not the brakes again!!!!

I rush home from work today to pull the bike out of the shed. The front brakes are frozen again! This happened last year too! My wife always says it's my fault but is it this time? I even switched to a bar mounted master! Confussing!

 

how long you been married ?
when the wife says it's your fault...........it's your fault !

 

married 10 yrs in aug but together 15 yrs total.

 

Most of the problems with Brakes that are "Frozen" can be traced to the Caliper MAIN Seal.
Specifically, ... to the Channel Groove the Main Seal gets seated in.

Over time, Brake Dust and Moisture mix with Brake Fluid and collects in the Channel where it hardens and effectively reduces the Inside Diameter of the Channel.

The Close Tolerances that the Caliper Piston and Seal have are reduced.
The Caliper Piston Sticks.
Worst case ... needing High Pressure to Un-bind.

Pull the Caliper.
Remove Seal
Scrape the Seal Groove clean down to bare Aluminum.

 

So my wife was wrong! It not my fault! Ha!

Ok I'm sure it is!

Thanks!

 

I just rebuilt my front calipers and replaced the pads on my 82 xj750. They still seem to drag a little sometimes. When I put the pin that holds the pads in the caliper it seems the hole in the pads is a little offline. Really tuff to get the pin in. I think they may be held to tight on the pin. I'm thinking about pulling back apart and grinding slightly to let the pads float a bit. Are the pads supposed to fit that tight?

 

Don't grind anything.

Chuck the Pin in a Drill.
Hold sandpaper to the Pin and "Put a Finish" on the Pin.
Hold Medium sandpaper to it and remove all the Rust.
Then, ... go to 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1500.
The Pin should look like a Piece of Jewelry.

(If you have access to Gun Bluing Material ... Blue it. If you can't Blue it, ... smear Synthetic Waterproof Grease on the Pin.)

If you didn't scrape the Caliper Piston Seal Channel completely free of foreign material ... go back-in and do it.

 

richardclickner..th last set of pads I put in after a brake rebuild were tight in th caliper..before I put em back on ..was checking them and didn't like th way they were sticking on th pin..put em in th vice (in a clean rag) and take a little off th top locating tabs with a file...a little at a time till they move freely...it's not much but it makes a difference.
It may not be th top tabs in your case..after all they are a mass produced item and liable to slight variations.

 

The anti-rattle spring that goes up inside the caliper applies pressure to the pads, effectively "binding" them against the pin, so they don't rattle.

That being said, some aftermarket pads do need to be "cleaned up" a bit around their retaining holes to fit properly. If you firmly press the pads up into the caliper body against the spring enough to compress it slightly, the pin should slide in.

Test fit by placing the new pads into the caliper with the anti-rattle spring out, the pin should slide right in.

I prefer to paint the pin after polishing it smooth, if you grease it up it tends to attract dirt. It was originally that weird olive-drab Yamaha "black oxide" finish.

 

I did both. Cleaned up the pin and still had to file a little off the tabs. It must be the way they were stamped out. They just had to be mashed into the anti rattle shield to much. Much more than just light pressure to keep from rattling. All good now. I should have cought when I put in the new pads, Just in to big of a hurry to ride.
Thanks again
8)