Help with leak

[Bronxboy]

Pulled in after a ride the other day and put the bike in the garage. Next morning I noticed a small quarter size stain under my bike @ the rear tire. There was a little drip marks on the rotor which obviously lead to the mark on the floor.

I removed the hard bag from the caliper side of the bike to check the brake line and see where it was coming from but everything was dry and tight? Pumped up the rear brakes a bit and no dripping? Took her for a little ride to see if it would repeat but still nothing  

The only guess is that it is leaking at the brake caliper piston and then trickling down the rotor to the ground? It seems very slight and brake reservoir is still full, brakes stop good?

[old2soon]

Unless I missed it did you determine what the dripped fluid was? RIDE SAFE.

[WintrSol]

+1 - Brake fluid has a unique odor - smell it. If it doesn't smell of brake fluid, check your shock absorber, too.

[Pete]

While it is important to make sure the brakes are not leaking it would not be my first suspect based on where you found the fluid.

My first suspect would be the rear drive, either the overflow, drain plug or internal seal. Based on where you found the puddle.

[Bronxboy]

It is on the opposite side of the rear drive, and it is all dry there as well. Rear bearings & seals are all pretty new and dry there as well.

[Gryphon Rider]

What do you mean by "spindle"?  I know what it means at the non-driving wheels of a car, but not on a motorcycle.

[Bronxboy]

Sorry not spindle Brake rotor 

[The emperor has no clothes]

Sounds like a leaking shock to me.

[Jess from VA]

Sounds like a leaking shock to me.

Yes I have the leaking shock Tshirt.

Inspect the shock closely for shiny streaks with a light.  Leak can be top or bottom.  When I found mine (late), it had collected road crud in the wet spot on bottom-inside (high side).  Clean nothing.

Brake fluid and shock oil (10Wt) taste differently.  Brake fluid is poison, just a dab to tongue.

[Bronxboy]

Shocks are pretty New as well, I went thru this entire bike a few years ago, I put new Progressive 430 on her then.  I am going out for a long ride again on Saturday, I will check to see what she does when I put her up for the night.

[OnaWingandaPrayer]

You can dust the shock with some baby powder/ monkey butt powder and see if/where it sticks .

[The emperor has no clothes]

Sounds like a leaking shock to me.

Yes I have the leaking shock Tshirt.

Inspect the shock closely for shiny streaks with a light.  Leak can be top or bottom.  When I found mine (late), it had collected road crud in the wet spot on bottom-inside (high side).  Clean nothing.

Brake fluid and shock oil (10Wt) taste differently.  Brake fluid is poison, just a dab to tongue.

I am going to take your word on that.  I wouldn't know which was which even if I tasted them. I think dabbing a q-tip around could narrow it down a little. I know a lot of people really like Progressive shocks but I've seen too many develop leaks.

[Valker]

Sounds like a leaking shock to me.

Yes I have the leaking shock Tshirt.

Inspect the shock closely for shiny streaks with a light.  Leak can be top or bottom.  When I found mine (late), it had collected road crud in the wet spot on bottom-inside (high side).  Clean nothing.

Brake fluid and shock oil (10Wt) taste differently.  Brake fluid is poison, just a dab to tongue.

I am going to take your word on that.  I wouldn't know which was which even if I tasted them. I think dabbing a q-tip around could narrow it down a little. I know a lot of people really like Progressive shocks but I've seen too many develop leaks.

Well, I heard about a guy who used to sip brake fluid. I thought he was addicted, but he said he could stop anytime he wanted.........

[The emperor has no clothes]

Sounds like a leaking shock to me.

Yes I have the leaking shock Tshirt.

Inspect the shock closely for shiny streaks with a light.  Leak can be top or bottom.  When I found mine (late), it had collected road crud in the wet spot on bottom-inside (high side).  Clean nothing.

Brake fluid and shock oil (10Wt) taste differently.  Brake fluid is poison, just a dab to tongue.

I am going to take your word on that.  I wouldn't know which was which even if I tasted them. I think dabbing a q-tip around could narrow it down a little. I know a lot of people really like Progressive shocks but I've seen too many develop leaks.

Well, I heard about a guy who used to sip brake fluid. I thought he was addicted, but he said he could stop anytime he wanted.........

Should we put Jess in a 12 step program ? 

[gordonv]

Who says it's from the bike in the 1st place? What else has or could have been parked or placed there?

[Bighead]

He did say it was on the rotor also.

[John Schmidt]

Well, he does have a Harley fairing on it so who knows! 

Nick, if you have a wheel chock, try parking it upright for a few nights. The spot may show up in a slightly different place.