how to stop brakes jamming/seizing

[speedy21]

my brakes have been seizing up in the cold weather and although i can crunch them loose, after rideing a few miles they still dont run very freely, ive tried rideing with the brakes applied etc,
my bike is kept outdoors in a bikehome(posh bike cover)
just wandering if i can prevent it happening rather than have to treat it afterwards, cheers me dears

[Beelzebob]

Probably better off posting in the workshop section. However...

Sounds to me like you need to clean your caliper(s) at the very least. Undo caliper bolts and get it away from the disc. Pump pistons out (usually put bit of wood between them so you don't pump them out too far) and clean with brush/brake cleaner. Have a look at condition of seals - replace if necessary (bit more of an involved job - requires bleeding brakes). Reassemble - red rubber grease on the pistons can help to keep them moving freely.
____________________
'09 YBR 125 -> '92 XJ600 S Diversion -> '99 Hornet 600

"Stronger than your average female lifeguard"

[truslack]

It might help if you tell us what bike it is...?

Drum brakes or disks?
____________________
Current: Suzuki RG 125 Gamma, Honda H100, Triumph Tiger 800XC, Suzuki SV650 (minitwin)

[robbieguy2003]

Assuming it's disks then what Beezlebob said, they just need a good service.

If you can i'd advice doing this yourself as some garages tend to do half arsed jobs of this (not all mind). I rebuilt my front calipers on the RR last year and fitted braided lines and it wasn't too tricky.
____________________
Current Bikes: Honda CBR 600RR - '07, Suzuki GSX1250 FA ST '11
Old Bikes: Suzuki Intruder 125 LC - '2001, Honda CBR 600F - '92, Honda CBR 600RR - '03

[speedy21]

hi guys thanks for the replies, sounds best if i put it in the workshop section if i decide to do it then, but for now anyway its a sv650 with discs , ive give it a ride now and its a lot better so just wandering how to prevent it, would servicing them prevent it? if so can you tell me how? is it the disc sticking to the pad , or is it something happening inside the caliper forcing it to close/jam on the disc. im just asking as i thought even a well serviced brake would seize in the same way if its just the disc corroding/seizing to the pad as they'd still remain close to each other...
cheers again

[Kickstart]

Hi

From how you first explained it, sounds almost like you are describing the pads sticking to the disk. When you first (try to) move the bike they unstick.

Had this with a few bikes. Normally those with cast iron disks, with some pads making the problem far worse. However the standard SV disk isn't cast iron. If it has an aftermarket cast iron disk then all I can suggest is try other pads or stick some standard disks on.

If you mean the brakes are sticking while riding then the calipers need a strip down. Might be the pistons sticking in the calipers, or the calipers sticking on the pins they slide on.

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing