Sticky brakes?

Right, I've been on and off the bike recently due to working away and using my car. I came to use the bike the other day and it was stuck(assumed to be rusted sintered pads/disks), after a hefty push the brakes sort of "cracked" and i got the bike to move.

Brakes still felt very stiff, I put it down to surface rust on the pads and disks, and i rode off holding the brake a bit to give the disks and pads a bit of a "clean". They then felt ok after I'd braked a few times and seemed to have loosened off to pretty much normal.

After work the brakes still felt ok and I rode home. When I got home my tea was ready so I ate that, and afterwards when I was backing the bike into the garage the brakes had stiffened up again and were squeeking and I struggled like heck to push my bike into the garage.

Is this kind of thing pretty common with sintered pads when the bike gets intermittant use in winter with the salt, moisture etc? Just wondered whether I should be looking to strip the brakes down or if a bit of rubbing with emery cloth would sort things out since it's a little concerning?

Cheers
Jase

Sounds more like your pistons are covered in crud and are starting to seize (or one of them already has). You'll need to unbolt the caliper, slip it off the disc, and have a looksee.


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Originally Posted by jonboy

Sounds more like your pistons are covered in crud and are starting to seize (or one of them already has). You'll need to unbolt the caliper, slip it off the disc, and have a looksee.


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I'll have a look then, definitely before I get back on the bike! I might also have a look at the back brake, I've been given a few pointers that them tend to seize at times.

[TSM]

I saw Squid clean the pistions on Sudoxe's bike. He used a toothbrush and spray of what i think was WD40 onto the pistons while rubbing away to remove the grime.

I cant remember if it was WD40 though. But it worked in sorting his rear brake out.

Am local if you get stuck..just dont push the pistons to far out, as they will then need bleeding, and make sure you tighten calipers back up to correct torque

Get em cleaned quick - my lad had an off when his brakes were showing the same signs, but on one corner they grabbed and over he went.

Use brake cleaner - and put some red rubber grease around the pistons to keep 'em moving smoothly. If they still don't move smooth the crud's probably built up behind the seals and you'll need to get the pistons out to clean properly, and maybe renew the seals.

I had exactly the same thing last winter. Took a 100 mile round trip after the roads were salted and then didn't touch the bike for a month (won't do that again)

The front brake was absolutely stuck when I came back to it but came loose with a bit of force, same as yours. Didn't chance riding it though.

Stripping and cleaning the calipers is easy enough with a haynes manual. You need a brake bleeding kit (or a home made contraption), synthetic grease, new rubber seals, brake fluid and a free Sunday afternoon.
You won't believe the cr*p that will be lodged around the old seals. Or how lovely the brakes feel afterwards

Originally Posted by Well Oiled

...and put some red rubber grease around the pistons to keep 'em moving smoothly...

With all due respect, applying the red rubber grease on the outside of the seals will do nothing in keeping the pistons sliding. The first bit of rain will just wash it all off, and before that, all it will do is collect the road crap that much more effectively.

If your going to apply the grease, then it would be far more beneficial to take the pistons out and give everything a proper clean. Apply the grease to the seals and pop the pistons back in.

[Sid Squid]

Originally Posted by TSM

I saw Squid clean the pistions on Sudoxe's bike. He used a toothbrush and spray of what i think was WD40 onto the pistons while rubbing away to remove the grime.

I cant remember if it was WD40 though. But it worked in sorting his rear brake out.

Aaaaargghh! NOoooooo!

Don't use WD40, I used a cleaner which I know is safe on rubber, if you don't have such a thing or don't know if the cleaner you have is OK, then don't use it. Instead get a bucket of hot water and a toothbrush.

Originally Posted by Well Oiled

Use brake cleaner.

Don't use brake cleaner, it's not for cleaning brakes...well it is, but it's for cleaning friction sufaces only, discs, pads and dry clutch plates etc. It's not good news on calipers as it's a very high flash point solvent which can leech the chemicals out of rubbers, ie seals, and make them dry up a bit and lose flexibility.

Combo of warm water to shift worst of stuff and then some silicone lube seems to work OK for me.

MT