Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Rear brake is weak

As I rolled to a stop light I noticed my rear brake is not as effective as it should be. So as I was going I hit the rear brake and I can feel it engage but I think it could and should be a lot more useful. Any initial ideas what to check out? Bleed lines-have read horror stories here, pads, do they adjust...???

My first set of rear brake pads did that too. One day they were almost nonexistent. Replaced with some EBC pads from fasteddy and life has been good ever since. The stock pads suck, I got maybe 5000 miles out of the rear and 8000 from the front.

Lots of issues - pads could be down to the steel backing , pads or the rotor could be glazed . It should lock up the rear and slide . If it's "spongy" it may have air in the system . If it gets tighter after a quick pump or two of the pedal , it's air .

Rotor could be worn after several miles . Check all the above , pads and rotors aren't too expensive .

It doesn't grind or squeal or anything like that. I'll try pumping the pedal and see if that tightens them up too. I have 7400 miles on her, so it may be time for them to get an overhaul anyway. Could I just spontaneously get air in the line like that without laying it down?

Hey Brett... it doesn't sound like air, or required bleeding (which isn't as horrible as it sounds). I'm thinking, throw a new set of pads in there... see if it cures the problem. It's cheap enough to do, and the stock pads should go anyway.

Best thing I did was fitting HH Sintered pads in the rear.

Works better than it ever did.

Think I should replace the front pads as l long as I'm doing it too? And is it pretty safe to say EBC are the best way to go?

I like the organic pads I get for about $6 off Ebay,I don't ride hard enough to worry about fade. Only replace the front if they need it, I go through several sets of rear to 1 front set. That being said, I have dual discs on the front so your results may vary.

The organics are cheaper , work OK , sintered metal AKA semi-metallics are better in adverse conditions but like to eat on the rotor . I found some Kevlar pads on eBay that stop great and seem to be a happy medium between the other two .

I have a local guy that gets me great prices so I'll see what he can do on pads for me. Fronts do seem to grab well still. Or I guess I wouldn't be writing this
I spread 1 1/2 yards of top soil in my yard today so that kind of took up my day...and energy. White Russian taste extra good now.
And of course, my Trumpy friends, thank you for your input and advice. I appreciate it!!
Brett

Scuff the braking surface on the rotor when you change pads.

I think if you scuff up the new pads a little,
it will help them wear in. No glazing.
Uncle Charlie

The stock rear pads wear quickly,but are very easy to change.I went with ebc sintered from Eddy and am happy.

I tried pumping the rear brakes today as I rode to work and it doesn't seem to make a difference. So I would say a diagnosis (sorry once a doctor always a doctor) would not be air in the lines. So looks like I should just get some new rear pads. I have to agree with Ian, and I'll wait until the fronts feel bad until I replace those. Explain to me "scuff up" the rotors. What is this process?? Thanks guys.

Soft breaks usually aren't pads. It can be air in the lines or just worn out fluid, especially if you ride in wet conditions or live in damp climes or stable the bike outside. But, if you need fronts, replace them all.

+1 on the scotchbrite for the pads, green or purple, but I use a honing stone on the rotors.

Ok scuffing up the rotors makes sense to me. I'm still not 100% convinced it's not an air in the lines issue. I know it's been posted before-does anybody have a link to that thread-for changing the brake fluid that is. oh btw she has a happy home in my garage and this will be my first season commuting more often in the rain. So pretty pampered as far as that goes. Bu I've never changed the fluid but have refilled it since 2008.

Scratch that thread request I found the brake bleeding in the tech vault. Overlooked it the first time.

I replaced the rear and front pads today with EBC. I haven't got to ride her yet because it's raining like mad but rolling around in the garage I can tell the rear pedal is already stiffer. After closer inspection I decided the fronts would probably need replaced at the end of the season. So figured I might as well do them all at the same time. Thank you all for the input and help. I was a little worried about the change but it was simple with the forums and Haynes. Thanks again all!!