Seized Brakes

[koffey25]

so i got my bike started this weekend and took it for a brief ride...it is the middle of the winter up here in wisconsin but thankfully the roads were clear...unfortunately it seams my breaks are seized....which is understandable since it has sate for 2 years prior to me getting it...what would be way to get them unseized? I do plan on draining all the fluid and putting all new stuff in it...just seeing if there is some trick.

Thanks

Koffey

[alimey4u2]

Crack a vent/bleed & see if they release on their own. The brake fluid will most likely eat paint so be careful. If they release on their own it could well be the compensator port blocked...
Advise us as to your progress & we'll go from there....

[bdento59]

...unfortunately it seams my breaks are seized....which is understandable since it has sat for 2 years prior to me getting it...what would be way to get them unseized?

Koffey

Hi Koffey, I would start with caliper rebuilds. That's what did the trick for me. Unfortunately, that's only half the job as the M/C may need to be cleaned of gunk as well, and should be attended to for a thorough job. You can never be too thorough with brake systems.

[Mike Cecchini]

...unfortunately it seams my breaks are seized....which is understandable since it has sat for 2 years prior to me getting it...what would be way to get them unseized?

Koffey

Hi Koffey, I would start with caliper rebuilds. That's what did the trick for me. Unfortunately, that's only half the job as the M/C may need to be cleaned of gunk as well, and should be attended to for a thorough job. You can never be too thorough with brake systems.

Bill is right Koffey, it's time for a full brake system go-over rebuild. I had the same thing happen on three of my X's that sat too long with DOT 4 brake fluid. Fuggin mess it made. All the calipers stuck and the master cylinders puked white corossive fuzzy paste all over the place.

This time when you rebuild your brakes install DOT 5 silicone brake fluid and you'll never have to do it again even if the bikes sit around for years.

[NobleHops]

...unfortunately it seams my breaks are seized....which is understandable since it has sat for 2 years prior to me getting it...what would be way to get them unseized?

Koffey

Hi Koffey, I would start with caliper rebuilds. That's what did the trick for me. Unfortunately, that's only half the job as the M/C may need to be cleaned of gunk as well, and should be attended to for a thorough job. You can never be too thorough with brake systems.

Bill is right Koffey, it's time for a full brake system go-over rebuild. I had the same thing happen on three of my X's that sat too long with DOT 4 brake fluid. Fuggin mess it made. All the calipers stuck and the master cylinders puked white corossive fuzzy paste all over the place.

This time when you rebuild your brakes install DOT 5 silicone brake fluid and you'll never have to do it again even if the bikes sit around for years.

Mike,

You do realize that you are re-re-re-re-rehashing this topic, that was recently SO THOROUGHLY exhausted, in response to a post that is over a year old, right?

N.

[Mike Cecchini]

Hi Nils....... sure it's been discussed considerably lately. It's great information that so many are un-aware of, so why not spread the good word and let people know about just how good DOT 5 is for their CBX's. Even if it is a bit late, no one mentioned to Koffey how he could avoid his brake problems in the future.

So even if the message is late for Koffey, forum materials are always used as a reference for old and new members alike, so it's good to have it on record right here and where ever brake corossion issues occur.

All in all, it's never too late to spread a good word about a great product and how to easily preserve these great bikes and what the ICOA is all about.

My best.........Mike

[EMS]

For crying out loud, Mike Cecchini… who do you think we are? A bunch of 4th graders???
It may be news to you, but many people here on this forum have ridden motorcycles longer than you and may have owned more bikes in their life than you ever will. Some of them have worked with and on bikes for a living and their experience, skill and knowledge may be a tad above what you have to offer. You think they never heard of DOT5?

Nils is much too nice, as usual, so let me say it:

It is not about sharing information. It is about YOU and your pathological need to be right and have the last word.

I wish you would take your pompous, condescending and borderline offending attitude towards others, who have a different opinion from yours and shove it..

While DOT5 may be the perfect solution for YOUR CBXes, for many others it is not. But you are too ignorant or arrogant to admit even that

Some change their brake lines to stainless steel to get that last bit of spongy feel out of their brakes, and now you want to talk them inot using DOT5 to go all the way back???

This quote of yours describes it rather well:

Been busy educating the masses about DOT 5 Silicone brake fluid and how good it
is for our X's. Seems all the naysayers don't have the facts right. All straight now.

This here is not the Brewer List. Please, do not let us keep you away from there. Please, spend all the time you can over there.
There, where you put it so well yourself:
Maybe the rest of the lemmings won't say what they're thinking


For all other forum members and the administrator: If I have overstepped the boundaries of good behavior in the forum with this response, I am willing to accept the punishment and stand in the corner.

