My brakes are not operating normally - Revision history

Bokonon: /* My rear brakes don't feel right. */

2010-08-01T07:44:30Z

My rear brakes don't feel right.

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:44, 1 August 2010
Line 16:		Line 16:
	The rear caliper on this bike has a single piston. One brake pad is pushed by one piston, the other brake pad just kind of sits there on the other side of the rotor. You only need to push from one side to compress the whole she-bang. (Not exactly true, but really close enough)		The rear caliper on this bike has a single piston. One brake pad is pushed by one piston, the other brake pad just kind of sits there on the other side of the rotor. You only need to push from one side to compress the whole she-bang. (Not exactly true, but really close enough)

	Now, unevenly worn pads DO happen. Excessive uneven wear is usually caused by dirty pistons, or (more often in the case of the rear brake), dirty pins. Another potential cause for uneven wear would be neglecting to loosen/tighten the brake torque link bolt when adjusting chain tension.		Now, unevenly worn pads DO happen. Excessive uneven wear is usually caused by dirty pistons, or (more often in the case of the rear brake) dirty pins. Another potential cause for uneven wear would be neglecting to loosen/tighten the brake torque link bolt when adjusting chain tension.

	~~To fix~~ the ~~problem to supremo standards:~~		Most of the following information is also in the [[How do I replace the brake pads?\|replacing brake pads]] article, with more detail.

	1. Unbolt the caliper and remove the brake pads		1. Unbolt the caliper and remove the brake pads

	2. Thoroughly clean everything that is visible with perchlorethelyne-based brake cleaner ~~(don~~'t get it on your hands.~~.. if~~ you do, use lots of moisturizer afterwards. With lanolin. ~~Canadians: Go to crappy tire and look for the stuff with the gold lid)~~		2. Thoroughly clean everything that is visible with perchlorethelyne-based brake cleaner. Don't get it on your hands. If you do, use lots of moisturizer afterwards. With lanolin.

	3. Carefully apply a '''BIT''' of pressure to the rear brake lever to push the pistons out. ''Be careful not to push them all the way out!'' Temporarily installing ONE pad will help prevent this.		3. Carefully apply a '''BIT''' of pressure to the rear brake lever to push the pistons out. Be careful not to push them all the way out! Temporarily installing ONE pad will help prevent this.

	4. Examine the visible portion of the piston for pitting. If it has more than light pitting, it is due for replacement, as it can cause your brakes to gradually loose fluid, and chew away at your dust/fluid seals.		4. Examine the visible portion of the piston for pitting. If it has more than light pitting, it is due for replacement, as it can cause your brakes to gradually loose fluid, and chew away at your dust/fluid seals.

Bokonon: /* There is a pulsing when I apply my brakes. */

2008-09-02T07:21:17Z

There is a pulsing when I apply my brakes.

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:21, 2 September 2008
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	Jack up the front wheel. Spin the wheel and look for rubbing. Apply the front brake ever so slightly to see where it touches first. Mark that part of the wheel. There are 6 allen head bolts holding the front rotor to the wheel. Tighten the two or three bolts closest to the spot on the wheel where the rubbing occurred.		Jack up the front wheel. Spin the wheel and look for rubbing. Apply the front brake ever so slightly to see where it touches first. Mark that part of the wheel. There are 6 allen head bolts holding the front rotor to the wheel. Tighten the two or three bolts closest to the spot on the wheel where the rubbing occurred.

	If that doesn't fix it, replace the pads. Still no luck? It's time to replace the rotor. You can't machine rotors on a motorcycle like you can on a car. They're too thin. Note that normal rubbing of the rotor by the pads is fine; they're designed to do that. However, if you start to get a pulsating or shaking of the bike (usually the front end) when you hit the brakes, then it's serious.		If that doesn't fix it, replace the pads. Note that this is just the $25 E-Z fix. If you have pulsating when you use the brakes, it's almost certainly the rotor, although if you put on a new rotor you should use new brake pads, too, so it's not like you're throwing money away.

			Still no luck? It's time to replace the rotor. You can't machine rotors on a motorcycle like you can on a car. They're too thin. Note that normal rubbing of the rotor by the pads is fine; they're designed to do that. However, if you start to get a pulsating or shaking of the bike (usually the front end) when you hit the brakes, then it's serious. And serious money; this is definitely an [[Where can I buy parts/tools online?\|eBay/junkyard]] item. New ones are $250 worth of expensive.

	====My brake pads are grinding.====		====My brake pads are grinding.====

Bokonon: My brakes are not operating normally. moved to My brakes are not operating normally

2008-05-20T12:20:22Z

My brakes are not operating normally. moved to My brakes are not operating normally

← Older revision	Revision as of 08:20, 20 May 2008
(No difference)

Bokonon: /* My rear brakes don't feel right. */

2007-10-07T20:39:55Z

My rear brakes don't feel right.

