Author Topic: Rear Brake  (Read 5449 times)

Offline thundermax

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Rear Brake
« on: December 06, 2012, 09:05:10 PM »
2009 w/abs, 17.7 k miles. Rear brake has to be pushed down a ways to slow. Actually, i would describe as kind of weak. Front brakes are great. Don't know if it is supposed to be this way considering ABS.

Please describe your rear brake pedal and grab.  Thanks.
Riding 46 years. In order, 1958 Cushman 721 Highlander, 1960 Cushman Super Eagle, 1971 Honda SL 100, 1974 Yamaha RD 350, 1975 Honda 750 Four, 1971 Honda SL 175, 1998 Yamaha Vmax, 2005 Yamaha Vmax, 2009 Kawasaki Concours 1400, 2012 Kawasaki Concours Arabian Red.

Offline gPink

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Re: Rear Brake
« Reply #1 on: December 07, 2012, 03:55:42 AM »
Flintstoneian

Offline VirginiaJim

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Re: Rear Brake
« Reply #2 on: December 07, 2012, 03:59:20 AM »
That's normal...  You can try bleeding it (both bleeders).  Sometimes that helps a little.  Otherwise, it is what it is.
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Offline koval68

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Re: Rear Brake
« Reply #3 on: December 07, 2012, 05:31:50 AM »
That's normal...  You can try bleeding it (both bleeders).  Sometimes that helps a little.  Otherwise, it is what it is.
What Jim said; if your rear brake is anything like mine when I first got my bike, bleeding it will make a huge difference !
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Offline thundermax

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Re: Rear Brake
« Reply #4 on: December 07, 2012, 07:09:45 AM »
Bleeding is fairly simple I think. Says to use DOT 4 brake fluid, have to get some, all I have is DOT 3.

Have to find the bleeder valve and the wrench to use on it. Take off seat, cap on brake fluid. Fill it. Pump up brake pedal. Loosen bleeder valve, push out fluid to bottom of pedal, tighten valve, refill fluid to top, repeat. Repeat, repeat. Eventually after doing this several time I will have pushed all the fluid through the system. I assume there is only one bleeder valve but I could be wrong.

If you have done this would appreciate confirmation of procedures. Thanks.
Riding 46 years. In order, 1958 Cushman 721 Highlander, 1960 Cushman Super Eagle, 1971 Honda SL 100, 1974 Yamaha RD 350, 1975 Honda 750 Four, 1971 Honda SL 175, 1998 Yamaha Vmax, 2005 Yamaha Vmax, 2009 Kawasaki Concours 1400, 2012 Kawasaki Concours Arabian Red.

Offline VirginiaJim

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Re: Rear Brake
« Reply #5 on: December 07, 2012, 07:38:52 AM »
Bleeding is fairly simple I think. Says to use DOT 4 brake fluid, have to get some, all I have is DOT 3.

Have to find the bleeder valve and the wrench to use on it. Take off seat, cap on brake fluid. Fill it. Pump up brake pedal. Loosen bleeder valve, push out fluid to bottom of pedal, tighten valve, refill fluid to top, repeat. Repeat, repeat. Eventually after doing this several time I will have pushed all the fluid through the system. I assume there is only one bleeder valve but I could be wrong.

If you have done this would appreciate confirmation of procedures. Thanks.

There are two bleeder valves on the rear caliper.
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Offline Conrad

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Re: Rear Brake
« Reply #6 on: December 07, 2012, 07:40:11 AM »
Bleeding is fairly simple I think. Says to use DOT 4 brake fluid, have to get some, all I have is DOT 3.

Have to find the bleeder valve and the wrench to use on it. Take off seat, cap on brake fluid. Fill it. Pump up brake pedal. Loosen bleeder valve, push out fluid to bottom of pedal, tighten valve, refill fluid to top, repeat. Repeat, repeat. Eventually after doing this several time I will have pushed all the fluid through the system. I assume there is only one bleeder valve but I could be wrong.

If you have done this would appreciate confirmation of procedures. Thanks.

You're VERY close except that the rear has two bleeder valves. Lots of guys miss the one on the inside of the calaper.

