Rear brake total failure - 05 Ridgeback

[ksangree]

I was riding my '05 Ridgeback home this week and everything seemed fine. I came up to a light, hit the rear brakes and the pedal suddenly and without warning bottomed out with zero braking. I limped home using the front brake, pulled the top off the master cylinder (m.c.) assuming (hoping) I was just low on brake fluid. The reservoir was full and I could detect no leaks.

At this point I assumed the m.c was in need of a rebuild and did just that. I added fresh DOT 5 brake fluid, went to bleed the brakes and nothing... it was no different then before I rebuilt the m.c. I can't get the fluid to exit the rear caliber at any more than a dribble.

Any ideas?

 

[krkostecki]

Have you tried replacing the rear caliper? It sounds like you may have something in the line somewhere. When you filled the m.c., did you do it from the rear caliper side or right into the m.c.? Also, check the "plunger" at the base of the rear brake pedal to make sure it's not damaged and that it's pushing fluid.

 

[HMAN]

Not sure how your bleeding the brakes but you might try a Mity Vac type system that will pull a vacuum from the bleeder screw.... You may want to pull your caliper and do a rebuild or at least a cleaning on it. I had one piston on my back brake hang up. Started acting strange. Pulled it apart and cleaned all the gunk out and it works like a new one. I didn't even put in a rebuild kit. BTW you can order the rebuild kits from PM. They're like $9-10 for the seal kits. Full piston kits are more.

 

[ksangree]

Thanks for the info... I am heading over to the garage to rip the whole rear brake system down and see what else I can find.

 

[RoadRider]

I was riding my '05 Ridgeback home this week and everything seemed fine. I came up to a light, hit the rear brakes and the pedal suddenly and without warning bottomed out with zero braking. I limped home using the front brake, pulled the top off the master cylinder (m.c.) assuming (hoping) I was just low on brake fluid. The reservoir was full and I could detect no leaks.

At this point I assumed the m.c was in need of a rebuild and did just that. I added fresh DOT 5 brake fluid, went to bleed the brakes and nothing... it was no different then before I rebuilt the m.c. I can't get the fluid to exit the rear caliber at any more than a dribble.

Any ideas?

Couldn't help but notice you "limped home with the front brake only" the front brake is 80 percent of your breaking power. When you fix the rear brake Quit using it and use the front brake. Just saying.

 

[Zachusmc]

Couldn't help but notice you "limped home with the front brake only" the front brake is 80 percent of your breaking power. When you fix the rear brake Quit using it and use the front brake. Just saying.

I agree

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Diesel Dan]

Not sure how your bleeding the brakes but you might try a Mity Vac type system that will pull a vacuum from the bleeder screw..(What HMAN SAID).... .......X10

I would highly recommend doing this first,before dis-assembling the rear brake system,you could just have a little air bubble in the system....THIS EXCAT same thing happened to my front brake.........I filled the master,and pumped the shit out of it,then gravity bleed it 2 times........works awesome now....:up:

 

[ksangree]

Ok, false alarm with the m.c. Turns out the mechanic (and I use that term loosely) who last worked on my bike routed the brake line between the fender and tire. I didn't even notice until I gave it a thorough going over today. The tire rubbed a pinhole in the line. Thanks to everyone who responded and apologies for taking your time, I should have noticed earlier.

As far as the front brake issue, when I started riding back in the late 60's, I always had choppers with long (my last was 21" over) springer front ends, and no front brake. I got used to not using the front brake from decades of riding that way. It's just a really bad habit I got into. I guess with this modern bike with its fancy front brake, I really need to be more conscience of using it. It's hard teaching an old dog new tricks. It's a good reminder and I'll be working on it, just as soon as I find a replacement brake line. Hopefully BDM Performance has them, unless someone can recommend a better source.

Thanks again for the help...

 

[Mickeetwo]

Ok, false alarm with the m.c. Turns out the mechanic (and I use that term loosely) who last worked on my bike routed the brake line between the fender and tire. I didn't even notice until I gave it a thorough going over today. The tire rubbed a pinhole in the line. Thanks to everyone who responded and apologies for taking your time, I should have noticed earlier.

As far as the front brake issue, when I started riding back in the late 60's, I always had choppers with long (my last was 21" over) springer front ends, and no front brake. I got used to not using the front brake from decades of riding that way. It's just a really bad habit I got into. I guess with this modern bike with its fancy front brake, I really need to be more conscience of using it. It's hard teaching an old dog new tricks. It's a good reminder and I'll be working on it, just as soon as I find a replacement brake line. Hopefully BDM Performance has them, unless someone can recommend a better source.

Thanks again for the help...

Glad you figured it out and thanks for updating us. :2thumbs:

 

[Brew]

I don't understand, you say a pin hole? Surely, you would see some fluid and the forward control master cylinder should have been a little low if fluid and pressure was leaking through the pin hole. I would at least think...

 

[krkostecki]

Glad you figured out the issue. Damn, that mechanic's oversight could have cost you a bad accident :angry: I know some mechanics do, but I wish all cared for the bikes they work on as much as they care for their own.

 

[Diesel Dan]

Glad you figured it out and are gettin her back together.........:flag:

 

[Dakota]

I believe Curtis can hook you up with a brake line.

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