Rear Brakes ... Help?

[BrendanS]

Hi all, new here so excuse the stupid questions to follow.
For as yet unknown reasons, the rear brake reservoir on my 07 GS Adventure leaked and is now empty. The brake is basically an unending sponge and the pads are pretty tight on the disc. The wheel can move if forced.

Stupid questions:
1. To top up the brake fluid, do I just open up the reservoir and pour or is there a different point of entry?

2. Do you reckon it's safe to drive to garage as it needs an annual service anyway. Chance of locking up? Do I just wait for a trailer and load it on?

Help! ... and thanks!

 

[Hairnet600]

if garage isnt 10 miles away then yes as long as the disc doesnt get hot with the pads clamped to it

if theres no fluid getting onto the tyres...........

just dont use the brake

split in hose or the plastic resovoir??

 

[BrendanS]

Thanks for replying hairnet.

There's no visible hole in the reservoir or the hose. I hadn't driven it much over the cold spell and I noticed the problem straight after a few days of frosty weather.Certainly wasn't over filled. Left it be since as I couldn't get time in garage.

The garage is 45 mins away so I'd be sketchy driving it as I can't see any way the disc won't heat up.

What causes the pads tightening up on the disc? Will adding brake fluid do anything?

Worst thing is that the fluid sprayed a bit on the swing arm and the wheel rim - chemical pitting! Arrgh!

 

[Hairnet600]

clamp hose unscrew caliper - then ride to garage

 

[Bendy toy]

To should minimise paint damage, you need to REALLY wash the bike with degreaser ASAP.
If the brake is binding badly and fluid is old it might just boil but it's unlikely to leak unless the reservoir is faulty.
Brake seals are under £20 for back brake. So start there and bleed the system.

 

[Bendy toy]

If it helps I had my swing arm powder coated when the rear subframe was done. It looks great.
The alloy wheels look good in gloss black. If the paint isn't bubbling over corrosion just get them lightly grit blasted and painted.
Wire wheels have anodised rims so might survive the brake fluid.
Gearbox won't survive. Lots of Jizer Gunk etc and a pressure washer are needed.
Last autumn I posted images of my engine top and front A frame corrosion caused (almost certainly) by a brake fluid spill.

 

[BrendanS]

Thanks folks for the advice, genuinely appreciate the effort. My technical ability and skills place me somewhere between small sheep and lemurs when it comes fixing bike issues. I'll probably go with the clamp hose and unscrew caliper approach as that's about all I could manage.

On a separate issue, anyone know of good maintenance courses in Ireland?

 

[JJH]

You haven't said how far you can move the bike. Most systems are SLIGHTLY binding but when the bike moves a yard or 2 the pads get pushed back that slight bit. If the bike hasn't been riden for a while the sticking could be more prounced. The resivor could be low for a long time and your only noticing now. Whatever are you? Jjh

 

[BrendanS]

Very good advice Bendy, that sounds like a plan. I had considered powder coating and glad to know someone else had done it. The paint isn't bubbling over the corrosion but it's been a week since it happened so a bit late for a quick wash!

 

[BrendanS]

Thanks jjh.
It's stuck solid enough at rest but does loosen up a little after a few yards push alright and doesn't stick too much when it's ridden. Just worried that it would lock up over any distance.
Question remains - would adding fluid make any difference?

 

[BrendanS]

I'm in Kildare and I was going over to Maddocks in Bray. Probably too long to ride over.

 

[JJH]

Give Mark in Platimun a ring. He is in Bray and is really very good. 0877829793. Jjh

 

[JJH]

Bye the way I'm in Longwood on the border Meath Kildare I ride to Clondalkin every day. Jjh

 

[BrendanS]

Well, I've tried three times to get the bike into Maddocks in the past few weeks and they haven't been able to take it so worth a look. Thanks.

 

[BrendanS]

Sure Longwood is only a half hour away from me.

 

[JJH]

Brendan if you subscribe you will be able too see a lot more of the site. Also I would Pw able to private message you with a bit of advice. Jjh

 

[BrendanS]

Did that.

 

[TheMcQuaid]

If you give me a ring i can try and give you as much help over the phone as i can

 

[Hairnet600]

try hamills in nurney

they helped me out with an utterly fooked hornet

Hamill & Sons Motorcycles
‎
Kildare
Ireland
+353 86 366 0703
hamillandsonsmc.com‎

 

[de crowe]

help

give Mark a shout at Platinum, sorted brakes for me on a k-lt a few years back and he is relatively close to you.
mind the puppy (pet dog)