Baffling rear brake issue

MarkShelley

Very similar to Paolo Maldini
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I have just put new pads in the rear caliper on my 1100GS.
The brake is binding quite badly. I can turn the wheel, but it is clearly not right. When I put the pads in I found that the retention pin needed a fair whack to get it to seat enough to get the little circlip on. I experimented and found that if the retention pin was knocked back out and then just lightly seated the brakes worked fine.
I replaced the spring thingy which stops the pads rattling around. Is this supposed to clip in and stay in place of its own accord before the pads are installed? The old one did, but the new one will push into the recess, but doesn`t actually grip into it enough to stay put. It looks fine when the pressure of the pads is on it.
The pistons look perfect and the caliper slides in and out on its carrier just fine and the pins are not corroded and rubber boots all intact.
Any ideas?:nenau
 
Sounds like the retention pin is causing the problem.

Make sure its completely clean and that nothing is causing it to bend. If you're having to give it quite a whack then something is causing it to jam. Sort that out and your problem will probably go away.

Mark.
 
Sounds like the retention pin is causing the problem.

Make sure its completely clean and that nothing is causing it to bend. If you're having to give it quite a whack then something is causing it to jam. Sort that out and your problem will probably go away.

Mark.

I forgot to mention that the pin is a new one also so it is in perfect condition. It isn`t bent either as I checked by rolling it.
I will take it all apart and try again tomorrow.
 
Check your rear brake fluid isn't too high, after fitting new pads it will have risen in the reservoir, try loosening the cap as well.
 
II replaced the spring thingy which stops the pads rattling around. Is this supposed to clip in and stay in place of its own accord before the pads are installed? The old one did, but the new one will push into the recess, but doesn`t actually grip into it enough to stay put.

Are you putting the "springy thing" in the correct place ?

It doesn't actually fit where it looks like it should ;)

I posted a picture in [URL="http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56457&highlight=rear+brake"]this[/URL] thread some years ago.
 
Are you putting the "springy thing" in the correct place ?

It doesn't actually fit where it looks like it should ;)

I posted a picture in [URL="http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56457&highlight=rear+brake"]this[/URL] thread some years ago.

Your pics are not showing for some reason Neil.
Looking at the diagram, it appears to sit in the recess nearest the pin. Is that correct?
There is what appears to be an identical recess on the opposite side. I can`t remember sitting here if that is the side I put it in, but I am sure I put it where the old one came out. I will check tomorow.
 
I have just noticed that on that other thread it states that the arrow on the spring should point to the front of the bike. I did notice the arrow and examined the spring and it appeared to be perfectly symetrical. Can`t remember which way I put it in but it didn`t look like it would make any difference (in which case why bother with an arrow though!).
Could this be the problem.
 
Looks like I have it sorted. I inspected everything closely and it was obvious that everything was moving smoothly apart from the pad which is against the pistons. It was pretty much solid and this is what must have been making it difficult to get the pin in. I checked to make sure that there was no dirt etc behind the thin plate that the other end of the pad runs on which could have accounted for the tight fit, but there wasn`t. I bunged the pad in a vice and gave the flat edge of the pad that sits on the plate a few stokes with a file. Bastard it was (the file, that is).
On reassembly everything was tickety boo.
Result.:thumb2

That was the good part of the day. Earlier on I went to put my 1100RT on the main stand to fill up with fuel and the stand snapped resulting in a horizontal bike. ARSE!
Thankfully it went down on its bad side.
 
Earlier on I went to put my 1100RT on the main stand to fill up with fuel and the stand snapped resulting in a horizontal bike. ARSE!
Thankfully it went down on its bad side.

Not good. Hopefully nothing got dented.
 
Just his pride!!!!1:tears

I wasn`t too annoyed about dropping it as it is a cheap fixer-upper I bought a couple of months ago with 90K on it. It has some brake fluid damage and a few scratches on the off side already. This made no difference really. Just annoyed as it is yet another think to get sorted. It will be used as a hack. I have covered nearly 2K now and quite like the bike and I am sure the massive lumps of plastic will be most welcome during the Winter months.
I am hoping it will be like my MGB was 25 years ago i.e. loads of niggly problems during the first 12 months, then completely reliable for the next 8 years.
I got the stand off tonight which was more time consuming than 2 springs and 4 bolts should be.
 
My new springs are sat in the garage. Fitting them is going to be an evil doing I think. When I do it I am going to wear my crash helmet. I value my eyes somewhat.
 
My new springs are sat in the garage. Fitting them is going to be an evil doing I think. When I do it I am going to wear my crash helmet. I value my eyes somewhat.

It was really easy using the cord method.
Hook the spring on at the top.
Make a loop at each end of a piece of strong thin cord.
Put one loop over the lower spring hook and shove some kind of rod through the other loop to act as a handle/lever.
Simply pull on the handle to extend the spring over its locating pin on the stand.:thumb2
 
Not always possible, but I try fitting brake shoes by putting the springs on first, then wrestling the shoes over the cams/pivots.

Similar technique is usually a winner with stand springs too.
 
Not always possible, but I try fitting brake shoes by putting the springs on first, then wrestling the shoes over the cams/pivots.

Similar technique is usually a winner with stand springs too.

I think everybody would use that method to install brake shoes.
I would like to see you try and fit a main stand with the springs already in place. You would grow a good beard during it I reckon.
 


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