Next to no rear brakes...

04 RC51 ROADDOG · 01-09-2008, 3:56 AM

Hey guys, I bought an '04 RC51 Hayden edition in September of 2006. When the bike arrived after being shipped to me, after going for a spin around the neighborhood I realized as I applied the rear brakes that I didn't have any stopping power. When I got home I realized the reservoir was empty, after filling and bleeding the rear brakes, I went for another spin and they weren't much better. I took the bike in to get them serviced and checked, and was told they were fine and that it was a race bike and didn't have much for rear brakes

Every other bike I have owned has better rear brakes than this one. Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated

denzee · 01-09-2008, 9:55 AM

You're right roaddog, you should have plenty of power on your rear brake. I'm concerned why your res would be empty to start with. Do you have good pedal height and is it soft or hard? You just may have air trapped and need better bleeding like raising the caliper up while bleeding to help get trapped air out. Be sure to place something between the pads so the piston stays put.

slickwill · 01-09-2008, 11:18 AM

What other bikes have you had? There really isn't much stopping power back there. You should be able to lock up the rear tire at low speeds if you are hard on the rear brake but as far as actual "stopping power" there isn't much because of weight transfer. In hard braking on a sport bike the rear might not even be touching the ground so exactly 0% of your "stopping power" is coming from the rear. I have SS brake lines, fresh Motul 5.1, and an absolutely rock hard rear lever but it still won't slow the bike much from speed compared with the front brakes.

blue1000rr · 01-09-2008, 4:04 PM

i would say get power bleeder from sears or your local parts store. if that doesnt help then idk man

04 RC51 ROADDOG · 01-09-2008, 6:58 PM

hey slickwill, the other bikes that I have owner are: an '85 honda 500 interceptor, '89 kawasaki ZX7, and a '96 yamaha YZF 750 which I still have. I can feel the rear brakes working on the YZF but not on the RC, even at low speeds I can not get rear wheel lockup. The brakes were supposedly bled at the dealership when I had it in for new rubber and nothing was said... cheers

slickwill · 01-09-2008, 8:38 PM

I'm a brake bleeding nazi. Usually do it at least once a month. I would just do it myself, I don't trust the dealership. If you have any questions about the process let me know. If the pedal is nice and firm then check to make sure the pads aren't glazed. There is a good chance that could be the problem.

denzee · 01-09-2008, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slickwill

I'm a brake bleeding nazi. Usually do it at least once a month. I would just do it myself, I don't trust the dealership. If you have any questions about the process let me know. If the pedal is nice and firm then check to make sure the pads aren't glazed. There is a good chance that could be the problem.

Curious slickwill. Why bleed your brakes once a month? Once a month is for periods and they bleed themselves

A little sick humor.

04 RC51 ROADDOG · 01-09-2008, 11:51 PM

It might be the pads!!! I will pull them off and check them out, bike is off the road for winter and up in a rear stand.... off topic, any using the Vortex race stands? Any suggestions on getting the front stem stand into position

I find that the clearance between the front fender and the nose cowl to be just too close

.... cheers Scott

slickwill · 01-10-2008, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by denzee

Curious slickwill. Why bleed your brakes once a month?

I have it down to where I can do it in about 5 minutes for the front. I only hit the rear every couple months. I can usually get one or two little tiny bubbles out each month if I've been riding hard.

wesleyscott · 01-14-2008, 5:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 04 RC51 ROADDOG

It might be the pads!!! I will pull them off and check them out, bike is off the road for winter and up in a rear stand.... off topic, any using the Vortex race stands? Any suggestions on getting the front stem stand into position

I find that the clearance between the front fender and the nose cowl to be just too close

.... cheers Scott

are you using the correct adapter pins? just an idea.

ffmedicgerbs · 01-14-2008, 7:05 PM

ur caliper could be shot and if there was no fluid in there it kind of worries me, i cant think of why that would be like that,

and im not sure what if n e thing would happen to a caliper if it is dry for an extended period of time?

the pistons in the caliper could be clogged, broken, or just out of wack,

it might need to be rebuilt.

CBR400RR · 01-29-2008, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 04 RC51 ROADDOG

Hey guys, I bought an '04 RC51 Hayden edition in September of 2006. When the bike arrived after being shipped to me, after going for a spin around the neighborhood I realized as I applied the rear brakes that I didn't have any stopping power. When I got home I realized the reservoir was empty, after filling and bleeding the rear brakes, I went for another spin and they weren't much better. I took the bike in to get them serviced and checked, and was told they were fine and that it was a race bike and didn't have much for rear brakes

Every other bike I have owned has better rear brakes than this one. Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated

I would check every inch of your rear brake system for any leaks. Then get a brake bleeder kit and suck all of the fluid out of the rear reservoir. Make sure to have a dry rag and a rag with water on it as brake fluid eats paint and plastic. I would remove the rear caliper and check the rear pads (stock has almost no bite HH compound have more bite) carefully push the rear pads all the way apart.
This will get any air out from behind the pistons. Clean any old fluid out the rear res that got push up when spreading the rear pads apart. Put clean brake fluid from a sealed container into the rear res and pump the rear brake lever.
Top off the res and using an 8mm wrench after hooking a hose (clear is the best) to the rear bleeder pump the rear lever a few times, hold and then open the bleed keep the rear lever down then tighten up the bleeder and repeat until you have no air in the system and a firm lever. Make sure to keep an eye on the res fluid level.

Gothy · 01-29-2008, 7:55 PM

This might sound like a really stupid ammeture post from me but,

When you put the wheel back on after fitting new rubber, did you pump the rear brake enough?

Everytime that caliper comes off the rear brake is useless without pumping it.

I rode my bike back from college and i had no rear brake (just fitted chain and sprockets),
But i kept pumping it all the way home on the 10 mile trip, (safely not with a car up my arse).
By the time I got home the brake was super powerful.