[Mike Cecchini]

Hi Mike,

Like Nils and I were talking about....... there's two major things that stand head and shoulders above all other issues as a CBX owner these days.

1. Carbs get gunked-up a lot because of ethanol gas if the bikes sit for a while......which a lot of them do.

2. Brakes seize and corrode due to inactivity and people don't change out the DOT 4 brake fluid as often as they should.

The answer to #1 (fuel preservatives like Stabil) has been talked about and discussed widely here and on the net for years, so it is common knowledge.

The answer to #2 (DOT 5 silicone brake fluid)..... is something very few know about. This is why DOT 5 should be discussed when an opportunity presents itself.

As far as your other comments above...... no worries Mike, I'm a big boy. Personally I see no need for any punishment .....but a good long (CBX) ride would probably do you a world of good, so I hope spring comes early for you.

My best......... Mike

[Larry Zimmer]

To quote the Bosch Automotive Handbook:
"Silicon Fluids
Because silicone fluids -- like mineral oils -- do not absorb misture, they were sometimes used as brake fluid in the past. The disadvantages associated with these products include palpably higher compressibility and less satisfactory lubrication properties. These factors also reduce their suitability for use as hydraulic fluid in many systems."

[Mike Cecchini]

Quite right Larry. Do note that Corvette has used DOT 5 in their brake systems with excellent results as did Harley Davidson for the same reasons..... long life and no corrosion issues.

The compressibility issues referred to by Bosh are such a miniscule issue on street cars and street bikes that the advantages gained out-weigh the slight difference in pedal and lever feel. On race cars and bikes it's a considerable issue and DOT 5 is not recommended.

The real thing to remember with DOT 5 is to get a very good bleeding of the brake system when DOT 5 is installed. By doing this I've got excellent brakes on my 80X to such an extent that I'm no longer considering changing to the late model X brake system I bought years ago to improve my X braking.

Btw....... I see you work for SBC Global. Might you know a Steve Hatfield who also works for SBC ?

[EMS]

Quite right Larry. Do note that Corvette has used DOT 5 in their brake systems with excellent results ?

Stop spreading rumors and half-truths that fit your argument, Mike :

Certified DOT 5 Corvette Silicone Brake Fluid helps prevent corrosion because it does not absorb moisture. It also lubricates and preserves hoses and seals. Typically recommended for pre-C4 applications with rust prone cast iron brake calipers, master, and/or wheel cylinders. Note: DOT 5 brake fluid is not compatible with DOT 3 and DOT 4 brake fluid. You must completely purge your brake system before installing DOT 5 fluid. DOT 5 is not recommended for cars with antilock braking systems (ABS).

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Corvette lingo: C4 is the 1984 - 1996 Corvette model. Anti-lock brakes have been standard equipment on Corvettes since then.

In this chart, note that Pentosin-brand Super DOT4 brake fluid is repackaged and distributed under the GM-brand and is specified for C4, C5, and C6 Corvettes

[Mike Cecchini]

For years I've heard certain year Corvettes and Harley Davidson's came with Silicone. It's such a simple thing that I took it as true especially since I personally knew HD used DOT 5. I looked around the net and can't find any Corvette oem DOT 5 references, so I stand corrected on the Corvette DOT 5 oem install...........but HD DOT 5 references are all over the net and since those year(s) HD's don't have ABS brakes.......they much more compareable to CBX's.

All in all...many (non-ABS) Corvette owners (any CBX's have ABS ?) ......who have switched to DOT 5 do like it. Seems there's quite a few long term DOT 5 Corvette owners out there that disagree with you Mike. Just like our CBX's......it's the long term benefits where DOT 5 Silicon brake fluid rocks.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c1-and- ... m-use.html

[Mike Cecchini]

Oh....btw....... you will notice in my link there are several posters who had reason to open-up their brake systems years after DOT 5 was installed. What they found was clean parts..... no water damages at all. DOT 5 rocks.

[Larry Zimmer]

Sorry, Mike. Don't work for SBC. They are just my email carrier. I worked at Ford before retiring. P.S. Ask Dave Ditner how many Ford brake systems used DOT 5 or specified it in their owner manuals. Don't be suprised if the answer is 'none'. I just dug up the Bosch quote of interest to see what one of the world's biggest brake suppliers might have to say.

[Mike Cecchini]

Hi Larry..........no need to ask Dave on Ford.....never heard of any other cage maker using DOT 5...... prolly hurt parts sales if they did. Gotta love those bean counters.

Thanks.......Mike