Pedal drop

[odd]

With my foot on the brake, I turn off the parking brake + the pedal drops almost to the floorboard . Is that normal? The pedal pad was raised when the boards were added. They've always been spongy. I replaced the fluid + bled the brakes, but didn't change anything. Any suggestions?

 

[Motorcycledave]

GO NOW TODAY !!!

Have your brakes inspected it sounds like air is in the brake system
Brakes should never be spongy

With my foot on the brake, I turn off the parking brake + the pedal drops almost to the floorboard . Is that normal? The pedal pad was raised when the boards were added. They've always been spongy. I replaced the fluid + bled the brakes, but didn't change anything. Any suggestions?

 

[Bob Denman]

There's a pedal return spring that's supposed to be hooked to it...
I'd take a look under the bike, and make sure that it's still in place.
Good Luck! :thumbup:

 

[bigbadbrucie]

GO NOW

Have your brakes inspected it sounds like air is in the brake system
Brakes should never be spongy

I agree. Your brakes need inspecting NOW!

 

[Chupaca]

Have to agree...

These are tricky machines and with the ABS and integrated brakings system there is a part you can not deal with yourself. The BUDS system has to be used. If there is air in that section it is really tough to get it out without BUDS. This is the part that the nanny controls when appling the brakes for you...:banghead::banghead: the park brake is mechanical and when released your pedal reverts to the hydraulic and if yours is spongy as you say that is why the pedal drops. Have it checked out...

 

[Peter Aawen]

With my foot on the brake, I turn off the parking brake + the pedal drops almost to the floorboard . Is that normal? The pedal pad was raised when the boards were added. They've always been spongy. I replaced the fluid + bled the brakes, but didn't change anything. Any suggestions?

Its always worth getting the brakes checked if you have the slightest concern about their operation - after all, they are what keeps you from colliding with the scenery or other road users at speed!! So if you are concerned, get em checked!!

That said, the feel you get that the foot pedal sinks a little further when you apply or release the parking brake while holding your foot on the pedal is normal. It occurs because while you've got pressure on the brakes with the pedal, the application of the park brake changes the required hydraulic or mechanical effort needed at the disc end, so your pedal sinks just a touch more. Every vehicle that uses hydraulic brakes with a mechanical park brake over-ride experiences the same thing, even if you can't feel it because the 'change in pressure' induced by applying or releasing the park brake is comparatively small (as is sometimes the case especially on cars with 'drum in disc' park brakes.)

However, the pedal dropping significantly when the park brake is applied or released is not normal, it should be just a 'feeling' that might be (only just?) measurable at the pedal, but if it's a significant drop & a continuing spongy pedal, it sounds like something is not right. Does your pedal feel 'hard' if you really stand on it? Or is it always a little spongy?

 

[spyderCodes]

Bob, have you seen this spring and can you say where it should be please. 2 weeks ago, I had a look and applied grease to the linkage pins. There was no visible external spring I could see, and it seems the return spring is the one inside the brake master cylinder.

As for the original post, pedal movement when you apply or release the parking brake is normal on our 2014 RTs. However the brakes did slowly develop a soft feel to them. At just prior to 2 years since new, I flushed and bled the brake system. The brake pedal is now solid and the brakes work noticeably better. I suspect somehow there is something not 100% correct.

I have a return spring, but it is because I have an ISCI handbrake.
I don't think the standard RT has a return spring.

 

[Bob Denman]

pps: This one's clearly on me... pps:
I was thinking about the ones that have been added, by some folks in here.
My bad! pps:

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

RETURN SPRING

Bob, have you seen this spring and can you say where it should be please. 2 weeks ago, I had a look and applied grease to the linkage pins. There was no visible external spring I could see, and it seems the return spring is the one inside the brake master cylinder.

As for the original post, pedal movement when you apply or release the parking brake is normal on our 2014 RTs. However the brakes did slowly develop a soft feel to them. At just prior to 2 years since new, I flushed and bled the brake system. The brake pedal is now solid and the brakes work noticeably better. I suspect somehow there is something not 100% correct.

Awhile back there was some chatter here about the BRAKE pedal not returning to COMPLETE OFF position and someone added a spring to assist it........This may be what Bob's referring to...................Mike :bbq:

 

[odd]

Thank you for all for the info, guess I'll be calling the dealer.