'08 GS with locked up brakes from sitting - what's the best way to release?

[flea]

Hi, got an '08 GS which has been parked for over 12 months. Now the brakes - rear wheel is the only one checked so far & it's locked solid. I disconnected the park brake but no good; tried forcing it by attempting to drive back and forward, but it won't move. What is the best way to release the brake and/or remove the caliper without doing any damage? I have a new set of brake pads to go on it. Before parking, the park brake had been sticking on, but a light push on the lever on the rear wheel would release it, but not this time. Thanks

 

[Peter Aawen]

It's been a few minutes, but these aren't the Brembo brakes, and in the back of my mind I reckon that you should be able to release the Park Brake lever at the caliper & wind the piston back in using the released lever... :dontknow:

With any luck, that'll be covered in the Glove box manual, otherwise you might need to go to the workshop manual... IIRC, there are some (fairly old now ) threads on this back there somewhere on the Forum, probably in the 'GS & RS Shop Talk' sub-forum if you do a bit of searching in there (use the 'Search Forum' link just up in the top Right corner of the index, not the main Search link higher up the page! ) Good Luck! :cheers:

 

[djh3]

One thing we use to see in automotive brakes on older cars of say 8-10yr or more with brakes hanging up was the flex hose would deteriorate on inside. And what it does is act like a one way valve. It would hold pressure on but it could not return as fast and caused brakes to drag or sometimes feel as though locked up. I will say from posts I have read, the parking brake would be the first thing I would look into though. If you want to check the brake line option just crack the bleeder open a bit. If fluid squirts out then its holding pressure, if its just kind of a small amount coming out not the issue.

 

[flea]

gs 08 brakes

One thing we use to see in automotive brakes on older cars of say 8-10yr or more with brakes hanging up was the flex hose would deteriorate on inside. And what it does is act like a one way valve. It would hold pressure on but it could not return as fast and caused brakes to drag or sometimes feel as though locked up. I will say from posts I have read, the parking brake would be the first thing I would look into though. If you want to check the brake line option just crack the bleeder open a bit. If fluid squirts out then its holding pressure, if its just kind of a small amount coming out not the issue.

thanks , i have released the park brake by disconnecting it but rear wheel is still stuck tight , it reminds me of my dmax when driven through water just before being parked for a few days , the d max brakes would be stuck on some times very hard , would release them by attempting to drive back and forward , once released good as gold EXCEPT WASNT drivent through water before stopping and then parked for just over 12 months , was undercover but over a long wet season with a lot of humidity, will try cracking the bleeder and see what happens

 

[flea]

Thanks Peter, tried through both manuals but nothing relevant that I could find. I have disconnected the park brake but the wheel is locked solid. When you say 'wind the piston back using the lever', what do you mean? Keep trying to move the lever back and forth???

 

[Peter Aawen]

Thanks Peter, tried through both manuals but nothing relevant that I could find. I have disconnected the park brake but the wheel is locked solid. When you say 'wind the piston back using the lever', what do you mean? Keep trying to move the lever back and forth???

Nope, actually un-wind the shaft the park brake lever connects to - but like I said, it's been a bit of a while & I haven't done the brakes on any 'pre-Brembo' bikes for some time, so I could just be waffling... (and my forgettory works almost as well as my memory these days! ) :dontknow:

However, I'm reasonably sure that it goes something along these lines - when you need to replace the pads on the rear, the manual tells you to remove the cable to release the lever, then turn the lever in the opposite direction that standing on the Park Brake pedal turns it, and that'll retract the piston into the caliper, freeing the pads grip on the disc and loosening it enough for removal - only if you are replacing the pads, you hafta crank the piston all the way back in! Look for replacing the rear pads in the manual, it should have details there. :thumbup:

Good Luck! :cheers:

 

[Mikey]

If you have unhooked the cable and that didn't help, then I would take the nut off the wheel and take the pulley off the shaft and try to turn the shaft, to see if that helps to release the piston. If that don't work, I would back the bleeder screw out and that should release the piston for sure. A screwdriver may persuade the piston back in also. Good luck!!

 

[flea]

Thanks, will have another look in the manual. The thing is, I didn't put the park brake on when I parked it, just left it in gear. I never do that at home, but it's worth trying just in case.

 

[flea]

thanks mikey will give it a try

 

[Peter Aawen]

Where's home for you Flea?? I feel I've asked this before, but I can't recall atm, but knowing that I might be able put you in touch with someone local who can help, or at least have a look at it for you? :dontknow:

Drop me a PM if you like.

 

[flea]

YA, FOUND THE INFO IN THE MANUAL, 2 PAGES HAD STUCK TOGETHER LIKE THEY WERE ONE - no wonder I couldn't find the info! Peter was right, I will have to turn the actuator clockwise to wind the piston back in. Thanks Peter, hopefully that's it, but it's still tomorrow's job or day after. Get that sorted and then put on my brake conversion... ie. brake lever up to the bars. It's an ISCI kit, big $$$$ but worth it to keep riding! YA :2thumbs: :spyder2: :2thumbs: