Breaks don t release and get hot

thrupp

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Hi there,
R1100 GS - Built 95, ABS Model:
Front breaks don t release anymore. When travelling the front left break is still active so gets super hot and starts to smoke. The hotter they get the more they break obviously so ultimately can t move the bike anymore untill its cooled down....!
Can someone point me into the right direction what might be wrong?

Thanks

Thomas
 
I'm just guessing here but, I would say your front left calliper is sticking :augie

Remove it from the fork leg, make sure the slider pins are allowing it to 'slide', and make sure the pistons are moving in and out freely.

Once you're ready to refit it, make sure the fixing pins are clean, then apply a thin coat of copper grease to them before assembly.

Finally, if you are not 100% confident about what you are doing, leave it to someone who is.... brakes are not something to be 'played' with :thumb
 
1 possible cause could be a collapsed / blocked rubber brake pipe, (Happened to me) or seized caliper pistons, probably time for a overhaul and nice stainless lines :thumb















.
 
Lines are stainless already. Will take calliper apart again (after doing so on the road yestarday already...) and see if pistons still run smoothly. Are there any other possibilities?

Thanks

T
 
If only the left caliper affected suggest the problems with that, strip, clean, lube, rebuild, (might as well do both while your there) :thumb















.
 
good point! Will do and report back if sucessfull!
T
 
mines were sticking on the pins i replaced them with nice shiney stainless steel ones and covered in copperslip

note there are several diffrent BMW calipers if ur going to get a caliper kit or pins make sure you know what calipers you have
 
If you have heated up the pads to the point that they have smoked, repeatedly, there's a pretty good chance that the disc they are on is warped now.:blast

Having them seize up and releasing them once on the road I can understand, even applaud, but if it kept on happening and your way out of it is to keep 'waiting until they cool down' then carrying on, you're a berk

:comfort
 
I had a 'sticky' caliper on my R1100RS with Brembo 4 piston caliper which I believe is the same unit. I had two causes which were swollen inner seals and corrosion in the outer seal grooves which forced the seals onto the pistons. Three of the four pistons had one or both faults.

If a general external clean doesn't work try carefully removing the pistons and outer seals and clean out the outer seal grooves. Eventually, I had to purchase a rebuild kit complete with pistons as seals are not available separately to my knowledge.

I agree with Paul G above, if you're not 100% confident don't tamper.
 
Just to chip in because no-one has mentioned it - is the lever end ok i.e. pivot moving freely and master cylinder end of things ok too ?

A.
 
Having them seize up and releasing them once on the road I can understand, even applaud, but if it kept on happening and your way out of it is to keep 'waiting until they cool down' then carrying on, you're a berk
Especially as they usually release if you give them a kick, so after using the brakes bring bike to a halt, give offending calliper a kick and continue on your way.... until next time. :eek

Driving along with them smoking isn't a great idea
 
running smoothly again

OK,
did all I could on these brakes:

1) Took calliper apart, cleaned and lubricated the lot. Pistons still in excellent condition no rust whatsoever. Just a bit dirty and Pins were a bit corrodet but not too bad really
2) Put in new sinter pads - one of the old ones was bent and unevenly worn so maybe that caused the blocking?
3) New brake fluid

Brakes are now better than ever before much better response and very sharp - guess thats to do with the lucas sinter pads and the new fluids.

Thanks for your help alltogether!

Thomas
 
From a safety perspective you should have left well enough alone, you can't go fast with a brake on and the smoke would make you more visible as would the glowing disk at night. Interesting modification, thanks for suggesting!:augie:thumb2
 


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