Rear Brake Assist Please

[Bruce_Almighty]

Greetings All,

A follow-on situation to my wet ride last week. Seems like the rear caliper may be dragging. In three miles, the rear rotor gets too hot to touch. Normal riding, no rawhiding, etc. Front rotors are normally warm, for lack of a better term. Any of you have any experience like this? Any trouble shooting tips? The rear wheel, while up on the center stand, doesn't 'sound' noticeably different than the rear wheel on my LT. Am considering pulling the rear caliper for a look. Thanks in advance.

[DJ Downunder]

Try riding with your toes more on the pegs..just in case it's your boot touching it while riding without realizing it...that's pretty common.

Also just wondering if it may be the drive shaft getting hot and heating up the caliper..just a thought.

I've even heard of some catching fire due to high heat..

DJ

[Bruce_Almighty]

DJ Downunder,

Thought of that, rode around a bit last night conscious of my foot placement. I may be fretting over nothing, again. This bike smells HOT after short rides since last week's soaking. Anything else that could be heating up or just generating a hot smell? Thanks.

[towerworker]

I would pull the caliper and remove the pads. Clean everything with brake cleaner, lub the pin and reassemble. Possibly the pads are not sliding on the pin easily enough and lightly riding the rotor.

Wayne

[Bruce_Almighty]

Success!... Well, maybe...

Have the RR up on the center stand and rotated the rear wheel. Rear caliper was definitely dragging.

Read that the rear caliper is supposed to "float". Noticed it wasn't moving anywhere. Decided to push the caliper against the rotor, by hand. It moved and appeared to loosen up. Hmmm.... rotated the rear wheel. NO DRAGGING noted.

Next step will be a test ride in the morning. May stop by the local parts house for some aerosol brake cleaner to douche out the caliper to ensure any other gunk is gone.

Thanks again for the assistance and moral support!

[Bruce_Almighty]

Test Ride Update:

Better. Still kind of warm after a short ride in traffic. Will probably go the brake cleaner spray route and see if it gets any better.

Thanks all.

[towerworker]

You might want to pull it off to thoroughly clean it. Really easy to do with the tools included in the underseat kit. Two torx bolts and it comes right off.

Wayne

[Bruce_Almighty]

Update #2:

Removed rear caliper from paralever arm, but did not disconnect the brake fluid line.

Removed pads, springs and mounting plate and cleaned everything with brakekleen.

Gave the rear rotor a good cleaning while I had everthing apart.

Lubed both guide pins.

Everything went right back together... well... after I put the front spring in correctly, the second time...

Will have to go for another ride eventually.

Thanks again for all of the support.

[Bruce_Almighty]

Latest & Greatest:

Rode to work and back today. About 40 mile round trip. Everything seems okay.

The ride in was probably in the lower 40's. NOTHING was hot on the bike, especially ME.

The ride home was in the high 70's MAYBE low 80's (Three cheers for the Central Cali Valley). Rear rotor didn't seem noticible warmer than the final drive.

Well, guess I'll just ride... Probably nothing wrong in the first place. I'll proably be more careful the next time I wet-wash my RR after a rain ride.

Thanks to everyone who offered tech info/suggestions/moral support.

Cheers!

[maduko]

Check the rear brake lever for free-play.

The locknut on the rear brake adjustment rod backed off on my GS once. It caused a small... um, fire. Pretty exciting.

[ruddy]

This bike smells HOT after short rides since last week's soaking. Anything else that could be heating up or just generating a hot smell? Thanks.

Sounds like you've fixed your dragging brake.

As for the HOT smell: I've found that after riding in sloppy weather, I notice the same thing. I think it's from road spray on the cat converter. Those things get very hot and will burn off whatever has been deposited on them.