Brakes

Hope im in the right category. My rear disc brake is locked up. Do I have to remove the rear wheel to service this problem? My crap Clymer says to but it seems like I may be able to with out. Any procedures or advice would be a big help.

It sounds like an orifice in the master cylinder may be clogged. You may want to try the following as a temporary measure just so you can push the bike around, but if this works you will need to at least thoroughly flush the brake system with fresh brake fluid to purge the gunk that’s clogging things up.

Attach a hose to the rear brake bleeder so you don’t spill brake fluid on anything. Open and close the bleeder. If the fluid return orifice in the master cylinder is clogged this should relieve the pressure in the brake caliper. Keep in mind though that if this works the source of the problem (gunk) is still present and the brake will eventually lock up again unless the gunk is all purged from the brake system. Also, doing this may allow air into your brake line so you should bleed the brakes afterward even if this doesn't solve the problem. Ed

Ok cool. I have a bid for a service manual in the works. Until then what type brake fluid does my bike take?

DOT 3 or DOT 4. I use DOT3. Definitely do NOT add any DOT 5 as it will corrupt your brake system. Ed

If this doesn't work? Just as a back up before heading out of town to work on it.

I guess if it doesn't work you'll need to pull things apart to see what causing it to stick. Before you do check everything visually to be sure no foreign material is jamming anything up. Ed

Do I have to remove the rear wheel?

A little history on the rear brakes... I never did have good braking back there. I could stand up on the brake and it wouldn't lock up. I took it to a guy 10 years ago because it got to where I had to manually pull the brake lever up with my foot every time. he made it to where I didn't but left me with that problem.

If you need to remove the rear brake caliper you may need to remove the rear wheel or at least pull the rear axle. Otherwise the rotor may prevent you from being able to free the caliper from the mounting bracket. Hopefully it won't come to that and flushing the brake system will be enough. It really depends on what the cause of the sticking is. Some brakes have never had a fluid change (this is a very bad thing) and the brake fluid has turned into jelly and water in the lines has pitted the brake caliper piston. That can require a rebuild of the brakes. Ed

Dot 5 is awesome stuff......wont hurt prepared or painted surfaces. I use it and love it.

Ed is correct, if you use Dot 5 it must be in a newly cleaned system........cant mix the dots.

You would have to flush system if you can? don't know.

Remove all brake system items, break them down and clean them 100%.

Sometimes a brake will bind if the grease on the caliper pins is grungy as it keeps the caliper from sliding back. The caliper stays where the "fixed" pad is dragging on the rotor. If yours is locked, first thing is to open the bleed nipple and see if that frees it.

Opening the bleeder worked! It now rolls. Gonna have to do a flush and fill though... Nothing came out! :S It has been sitting and if you read the past post this might explain a few things.