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Bob E.
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« on: October 25, 2011, 04:28:58 AM » |
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My right front brake caliper is hanging up and dragging a bit. I took it off and cleaned the pucks real good a couple times, pressed them back in, cleaned and lubed the pin that goes through the pads, and cleaned up the brake pad backing plates. I went through this procedure about 4 times, but it seems like it is still dragging.
I'm guessing I'll have to rebuild the caliper at this point. How hard a job is this? Are there instructions somewhere? And what parts do I need to complete the job? Only one caliper is hanging, but I assume (like changing brake pads) it is best do do both calipers at the same time??
Thanks!
Bob E.
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Valker
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Posts: 3018
Wahoo!!!!
Texas Panhandle
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« Reply #1 on: October 25, 2011, 04:41:27 AM » |
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Did you have the front axle out? This is usually the result of the axle not being fully in, flush with the slider.
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I ride a motorcycle because nothing transports me as quickly from where I am to who I am.
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Bob E.
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« Reply #2 on: October 25, 2011, 05:35:30 AM » |
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No, I didn't have the front axle out. The last time it was out was last summer when I changed the front tire and it has been fine since then. I actually noticed it this weekend when I went to move the bike in the garage to change the rear tire and the bike was a little difficult to roll and the front brakes squealed a bit when it did roll.
When I took the caliper off and pushed the pucks back in, they were somewhat difficult to push in. Also, it seemed like the brake pad backing plate was actually hanging up on the slider pin. So I sanded the pin really smooth and applied a very light coating of grease to it. Also, I de-burred the holes in the brake pad backing plates to make sure they weren't catching on the pin at all. So now the pads seem free on the pin, but the caliper just isn't fully releasing the pressure when you let off of the lever.
I didn't do this, but I probably should have tried bleeding the brakes and flushing out the lines with fresh fluid. The fluid looks pretty good at the master cylinder, but who knows what it is like down in the caliper. I might try this tonight to see if that helps at all.
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BigBod
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« Reply #3 on: October 25, 2011, 05:47:15 AM » |
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Sounds to me like it's time to change the seals in the caliper. Not a difficult job. There are 2 seals for each piston, the top one is a dust seal and this is the one that usually makes the piston sticky. Crud builds up behind the seal and pushes it on the piston.
When you take the caliper off, pump the pistons nearly all the way out before releasing the pressure of the brake fluid. The pistons should pull out pretty easy.
Make sure the recess that the dust seal sits in is nice and clean, I use a dremmel with a wire wheel attachment, works well.
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rangernight
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« Reply #4 on: October 25, 2011, 07:54:11 AM » |
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If looking for one more place to look, I had a similar situation on mine, went thru the calipers, mater cylinder etc. still had one side sticking---then I checked the brake hose, discovered that the inside of the left side hose had collapsed, replaced with SS brake lines and no trouble since.
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bscrive
Member
Posts: 2539
Out with the old...in with the wooohoooo!!!!
Ottawa, Ontario
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« Reply #5 on: October 25, 2011, 09:03:14 AM » |
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Similar thing happened to me. Turned out that something in the brake line was restricting the fluid from flowing back. I changed the original line to a SS one and I have not had any problems since.
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 If global warming is happening...why is it so cold up here? |
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sugerbear
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« Reply #6 on: October 25, 2011, 09:07:39 AM » |
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If looking for one more place to look, I had a similar situation on mine, went thru the calipers, mater cylinder etc. still had one side sticking---then I checked the brake hose, discovered that the inside of the left side hose had collapsed, replaced with SS brake lines and no trouble since.
same here |
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Tropic traveler
Member
Posts: 3117
Livin' the Valk, er, F6B life in Central Florida.
Silver Springs, Florida
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« Reply #7 on: October 25, 2011, 06:32:21 PM » |
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Had the sticky caliper syndrome on Kim's Valk too. Musta come from all the garage time her Valk had before we bought it. Anyhow when a good cleaning will not do the trick, replacing the seals is not too hard. I have done it several times on various Valks & I have never seen a scarred up piston, just polish the pistons with a Scotchbrite pad 'till they are clean. Used a Scotchbrite pad & a little pick tool to clean the bores & seal grooves then reassembled. Not too bad of a job. Like mentioned earlier, use the brake to pump out the pistons. You may have to hold one piston back while drawing the other piston "even" when pumping them out to the edge. Seems to be the easiest way to get the pistons out. I had blamed the hoses for the sticking problem but the caliper rebuilds did the trick. I ordered new hoses & a m/cylinder anyways but the LH hose is on backorder right now from HDL. I'll be ready if they're ever needed!  |
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'13 F6B black-the real new Valkyrie Tourer
'13 F6B red for Kim
'97 Valkyrie Tourer r&w, OLDFRT's ride now!
'98 Valkyrie Tourer burgundy & cream traded for Kim's F6B
'05 SS 750 traded for Kim's F6B
'99 Valkyrie black & silver Tourer, traded in on my F6B
'05 Triumph R3 gone but not forgotten!
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Bob E.
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« Reply #8 on: November 05, 2011, 06:36:18 PM » |
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OK...Got-er-done today! New seals on both front calipers. The right front caliper had one piston that was really stuck in there. I had a heck of a time getting it out of there. But I got it. Turns out that the grooves for the dust seals had some corrosion in them and was making the seals tight. I got them scraped out good and clean and put the new seals in and got it all back together and it seems to be fixed. I sure hope so because I'm planning on making the Veteran's Day ride next weekend. That should be about a 1500 mile weekend if the weather cooperates. |
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Tim H
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« Reply #9 on: November 06, 2011, 05:05:31 AM » |
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OK...Got-er-done today! New seals on both front calipers. The right front caliper had one piston that was really stuck in there. I had a heck of a time getting it out of there. But I got it. Turns out that the grooves for the dust seals had some corrosion in them and was making the seals tight. I got them scraped out good and clean and put the new seals in and got it all back together and it seems to be fixed. I sure hope so because I'm planning on making the Veteran's Day ride next weekend. That should be about a 1500 mile weekend if the weather cooperates. Great to see you got'er done before you took off. I have a couple of fluid changes I'm going to try to get to before I head that way too. |
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Tropic traveler
Member
Posts: 3117
Livin' the Valk, er, F6B life in Central Florida.
Silver Springs, Florida
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« Reply #10 on: November 06, 2011, 04:12:08 PM » |
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OK...Got-er-done today! New seals on both front calipers. The right front caliper had one piston that was really stuck in there. I had a heck of a time getting it out of there. But I got it. Turns out that the grooves for the dust seals had some corrosion in them and was making the seals tight. I got them scraped out good and clean and put the new seals in and got it all back together and it seems to be fixed. I sure hope so because I'm planning on making the Veteran's Day ride next weekend. That should be about a 1500 mile weekend if the weather cooperates. Good job! I love it when a plan comes together. |
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'13 F6B black-the real new Valkyrie Tourer
'13 F6B red for Kim
'97 Valkyrie Tourer r&w, OLDFRT's ride now!
'98 Valkyrie Tourer burgundy & cream traded for Kim's F6B
'05 SS 750 traded for Kim's F6B
'99 Valkyrie black & silver Tourer, traded in on my F6B
'05 Triumph R3 gone but not forgotten!
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