inspect all of the safety components on an old bike before riding it, you never know what might be hiding waiting to bite you.

 

This may sound really stupid, but why don't they run a countersunk rivet or two through the brake pad/shoes to positively secure them like they do on light aircraft???? Light aircaft don't go that fast on final approach but obviously someone felt the need to do it because they have riveted/glued shoes. There must have been a failure and somebody got hurt for this to happen.

 

My guess would be because the brake drum is built into the wheel and having a set of shoes go "into the rivets" would wreck the whole wheel.

Most motorcycle drum brakes DON'T have riveted shoes; I'm assuming for the same reason.

Yamaha was at least nice enough to give us a wear indicator.

 

I'm beginning to think that just looking at the shoe condition isn't good enough....not for me anyway. In my case those rear shoes have been on there for 26 years! IMO Yamaha builds a great bike but there's no way in hell they designed (or even COULD design) that brake shoe adhesive to last over a quarter of a century.

Chacal sells shoes & retaining springs to fit my bike for less than $40.....pretty damn cheap insurance I think! Total brake systems rebuild, front & rear, was planned for this winter anyhow but this thread just reinforces that plan.