rear brake caliper sticking xj1100

[xj11john]

Hey guys (generic for ya'll) got my xj11 a couple months ago and just got fully registered to post today, but I've been really enjoying and benefiting from the posts on this awsome site.

I replaced the pads on the rear and noticed i could'nt push the piston on the rear caliper back in untill i loosened the bleeder screw, I asked a friend that works on motorcycles for a living about it, he said need to clean out the master cylinder. I have worked on cars and had a similar prob with one of my cars and just replaced the brake hose and it was fixed,
does anyone know a good place to get brake line/hoses for one of these?

thanks in advance.





'82 xj1100j

[John]

You could try ebay, but your best bet would be a member named Randy Rago. He makes and sells stainless steel hose for these bikes. Here is his website. http://home.ptd.net/~theragos/xs11/index.htm

[skids]

Do a search on this web site for "spooge hole" and you will find out how to clean it. It could be your brake's problem. I lucked out when my rear's got tighter and tighter, got it home, and simply flushed the system with new fluid.

[fxrer]

Hey John,

It’s not that unusual to need to loosen the bleeder screw to retract the piston. The brake caliper could have sat for years with no p.m. and thus, the piston might have become slightly rusted/corroded. Often, you need a “C” clamp to force the piston back.

Now that the new pads are in, does the brake work OK? Does it drag at all after the pedal is applied and released?

If so, chances are you need to clean and/or rebuild rear caliper and perhaps rear mc. Check maintenance tips in this forum about brakes. Make sure to clean the “spooge hole” in the MC, as shown in the tips. Go here

http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14

Also, do a “search” for brakes and you will see many threads on this subject

[xj11john]

thanks guys for the help, i will check these tips and the web site on the stainless lines, fx the brakes work they just drag and make the rotor hot, thus giving me not the best gas mileage,

thanks all

xj11john

[chevy45412001]

draging

ya need to clean out the master and calipers good. mine did the same thing.

[xj11john]

Hey John, no lines on the link...?

You could try ebay, but your best bet would be a member named Randy Rago. He makes and sells stainless steel hose for these bikes. Here is his website. http://home.ptd.net/~theragos/xs11/index.htm


I tried the link, its his home page but didnt find the stainless brake lines, maybe i overlooked them...but don't think so is there another link?

[fxrer]

xj11john,

If you do a search (left side) for "stainless steel brake lines", you will find several threads on the subject.

Go to this one and read Randy's post on them - he can supply you a set.

http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3399&highlight=stainless+steel+brake+line

[John]

xj11john

I'm sorry, but I should have mentioned that you need to e mail him with your needs. His ISP will charge him more if he uses his site for commercial purposes. He has supplied many members here with the S/S lines. His email should be on his web site.

[xj11john]

Thanks guys

I appreciate all the help, Lord knows I as we all need it from time to time, hopefully I'll get to share some of this knowledge I'm gaining with the next batch of xs or xj lucky owners, later on

xj11john

[rev79xs11]

You might want to check your rear master cylinder also. Look inside the bottom where the rod enters and contacts the piston. Mine had a bunch of rust inside the boot and it kept the piston from retracting all the way. This kept the port blocked and prevented fluid from returning from the caliper.

[xj11john]

Hey, Rev

Originally posted by rev79xs11
You might want to check your rear master cylinder also. Look inside the bottom where the rod enters and contacts the piston. Mine had a bunch of rust inside the boot and it kept the piston from retracting all the way. This kept the port blocked and prevented fluid from returning from the caliper.

How did you go about getting rid of the rust? Mine has that problem as well as several sticking calipers,

today I took two fronts and unstuck them and had to file a ding off of each one, I also took all brake lines off for cleaning since I dont have the dough for stainless ones now
, I also took both Masters off and cleaned them, which I will hopefully finish tomorrow, I doubt I get it all done and back together tomorrow since I have somewhere to be at 6 pm,

Oh well at least I'm not paying an arm and a leg to have someone else do it

thanks for the tip I'll look for your reply.

[LoserShoes]

Depends on how bad it is. Sometimes just penetrating oil ( ie. Liquid Wrench ) and cleaning with a paper towel or Scotch Brite will do it.

Anymore then that will require some sort of abrasive. Some fine wet or dry sandpaper will remove the rust, but also a bit of the cylinder, so be careful and use a little penetrating oil as lube for the sandpaper.

Steve

[TopCatGr58]

Hey XJ_John,

Mine had a fair amount of pits on the piston, but was clean right around where the rubber O-ring mounts to them. I just used a wire brush on a drill, and cleaned them up nicely. The rubber seal is what seals around the piston and makes it work, so once the base of the piston is cleaned, then you shouldn't have to worry about any little pits in it!
T.C.

[Winterhawk]

Take the square o-ring out and gently scrape all four side with a single edged razor blade. I smash the end of an aluminum welding rod the width of the groove and put a bend in it.then scrape where the o-ring sits. The aluminum on aluminum works good.