touchy front brakes

1000 Views 8 Replies 4 Participants Last post by dakh, Jun 2, 2006

dakh

Discussion Starter · Jun 2, 2006

Got a question about the front brake lever. Is it supposed to have a return spring of some sort? On my bike it's so sensitive that simply touching it with a pinky finger locks the front wheel when it's up in the air so that I can't rotate it by hand. And then there's no positive return action in the lever on the last few millimeters of engaged travel. It acts as if it doesn't really want to release the brake, although it does.

Is it how it is on the first gen R6'es? If it's not, is taking the master cylinder apart for a checkup a good idea for troubleshooting this issue?

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D duck

· #2 · Jun 2, 2006

WHAT?

If your brakes work then dont worry about it.

That is not locking up your front tire if the wheel is in the air.

I would hope you cant turn it by hand when you press the brake lever. Either your brakes would be shot or you turn green when you get angry.

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dakh

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jun 2, 2006

The problem is, even if you just keep two fingers on the lever, not even trying to squeeze it, the binders are already on it pretty well. I.e. won't be able to roll the bike with your feet.

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naked6

· #4 · Jun 2, 2006

possibly air in the lines??? after i bled my brake lines every braking action seemed much smoother.

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lordplum

· #5 · Jun 2, 2006

naked6 said:
possibly air in the lines??? after i bled my brake lines every braking action seemed much smoother.

air in the lines would make the brake *less* strong, i.e. spongy or soft.

I think your brakes are fine. Does it feel really touchy when you're riding?

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D duck

· #6 · Jun 2, 2006

dakh said:
The problem is, even if you just keep two fingers on the lever, not even trying to squeeze it, the binders are already on it pretty well. I.e. won't be able to roll the bike with your feet.

The problem is, its hard to tell from that description. I dont know how strong you are or how well your feet can touch the ground to push the bike.

The only issue I can think of is that something is tweaked and is causing the calipers to bind IF there is a problem at all.

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dakh

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jun 2, 2006

D duck said:
The problem is, its hard to tell from that description. I dont know how strong you are or how well your feet can touch the ground to push the bike.

The only issue I can think of is that something is tweaked and is causing the calipers to bind IF there is a problem at all.

Ok, broader question: what is supposed to get the handle back after you applied brakes? Is there a spring in the caliper that forces the pads back out, or a spring in the master cylinder, or???

If you squeeze the lever pretty well the force of the compressed liquid/lines will get it out to some extent, but there's gotta be something that acts on the lever to return it out it a little bit _past_ the point of engaging the pad with the rotor. What is it?

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D duck

· #8 · Jun 2, 2006

dakh said:
Ok, broader question: what is supposed to get the handle back after you applied brakes? Is there a spring in the caliper that forces the pads back out, or a spring in the master cylinder, or???

If you squeeze the lever pretty well the force of the compressed liquid/lines will get it out to some extent, but there's gotta be something that acts on the lever to return it out it a little bit _past_ the point of engaging the pad with the rotor. What is it?

There is a spring inside the master cylinder where the lever interacts.

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dakh

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jun 2, 2006

D duck said:
There is a spring inside the master cylinder where the lever interacts.

Yeah it's weird to complain about brakes working too well but I think I need to pry into it and see what's up with that spring. I wouldn't be too surprised if it's rusted to death or some such. Thanks!

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