Roymondo
Registered user
Bike in for 12k miles/12 month service today. Just received a call from the friendly bloke on the service desk - rear brake pads and caliper partially seized. So that'll be another 60 quid, please. Not impressed 
Brake caliper seized
- Thread starter Roymondo
- Start date
AberdeenAngus
Registered user
Bike in for 12k miles/12 month service today. Just received a call from the friendly bloke on the service desk - rear brake pads and caliper partially seized. So that'll be another 60 quid, please. Not impressed
Is it its first 12k service ? or one of many ?
If its first - then why seized??
Why not warranty??
If one of many then £60 to get you caliper sorted aint bad.
If too much - you could do it yourself - Its not difficult.
Mr K
Registered user
If your bike only sees a dealer once a year, it will require some maintenance in-between those visits.
Roymondo
Registered user
The bike is 12 months old, and has covered just over 12000 miles. I'll take up the warranty question later when I collect it. I know that seized calipers are specifically excluded from BMW's insured warranty (but of course, that doesn't apply in this case as it's still covered by the manufacturer's 2 year job).
Then again, there is always the question of "satisfactory quality" under Sale of Goods/Supply of Goods and Services legislation.
Either way it's a bit of a PITA and somewhat disappointing.
Then again, there is always the question of "satisfactory quality" under Sale of Goods/Supply of Goods and Services legislation.
Either way it's a bit of a PITA and somewhat disappointing.
AberdeenAngus
Registered user
Guess it depends on the reason.
If its crudded up then fair do's - its down to you.
But, if you've kept it reasonably clean then it sounds like a fault.
They don't just seize up for no reason....not at that age.
If its crudded up then fair do's - its down to you.
But, if you've kept it reasonably clean then it sounds like a fault.
They don't just seize up for no reason....not at that age.
Or any other age!
Roymondo
Registered user
The question is now moot - Had a further call to inform me that not only are the pistons seized in the caliper, they have been unable to move them at all. A shiny new caliper is going to be fitted (under warranty). Which is nice.
So I'll be putting a few more miles on their loan bike
So I'll be putting a few more miles on their loan bike
The pads are £60 on their own so a strip / rebuild and clean plus new pads for £60 (if thats was how I understood it) was good value.
You could fit a set of EBC brake pads at say £25.00 but then if the disc warps at a later date you will be buggered for a claim on warranty (not that it should but thats I am sure how BMW would see it)......
Now that they have agreed to fit a caliper under warranty you will still need the new pads I would have thought....
I just assumed that if a bike is riden in winter conditions the caliper pistons could seize if not cleaned - I tend to do mine couple of times between services to be sure - thought everyone else did the same.
You could fit a set of EBC brake pads at say £25.00 but then if the disc warps at a later date you will be buggered for a claim on warranty (not that it should but thats I am sure how BMW would see it)......
Now that they have agreed to fit a caliper under warranty you will still need the new pads I would have thought....
I just assumed that if a bike is riden in winter conditions the caliper pistons could seize if not cleaned - I tend to do mine couple of times between services to be sure - thought everyone else did the same.
Roymondo
Registered user
Yes, new pads being fitted, for which I will have to pay. Seems I may have misunderstood him first time around then, when I assumed the additional 60 quid was for the new pads *and* the work to clean up the caliper.
Roymondo
Registered user
Got the bike back now. Caliper all sorted. They also advise that the rocker covers are flaking/corroding - new ones will be fitted gratis when the bike is next with them. Which will be quite soon as I also asked them to investigate some vibration at 90+ mph - makes the clocks shake around on their rubber mountings. They have rebalanced the front wheel - although this required quite a few balance weights to achieve - but still the vibration persists. I did tell them I thought it was coming from the rear wheel, but AFAICT they have not touched the balance weight on the rear rim.
Anyhow, they want to book it in for a full day or so to investigate further.
More annoyingly, the thing doesn't feel to me to be running properly. It seems reluctant to idle steadily and the throttle response feels very on/off in slow traffic. The 1200GS they loaned me felt much smoother (and idled nicely).
They did clean it though
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Anyhow, they want to book it in for a full day or so to investigate further.