I use the Motion Pro 08-0143 Hydraulic Brake Bleeder. It makes doing the brakes and the clutch a snap. You can do the whole bike in about 15 mins with this thing. I use it on my cars and truck too.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000MXW2EM/ref=wms_ohs_product
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Offline VirginiaJim

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Re: Rear Brake
« Reply #7 on: December 07, 2012, 08:02:38 AM »
+1 to that.
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Offline chap

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Re: Rear Brake
« Reply #8 on: December 07, 2012, 08:09:48 AM »
Good info. My 2010 ABS rear brake is the same. I have to push it along way to get any braking. I have kind of gotten used to it though. If I fix it I'll be "emergency Stopping" all the time.lol
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Offline tjpgi

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Re: Rear Brake
« Reply #9 on: December 07, 2012, 08:28:55 AM »
2009 ABS 12,000 miles. Rear brake has always been on the weak side but it works well when used alone to slow the bike when I need to bleed some speed entering a curve. I have bled the brake caliper when flushing out the lines but only used one bleed valve ( missed the other one). I'll use both bleeder valves with the next flush and see what happens.
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Offline stevewfl

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Re: Rear Brake
« Reply #10 on: December 07, 2012, 08:32:14 AM »
2009 w/abs, 17.7 k miles. Rear brake has to be pushed down a ways to slow. Actually, i would describe as kind of weak. Front brakes are great. Don't know if it is supposed to be this way considering ABS.

Please describe your rear brake pedal and grab.  Thanks.

works better with a rock in it
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Offline VirginiaJim

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Re: Rear Brake
« Reply #11 on: December 07, 2012, 10:20:43 AM »
Not in a good way, Steve.
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Offline thundermax

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Re: Rear Brake
« Reply #12 on: December 07, 2012, 06:19:11 PM »
Am buying the Motion Pro bleeder.

My idea is to bleed both nipples at the same time. Tubes attached to nipples coming to a T with the single line going to the check valve. On out fron there.

If you have this tool do you think it is possible? Thanks.
Riding 46 years. In order, 1958 Cushman 721 Highlander, 1960 Cushman Super Eagle, 1971 Honda SL 100, 1974 Yamaha RD 350, 1975 Honda 750 Four, 1971 Honda SL 175, 1998 Yamaha Vmax, 2005 Yamaha Vmax, 2009 Kawasaki Concours 1400, 2012 Kawasaki Concours Arabian Red.

Offline VirginiaJim

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Re: Rear Brake
« Reply #13 on: December 07, 2012, 08:01:52 PM »
I guess you could with the proper fittings but why?  Do one at a time and have done with it.  It's not rocket science.  ;)
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Offline Conrad

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Re: Rear Brake
« Reply #14 on: December 08, 2012, 05:48:35 AM »
Am buying the Motion Pro bleeder.

My idea is to bleed both nipples at the same time. Tubes attached to nipples coming to a T with the single line going to the check valve. On out fron there.

If you have this tool do you think it is possible? Thanks.

No reason to do both at once. Do the inside first then the outside.
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Offline 556ALPHA

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Re: Rear Brake
« Reply #15 on: December 08, 2012, 08:21:38 AM »
The return spring for the pedal is WAY to strong.  I removed mine all together and it made a world of difference, you can actually use the rear brake.  It will work that way but not recommended, I will replace it with a lighter spring when I get around to it.

Offline thundermax

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Re: Rear Brake
« Reply #16 on: December 08, 2012, 08:51:43 AM »
That is a project for someone: find the good spring to use. I do not even know where to go for such springs, a hardware store?

One more question: Do you have to take off the calapers to bleed the inside or outside? Thanks.
Riding 46 years. In order, 1958 Cushman 721 Highlander, 1960 Cushman Super Eagle, 1971 Honda SL 100, 1974 Yamaha RD 350, 1975 Honda 750 Four, 1971 Honda SL 175, 1998 Yamaha Vmax, 2005 Yamaha Vmax, 2009 Kawasaki Concours 1400, 2012 Kawasaki Concours Arabian Red.

Offline koval68

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Re: Rear Brake
« Reply #17 on: December 09, 2012, 05:12:37 AM »
You don't need to take off rear caliper to bleed it. With Motion Pro bleeder it will take you less then 10 minutes to do it. Remember to cover all painted surfaces ( just in case if you spill brake fluid ) and keep adding new brake fluid to reservoir every few "pumps" of the pedal, so you don't suck in the air!
Tom"Killer"Kowalski   COG#9263  Newmarket,Ontario
"Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need,  but not every man's greed."
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Offline stevewfl

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Re: Rear Brake
« Reply #18 on: December 09, 2012, 06:38:21 PM »
You don't need to take off rear caliper to bleed it. With Motion Pro bleeder it will take you less then 10 minutes to do it. Remember to cover all painted surfaces ( just in case if you spill brake fluid ) and keep adding new brake fluid to reservoir every few "pumps" of the pedal, so you don't suck in the air!

I see this thing mentioned all the time. I just ordered one, although i've done a million brake bleeds without it. Maybe Teressa will get a break hehe
“The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” St. Augustine