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:39, 7 October 2007
Line 51:		Line 51:

	16. Ride normally for 50-100 miles in the city before worrying about your brakes again (they'll have to bed in)		16. Ride normally for 50-100 miles in the city before worrying about your brakes again (they'll have to bed in)

	~~NOTE: Steps 15 and 16 aren't optimal; a little more mileage wouldn't hurt. Racers should take a look at Jim Race's brake-pad bedding articles.~~

	If you have ever worked on anything with disc brakes, the rear brake on the Ninja 250 is easier and more obvious. Really, it's about as easy as it gets.		If you have ever worked on anything with disc brakes, the rear brake on the Ninja 250 is easier and more obvious. Really, it's about as easy as it gets.

Bokonon: /* There is a pulsing when I apply my brakes. */

2007-10-07T20:36:46Z

There is a pulsing when I apply my brakes.

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:36, 7 October 2007
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	====There is a pulsing when I apply my brakes.====		====There is a pulsing when I apply my brakes.====

	Jack up the front wheel. Spin the wheel and look for rubbing. Apply the front brake ever so slightly to see where it touches first. Mark that part of the wheel. There are 6 allen head bolts holding the front rotor to the wheel. Tighten the two or three bolts ~~clostest~~ to the spot on the wheel where the rubbing ~~occured~~.		Jack up the front wheel. Spin the wheel and look for rubbing. Apply the front brake ever so slightly to see where it touches first. Mark that part of the wheel. There are 6 allen head bolts holding the front rotor to the wheel. Tighten the two or three bolts closest to the spot on the wheel where the rubbing occurred.

	If that doesn't fix it, replace the pads. Still no luck? ~~Have a machine shop resurface~~ the rotor ~~ever so slightly as to not make it~~ too thin. ~~If all else fails replace~~ the rotor.		If that doesn't fix it, replace the pads. Still no luck? It's time to replace the rotor. You can't machine rotors on a motorcycle like you can on a car. They're too thin. Note that normal rubbing of the rotor by the pads is fine; they're designed to do that. However, if you start to get a pulsating or shaking of the bike (usually the front end) when you hit the brakes, then it's serious.

	====My brake pads are grinding.====		====My brake pads are grinding.====

Bokonon at 11:47, 29 May 2006

2006-05-29T11:47:48Z

Bokonon at 07:28, 29 May 2006

2006-05-29T07:28:12Z

New page

[[Category:Brakes]]
There is a pulsing when I apply my brakes.

Jack up the front wheel. Spin the wheel and look for rubbing. Apply the front brake ever so slightly to see where it touches first. Mark that part of the wheel. There are 6 allen head bolts holding the front rotor to the wheel. Tighten the two or three bolts clostest to the spot on the wheel where the rubbing occured.

If that doesn't fix it, replace the pads. Still no luck? Have a machine shop resurface the rotor ever so slightly as to not make it too thin. If all else fails replace the rotor.

My brake pads are grinding.

It is normal for the pads to drag slightly, especially just after replacing them. Excessive grinding can be caused by having the torque link nut too tight, or having the hex nuts that hold the caliper to the caliper mounting bracket too tight. Be sure to correct this before the rotor warps from being overheated.

My rear brakes don't feel right.

The rear caliper on this bike has a single piston. One brake pad is pushed by one piston, the other brake pad just kind of sits there on the other side of the rotor. You only need to push from one side to compress the whole she-bang. (Not exactly true, but really close enough)

Now, unevenly worn pads DO happen. Excessive uneven wear is usually caused by dirty pistons, or (more often in the case of the rear brake), dirty pins. Another potential cause for uneven wear would be neglecting to loosen/tighten the brake torque link bolt when adjusting chain tension.

To fix the problem to supremo standards:

1. Unbolt the caliper and remove the brake pads

2. Thoroughly clean everything that is visible with perchlorethelyne-based brake cleaner (don't get it on your hands... if you do, use lots of moisturizer afterwards. With lanolin. Canadians: Go to crappy tire and look for the stuff with the gold lid)

3. Carefully apply a '''BIT''' of pressure to the rear brake lever to push the pistons out. Be careful not to push them all the way out! Temporarily installing ONE pad will help prevent this.

4. Examine the visible portion of the piston for pitting. If it has more than light pitting, it is due for replacement, as it can cause your brakes to gradually loose fluid, and chew away at your dust/fluid seals.

