Rear Brake binds

[Stoutman]

Here is a question for all you mechanical gurus. The rear brake on my 05 RSTD has just started to bind while parked. I get on the bike and rock it a bit to see if I left it in gear, and find that it rocks only a little, but is in neutral. I can hear the rear brake rub a bit if I force it to move, and I can push the bike some and it will release a bit. then when I start the bike it is entirely free. What would cause the brake caliper to not release? This doesn't seem to happen when I am riding, when I'm stopped at a light it never binds up like that.

 

OK Gurus, what are your ideas?

[Eck]

Stoutman,

Your bike is under the 5 year warrenty.

The brake caliper should not be sticking under any circumstances.

You can try this if you dont want to take it to the dealer...

Jack you bike up or use center stand if you have one where the rear wheel is off the ground.

Remove your right hand side saddle bag.

Take off the plastic cover on your rear brake caliper

Make darn sure the bike is in netural...

By hand, Slowly see if you can turn your back wheel

If you cant, loosen the bleeder screw just a little to see if brake fluid comes out...(it should be a drop or two)..then retighten the bleeder screw.

Now see if you can rotate the rear wheel easily.

If you can not turn the wheel easily the piston is sticking.

If it were I, I would stop right there and take it to the dealer, because if you try to fix it yourself, and cant and you leave marks or signs that you messed with it, the dealer may not honor your 5yr warrenty....

 

 

 

 

Here is a question for all you mechanical gurus. The rear brake on my 05 RSTD has just started to bind while parked. I get on the bike and rock it a bit to see if I left it in gear, and find that it rocks only a little, but is in neutral. I can hear the rear brake rub a bit if I force it to move, and I can push the bike some and it will release a bit. then when I start the bike it is entirely free. What would cause the brake caliper to not release? This doesn't seem to happen when I am riding, when I'm stopped at a light it never binds up like that.

 

OK Gurus, what are your ideas?

[Guest joe_shrimp43]

I understand your desire to look at this yourself if you do your own maintenance. Remember, an 05 is two years old now and according to the owners manual it is time to replace the seals in the brake and clutch master cylinders, and in the brake calipers and clutch release cylinder. Look on your stearing head by the VIN number for the date of manufacture. That is when the two years starts in my book.

 

First thing I would do is check the fluid level in the reservoir. Brake fluid takes on moisture over time which increases its volume. If it is over full the fluid may not have room to expand when it is hot, which could put some pressure back on the caliper. Bleed some out if it appears to full.

 

You might want to bleed it a bit anyway and inspect the color of the fluid in the caliper. The fluid in the caliper gets the most heat and can break down ealier than what you see in the reservoir. If it is dark and old looking you could have some corrosion starting in there due to water in the fluid. Flush the fluid and see if that helps.

 

If you do replace the seals in the brake and clutch master cylinders, and in the brake calipers and clutch release cylinder be sure to replace all the old fluid as well.

 

If none of this pans out its time to go to the dealer.

[Freebird]

Are you absolutely SURE that it's the rear break? I've seen a number of these RSVs that the clutches cause that same feeling. After they are parked for a while..especially over night...the discs seem to stick and you have to rock it a bit to break it loose.

[Guest joe_shrimp43]

Are you absolutely SURE that it's the rear break? I've seen a number of these RSVs that the clutches cause that same feeling. After they are parked for a while..especially over night...the discs seem to stick and you have to rock it a bit to break it loose.

 

Would it do that with the transmission in neutral? Seems to be an issue even with the bike in neutral.

[Phaedrus]

I had a Harley friend of mine who chased a similar problem through two dealerships. He swore that his brakes would drag while the bike was in neutral and parked. I was riding with him one day when we stopped for lunch. When we came out he got on his bike and unleashed a string of course expletives, then threw in a few choice words about Harley dealers as well, ranting about his brakes binding for no reason. I walked up to his bike and lifted his helmet off the right handelbar where the weight was compressing the front brake lever. I never heard of that problem again from this guy.