Insurance/Repair Advice After Crash

[LuckyDip23]

Hi Guys

I've recently had an off a couple of weeks ago and could do with a bit of advice.

So I was commuting to work and my front brake failed as I was pulling upto a roundabout (bike = 12 plate Speed Triple).
I'd been riding for about a mile, braking several times with no problems. I was breaking for the roundabout and the lever started off with feel and stopping power - then just went straight back to the bar - zero front braking at all. Like someone flicked a switch and the brakes stopped braking.
As a result I've swerved to avoid the car in front, but ended up clipping the cback right corner of the car before going flying.
Minor damage to the bike, mostly plastics, mirror pegs etc - Im a bit brusied and battered but fine.

Obviously its gone off to the insurance for repair and I've jsut had a call back from them.

Firstly they've said that the front right calliper is missing a brake pad - which im having a hard time believing.
Bike has full dealer service history, was service in Jan @ Triumph dealer (full dealer Service history) so has been kept in decent nic.
The only way I can see this happening if the pad came out and was the actual cause of my crash - but I've NEVER head of a pad falling out of a front brake on a bike.
Does this seem plausible as an explaination and do you think it would cause the issue I faced where I had brakes then instantly nothing.

Secondly - they've said that while all the damage caused by the crash will be repaired - the Brakes wont be - as that WAS the cause of the crash rather than damage caused BY the crash.
This means theyre going to send me back an un-road worthy motorcycle, which just seems plain wrong. Are they within their rights to do that? I though that when a bike was repaired becauase of an accident it would have to at least come back in a usable condition?

I kind of feel like im being a bit fobbed off and im not sure if i should accept what theyre doing or go back and fight for the brakes to be fixed.

Any adivce on the greatfully recieved.

Gaz.
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I have misplaced my pants.........
Derbi GPR 125 Nude (sold) ~ Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat (written off) ~ Suzuki GSX-R750 K2 ~ Triumph Speed Triple 1050 ~ Ducati Hyperstrada 821

[stinkwheel]

I think it may be possible for those callipers to drop a pad (they aren't through-pinned, no hole in the pad backplate) but in order to do so, it would have to have rattled the pistons all the way back into the calliper. The most likely thing to cause this would be a severe warping/eccentricity of the disc combined with the pads being near the wear limit.

If this was a perennial problem, I'd expect you to have noticed having to take an extra pump at the brakes after a longer ride to get them to bite. I wonder if all the brake disc bolts are present and what condition the discs themselves are in?

You haven't done asnything daft recently like ride away with a disc lock on or similar?

I'd be interested to find out what damage there is to the brakes that they have refused to repair because the brakes themselves don't normally get damaged in a low speed crash. So is this an indication of the primary failure? Could a stone have flown up and dinged the disc?

Early 90's kawasakis had ropy callipers. Usually used on the rear but occasionally on the front in a pair that were perfectly capable of spitting a pad out once they were worn and had a bit of disc warpage. I've had it happen twice, both times on the rear.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[LuckyDip23]

So - I asked them to send over picture of the caliper, disc pots etc so I can see the state of them & I think I think I can see whats happened in terms of the crash.

From the pics theyve sent - I can clearly see a pad is missing.
An overextended calliper pot at the point where the pad is missing and really heavy wear on the pads on that side of the caliper.

Also though - it doesnt show much damage to the caliper pot or the brake disc - which makes me think that the pad had not been missing for long or the disc and caliper would be absolutely smashed to bit cos of the metal on metal.

It is indeed possible for the pads to drop out in these brakes - theyre not pinned direct, but theres a spring fitting thats pinned into caliper body that applies pressure to the top of the pads to keep them in the "cage" (sticky up bits round the caliper pot).

They did mention at least one of the pots had siezed, so I reckon that the left hand side pots on the photo were not moving properly. This has caused the right hand side to over compensate - basically wearing the crap out of the pads on thats side fairly quickly.
We've then got to a point where the pad is basically gone, and as the caliper was already over-compensating its got to the point where its jsut pushed the pad out of the cage.
Thats gone bye bye down the road which has caused the pot to push further out to the point where its no longer sealed, so the pressures gone at the lever, no more stopping power and ive gone flying.

I actually think this pad falling out has caused the crash.

EDIT : and ive also just found out that a standard annual service @ the dealer doesnt include looking at the brakes - so they would not have been checked for seizing etc when it was service in Jan
____________________
I have misplaced my pants.........
Derbi GPR 125 Nude (sold) ~ Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat (written off) ~ Suzuki GSX-R750 K2 ~ Triumph Speed Triple 1050 ~ Ducati Hyperstrada 821

[barrkel]

[MarJay]

I don't think there is any asymmetric wear there. What has happened is the left hand pistons in your pic have seized in place. I'm not sure why they'd be pushed back like that, especially as the disc should keep them on centre. The right hand ones have indeed pushed out to compensate, and the pad has simply fallen through the gap.

Could the front wheel have been assembled without a spacer? That might cause the disc to push the pads over to one side, but I assume the same would be true for the other caliper.

Here's a lesson for you now that you've already had enough pain... Never assume a dealer service will check safety items. Never assume an MOT will either. Always rely on the Mk1 eyeball, the Mk1 Brain and all the associated wiring to check these safety critical items. I'm not exactly a MotoGP level mechanic, but the things I do know are brakes, suspension, bearings, chain and sprockets and so on. All safety items. I've had too many minor issues which could have become major had I not taken any action.

Always check stuff yourself. Never assume, especially on bike brakes and tyres etc.
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British beauty: Triumph Street Triple R; Loony stroker: KR1S; Track fun: GSXR750 L1; Commuter Missile: GSX-S1000F
Remember kids, bikes aren't like lego. You can't easily take a part from one bike and then fit it to another.

[Freddyfruitba...]

[MarJay]

[Shaft]

[stinkwheel]

I'd consider yourself lucky if they change the oil on a dealer service and don't just park it round the back for 4 hours and wipe an oily rag round the filler cap.

Last bike I had dealer serviced from new had convincing evidence that the plugs, coolant, fork oil and tappets had never been touched from the day it left the factory to when I started servicing it myself once the warranty period was up.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[stinkwheel]

[Shaft]

[LuckyDip23]

[P.]

[iooi]

[Freddyfruitba...]

[stinkwheel]