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DLSSOJC
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« on: June 27, 2012, 11:02:06 AM » |
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Hey guys, I have an Interstate with 23K miles always kept inside and maintained meticulously. Honda dealer replaced front brake pads and fluid about 300 miles ago. Just noticed last few days that front brakes seem to be sticking some and the front brake lever gets real tight, with none of that normal initial freeplay that you feel when you first engage it. Starts off fine but after you go a few miles starting and stopping, the lever tightens up and calipers seem to be grabbing. Has never locked up all the way yet but I am thinking the pistons are sticking some? Has anyone else experienced this before?
Thanks.
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hubcapsc
Member
Posts: 16789
upstate
South Carolina
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« Reply #1 on: June 27, 2012, 11:38:31 AM » |
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Could be that the dealer just mashed your dirty pistons back down inside your calipers and called it good.
There's also stuff happening at the lever pivot, I keep a bit of Tri-Flow (lube)
spritzed up in the pivot point (on the clutch side, too)...
-Mike
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R J
Member
Posts: 13380
DS-0009 ...... # 173
Des Moines, IA
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« Reply #2 on: June 27, 2012, 11:55:00 AM » |
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Did he also change the fluid?
Sounds like it could be an air lock situation in the lines.
However, it sounds like they did a piss poor job of replacing pads.
I'd suggest you kiss that dealer off of your use.
Find a independent repair shop. They always seem to be the best, and if you don't want to get your fingers dirty, this would be the way to go. Dealer is not always the best solution.
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44 Harley ServiCar   |
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DLSSOJC
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« Reply #3 on: June 27, 2012, 12:09:24 PM » |
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Could be that the dealer just mashed your dirty pistons back down inside your calipers and called it good.
There's also stuff happening at the lever pivot, I keep a bit of Tri-Flow (lube)
spritzed up in the pivot point (on the clutch side, too)...
-Mike
[/quote
It almost feels like pressure Is building up in the brake lines and it gets tight when it heats up. If you let it sit for a little while it goes back to normal?
Thanks.
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DLSSOJC
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« Reply #4 on: June 27, 2012, 12:12:22 PM » |
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Did he also change the fluid?
Sounds like it could be an air lock situation in the lines.
However, it sounds like they did a piss poor job of replacing pads.
I'd suggest you kiss that dealer off of your use.
Find a independent repair shop. They always seem to be the best, and if you don't want to get your fingers dirty, this would be the way to go. Dealer is not always the best solution.
When you say air lock, is there a chance air is in the lines and when the system heats up the air expands and tightens up the lever and pushes out the pistons a little? |
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sandy
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« Reply #5 on: June 27, 2012, 01:24:17 PM » |
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If you had air in the lines, the lever would have a soft spongy feel. It's probably sticking pistons in the calipers. Do you live in a humid ocean environment? Could be corrosion in the pistons. Try removing the calipers from the disc (one at a time) and carefully depress the lever till the piston protrudes out a bit. Spray a brake cleaner to clean them up. Wipe as best you can (Q Tips) and reinstall.
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GOOSE
Member
Posts: 704
D.S. #: 1643
Southwest Virginia
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« Reply #6 on: June 27, 2012, 01:24:48 PM » |
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look at what hubcapsc said here....that is probably exactly what your dealer has done for you.
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DLSSOJC
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« Reply #7 on: June 27, 2012, 01:31:08 PM » |
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If you had air in the lines, the lever would have a soft spongy feel. It's probably sticking pistons in the calipers. Do you live in a humid ocean environment? Could be corrosion in the pistons. Try removing the calipers from the disc (one at a time) and carefully depress the lever till the piston protrudes out a bit. Spray a brake cleaner to clean them up. Wipe as best you can (Q Tips) and reinstall.
I live in Arkansas so no problem with corrosion like around the coast. I took the calipers off the rotors without disconnecting the brake lines and cleaned around the piston areas with brake cleaner. Just the normal brake dust on the part of the pistons that I could see and no corrosion anywhere. I'll try them out tomorrow and see how they act. |
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Rio Wil
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« Reply #8 on: June 28, 2012, 08:13:49 PM » |
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Ya know.....23K is awfully soon to need front brake pads....I am a heavy front brake user and I usually get 40K . The front brake pads are thinner than the rear and perhaps the dealer took that as badly worn and in need of replacement. So, you wonder where this is going.....  , is it possible the dealer installed rear pads on the front (seems someone on this board said there was just enough room to do so). If so, are the pads dragging and heating up the calipers and causing the hard brake lever? |
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Slammer
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« Reply #9 on: June 28, 2012, 08:23:59 PM » |
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Both of my Valks had the same problem last year only worse. Both would lock the front wheel after a few miles of riding. I bled the brakes on both bikes and cleaned the master cyl on both still had the problem. Ordered rebuild kits for both and when I tore them done found trash in the return hole under the little metal tab. With that hole plugged the fluid pressure has no where to bleed off so the pads never release fully and the heat causes the pressure to build until the tire will lock.
Slammer
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DLSSOJC
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« Reply #10 on: June 28, 2012, 09:49:58 PM » |
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I took the calipers off today and took them apart and cleaned everything and put them back together. Reflushed system and put new brake fluid in. Rode for about 20 miles and everything appears to be back to normal again. Thanks for the replies.  |
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