4.b. If you're really thorough, you can remove the piston entirely, but there's always the chance you won't get it back in

5. Clean everything which is now visible. NO dirt whatsoever is allowed on the piston.

6. Inspect the dust seal (you can't see the fluid seal without removing the piston). If it's there and it's not obviously screwed, it's fine.

7. Remove the lid to the rear brake reservoir

8. Push the piston back in. If it's clean and the lid to the reservoir is off, you should be able to do this with your thumbs (push HARD)

9. If for some reason you can't use your thumbs, use a 6" C-clamp and an old brake pad to push the piston back in

10. Install new pads

11. Replace reservoir lid

12. Push back the rubber boots and lubricate the pins with a copper-based brake pin lubricant

13. Reinstall caliper (18 ft-lbs of torque: that's not very tight!!!!!)

14. Pump the rear brake lever until it gets hard

15. Do a few soft stops and a COUPLE of mild panic stops

16. Ride normally for 50-100 miles in the city before worrying about your brakes again (they'll have to bed in)

NOTE: Steps 15 and 16 aren't optimal; a little more mileage wouldn't hurt. Racers should take a look at Jim Race's brake-pad bedding articles.

If you have ever worked on anything with disc brakes, the rear brake on the Ninja 250 is easier and more obvious. Really, it's about as easy as it gets.

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:47, 29 May 2006
Line 1:		Line 1:
	[[Category:Brakes]]		[[Category:Brakes]]
	There is a pulsing when I apply my brakes.		====There is a pulsing when I apply my brakes.====

	Jack up the front wheel. Spin the wheel and look for rubbing. Apply the front brake ever so slightly to see where it touches first. Mark that part of the wheel. There are 6 allen head bolts holding the front rotor to the wheel. Tighten the two or three bolts clostest to the spot on the wheel where the rubbing occured.		Jack up the front wheel. Spin the wheel and look for rubbing. Apply the front brake ever so slightly to see where it touches first. Mark that part of the wheel. There are 6 allen head bolts holding the front rotor to the wheel. Tighten the two or three bolts clostest to the spot on the wheel where the rubbing occured.
Line 6:		Line 6:
	If that doesn't fix it, replace the pads. Still no luck? Have a machine shop resurface the rotor ever so slightly as to not make it too thin. If all else fails replace the rotor.		If that doesn't fix it, replace the pads. Still no luck? Have a machine shop resurface the rotor ever so slightly as to not make it too thin. If all else fails replace the rotor.

	My brake pads are grinding.		====My brake pads are grinding.====

	It is normal for the pads to drag slightly, especially just after replacing them. Excessive grinding can be caused by having the torque link nut too tight, or having the hex nuts that hold the caliper to the caliper mounting bracket too tight. Be sure to correct this before the rotor warps from being overheated.		It is normal for the pads to drag slightly, especially just after replacing them. Excessive grinding can be caused by having the torque link nut too tight, or having the hex nuts that hold the caliper to the caliper mounting bracket too tight. Be sure to correct this before the rotor warps from being overheated.

	My rear brakes don't feel right.		====My rear brakes don't feel right.====

	The rear caliper on this bike has a single piston. One brake pad is pushed by one piston, the other brake pad just kind of sits there on the other side of the rotor. You only need to push from one side to compress the whole she-bang. (Not exactly true, but really close enough)		The rear caliper on this bike has a single piston. One brake pad is pushed by one piston, the other brake pad just kind of sits there on the other side of the rotor. You only need to push from one side to compress the whole she-bang. (Not exactly true, but really close enough)
Line 22:		Line 22:
	2. Thoroughly clean everything that is visible with perchlorethelyne-based brake cleaner (don't get it on your hands... if you do, use lots of moisturizer afterwards. With lanolin. Canadians: Go to crappy tire and look for the stuff with the gold lid)		2. Thoroughly clean everything that is visible with perchlorethelyne-based brake cleaner (don't get it on your hands... if you do, use lots of moisturizer afterwards. With lanolin. Canadians: Go to crappy tire and look for the stuff with the gold lid)

	3. Carefully apply a '''BIT''' of pressure to the rear brake lever to push the pistons out. Be careful not to push them all the way out! Temporarily installing ONE pad will help prevent this.		3. Carefully apply a '''BIT''' of pressure to the rear brake lever to push the pistons out. ''Be careful not to push them all the way out!'' Temporarily installing ONE pad will help prevent this.

	4. Examine the visible portion of the piston for pitting. If it has more than light pitting, it is due for replacement, as it can cause your brakes to gradually loose fluid, and chew away at your dust/fluid seals.		4. Examine the visible portion of the piston for pitting. If it has more than light pitting, it is due for replacement, as it can cause your brakes to gradually loose fluid, and chew away at your dust/fluid seals.