More annoyingly, the thing doesn't feel to me to be running properly. It seems reluctant to idle steadily and the throttle response feels very on/off in slow traffic. The 1200GS they loaned me felt much smoother (and idled nicely).
They did clean it though
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I am here: http://tapatalk.com/map.php?c1dta5
Caliper Pistons maintenance
Hi. Just had my front caliper off as one of the pistons was sticking. I was advised to use WD40 on the specific area of the piston to ease them up. I got differing views on whether brake claener was a good idea in close promity to the rubber seals as it can cause damage? Odd i thought. Can you tell me what you do please. Thanks JJ
Hi. Just had my front caliper off as one of the pistons was sticking. I was advised to use WD40 on the specific area of the piston to ease them up. I got differing views on whether brake claener was a good idea in close promity to the rubber seals as it can cause damage? Odd i thought. Can you tell me what you do please. Thanks JJ
DO NOT USE WD40 !!! It will make the seals swell and jam the piston, Most of the "lubricants" these days do, but Brake cleaner won;t it's designed to do this but for some reason it won't remove more stubborn organic crap
What seems to work for me is a non aggressive detergent called Elbow grease and a tooth brush and plenty of fresh water to rinse it away
The cleaner you keep them from salt the longer they last and if you strip a calliper don;t use ordinary grease cos it attacks the seals too, Vaseline works okay here
If you do get your servicing done by the main dealer - there is a lot to be said for fitting a new set of pads the day before you take it there, and bed them in.
When you get the bike back - put back the original pads.
(Saves them changing them with the advice "they wouldn't last another 12,000 miles")
It also seems, in the case of the rear caliper - that it could be worthwhile removing the pads and working the pistons in and out, with a bit of a clean at the same time......... every 6 months?
Al
When you get the bike back - put back the original pads.
(Saves them changing them with the advice "they wouldn't last another 12,000 miles")
It also seems, in the case of the rear caliper - that it could be worthwhile removing the pads and working the pistons in and out, with a bit of a clean at the same time......... every 6 months?
Al
jpooch00
Registered user
I wonder why BMW doesn't just design their bike calipers like the ones on their cars? 
Surely people don't need to tear down their calipers and/or fiddle with them every six months or so on their expensive Beemer cars - or do they?
I've never once had a caliper problem of any kind on any bike I've ever owned, and some were pushing 30 years old. Never owned a Beemer, though.
Surely people don't need to tear down their calipers and/or fiddle with them every six months or so on their expensive Beemer cars - or do they?
I've never once had a caliper problem of any kind on any bike I've ever owned, and some were pushing 30 years old. Never owned a Beemer, though.
I've never once had a caliper problem of any kind on any bike I've ever owned, and some were pushing 30 years old. Never owned a Beemer, though.
Ah Boulder Colorado???
Do your road authorities use Rock salt on your roads in winter ?
To ride your bike here in the winter It has a similar effect to Dipping your bike in the sea for an hour a day as the rock salt which has been turned into an alkaline solution with the usual accompanying rain or snow in this country
As to car brakes think about it when was the last time you saw a car brake fully exposed to the elements they are nicely tucked inside steel rims etc
worst car brake trouble I ever had was on a 320d touring.
ok i do my own repairs etc and that helps but hell... I had an old honda crx twice the age in ten times better nick than the BM
ok i do my own repairs etc and that helps but hell... I had an old honda crx twice the age in ten times better nick than the BM
jpooch00
Registered user
You are kidding aren't you? Car brakes are just as exposed to the elements as bike brakes. The paint gets eaten off in short order and the external surfaces corrode like crazy - but they just keep on working. Likewise with the non-stainless rotors.
They use Magnesium Chloride & salt here. Just as bad or worse than straight rock salt. It eats cars and any other exposed metal object it comes into contact with. The airborne mist around busy highways gets onto power lines and corrodes and shorts them out.
most car calipers are crude great things made out of steel. bike calipers are somewhat more dainty and made of ali.
i don't imagine that helps when it comes to time between maintenance required.
i don't imagine that helps when it comes to time between maintenance required.
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