Sticky Brakes ?

[russ_fae_fyvie]

I've been riding since 1979 and since 2001 mainly I have ridden through the winters (except when snow and ice) and hadn't really noticed before.

I give the bike a thorough wash every weekend and all the usual treatments but normally ride it the following week.

This week however because of the lying frozen snow it wasnt possible and although I I thoroughly cleaned and rinsed the bike, I looked at her today and the front wheel was pretty well solid. After a douse of cold water it freed up to a certain extent but still binding more that I'd like so wondered what others did, is it worth stripping the calipers ?

Only reason I am worried is because I had a KTM Superduke 3 years ago and after a similar timescale and wash, I got the bike out of the garage to go to work but within half a mile the brakes totally locked and threw me down the road.

It turned out it was a design fault and there were lots of people having accidents for the same reason. The actual pistons were seizing in the housing so when riding the bike they wouldnt retract, heat built up and the pads locked on the discs, crunch (that was me hitting the road!).

I doubt the Beemer has the same design fault but just wondered what others did, strip the calipers for a good clean or just ride off until they free ?

The wheel isnt locked solid, just a bit sticky.

 

[rodooo]

i ride my wee gs every weekend too and some days through the week if not too slippy. no problem with sticky brakes yet. although every time i wash bike i make sure its totally dry before putting it away. usually dry it off with compressor and park in front of big heater to totally dry it. then cover whole bike in wd40. it burns off the brakes within a few miles on the next ride.

 

[SteveT]

Russ,

Pop the caliper off and give them a good clean, without popping the pistons right out. I clean and re-grease (silicone grease) the pistons before and after the winter. This, combined with a cold water wash of the brakes after every winter ride, see's me through the winter with trouble free brakes (and no, I don't blow the brakes dry or leave the bike parked in front of a heater after every ride . Ride em hard and put em away wet )
Occasionally find some light rusting of the disc's after a day or so's lay up, but never had sticking brakes.

Just wot works for me

SteveT

 

[russ_fae_fyvie]

Cheers Steve, yeah this is the 3rd winter on this bike and to be honest I havent done them before so today's job is guess what !!

thanks !

 

[rodooo]

dont park her wet unless you have it treated with acf50 or some water dispersant. my last one corroded like mad around the sump and where the spokes went through the hubs. not good. maybe i am being just a bit cautious now but its not good seeing the paint falling off them

 

[russ_fae_fyvie]

Got down to the calipers and put some grease local to the pistons which freed things up a lot but need new pads as well now I've seen em !

At least it wasn't the major problem I thought it might have been.

As for not parking the bike wet mate, thats an almost impossible thing to do in our climate !

I had that argument with KTM when they said after EVERY winter ride the brakes should be washed and dried, how the hell they thought people can do that after commuting to work is anyones guess, especially when they said to dry inside the calipers ! FFS !

Anyway all good now.

 

[thomo57]

While your giving your calipers some TLC, don't forget about the floating pins...
Under the rubber boots, these allow the caliper to float and centralize.
You need to apply a high temp water proof grease, I use Silkolene Pro RG2
I had to replace a rear caliper and disc,when mine seized up £££