Seized rear brake

[Guest Rocker]

Hi all Guzzisti.

 

I love my Guzzis, and always have for over 25 years.

 

We currently have a 30 month VII Le mans Rosso Corso with 18k continental miles to date.

 

In September, senior management & I travelled the circumference of Spain, just over 2,500 miles staying overnight in Paradours - only three problems:

 

1. A stone breaking the offside front indicator.

 

2. The mileometer packing up after 2,200 miles into the trip, although the speedo' still functions(!).

 

3. Ther rear brake caliper jamming on on two separate occasions. The first time around Malaga Autopista system it "self freed" after I realised there was no pedal pressure. The sercond time in Extramadura it progressively jammed until I could barelyy crawl into a garage using first gear. Upon inspection the rear disc was too hot to touch, there was no pedal pressure and I'd obviosly cooked the Dot4. Ash appeared on the disc web! It freed off after cooling down and we completed the trip rear brakeless - fortunately without any rain..

 

My question is: Rear brake maintained (new pads inserted -Ducati original gold line replacements), and all OK before the trip - I had the wheel out for a new Pirelli Diablo Strada - all replaced ok as on previous ocassions. - WHAT THE DEVIL CAUSED THIS?

 

I fear for the bearings which may have baked almost dry and the wear/tear to the transmission.

 

HAVE YOU ANY CLUE WHAT DID THIS AND, WHO ELSE MAY IT HAVEHAPPENED TO?

 

Ouch!

 

Rockerob.

[Martin Barrett]

My pedal spindle seized up slowly. I initialy thought it was a usual build up of dust etc around the pistons and pins the pads slide on, and despite cleaning those no significant improvement, and poor return of the pedal.

 

My sidestand pivot was also dry as well. two more places to grease.

[jrt]

http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?...pic=607&hl=

 

http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?...ic=2732&hl=

 

http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?...ic=1021&hl=

 

http://www.v11lemans.com/forums/index.php?...ic=1069&hl=

 

You're not the first. The above links are not all-inclusive- I found eight pages of hits with "rear brake" as a search item. There are some good suggestions in links posted above- add a spring to keep the pedal up, clean everything, and clean it again.

 

Glad your trip was ok and nothing too upsetting happened.

 

(Your transmission will be just fine. Do check the rear wheel bearings, though)

 

 

EDIT: in this case, "everything" refers mostly to the brake caliper which picks up and retains crud. Even cradles and nurtures it perhaps.

[guzzijack]

Same thing happened on my Centauro this summer. Cause was rock hard piston seals in the caliper which finally gave way and leaked. It's a minor job to remove and strip the caliper so I'd recommend it for peace of mind.

 

Graham

[pasotibbs]

I had this problem also, if you strip the master cylinder you'll find that the piston isn't returning all the way "off".As the brake fluid heats up it can't expand back into the reservoir (because the hole is blocked by the piston)so it applies more pressure to the caliper pistons creating more heat and so on, and so on, until you reallly notice !

You should find that it isn't possible to bleed the brake or push the pistons back in the caliper if this is the cause of your problem.

If I remember correctly there is a Nylon inner to the cylinder and the last 10mm or so needed cleaning up with some fine emery paper.