Help!!!! Brake Problem!!!!!!

sagiliam · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 26 Mar 2006 Karma :

Hello,

Recently my braking has gradually got worse and this morning i noticed that although my lever is springing back into place, the spring and cable at the wheel are sticking and so jamming on my front brake. im not sure if this is the cable, pads or spring? My bike is a suzuki fr50. Any suggestions on what i can do?

Cheers Liam

finpos · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Sep 2005 Karma :

There's two possibilities -

Either the mechanism that operates the brakes is partially seized, and you will need to remove the wheel, dismantle it all, cleaned it up and put back together. Not a big problem.

However, the other possibility is that the brake is doing something called over-camming. This is dangerous, as in it could cause your front wheel to lock up solid when you brake. You really don't want that. It will happen if your brakes are worn and over-adjusted to compensate for the fact.

If in doubt about, don't ride it.

finpos.

Richy · Nova Slayer Joined: 10 May 2005 Karma :

is there any water contamination in the brake fluid cos this can boil under normal brake use and expand, putting the brakes on all teh time (if it gets really hot it can lock, depends on the amount of water in there). If this is a possibility, drain and refil the brake (prob worth serviceing the caliper at the same time)

garry · Nova Slayer Joined: 09 Apr 2005 Karma :

jus hold on a second here !!!!!!!!!!!!

are we talking drum or disc ? i seem a lil confused by answers

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garry · Nova Slayer Joined: 09 Apr 2005 Karma :

just read original question again, and agree with finposas he said............

However, the other possibility is that the brake is doing something called over-camming..........

if your not sure what yer doing , dont feck with brakes mate !!
get it into the shop..
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so long so long so long and thanks for all the fish !

Guest · Brolly Dolly Joined: 22 Apr 2004 Karma :

Does it look like this?

https://www.suzukicycles.org/photos/FR/FR50/1978_FR50_red_Aus_250.jpg

As said, it sounds like it's over-camming. This wants looking at now as it could be a serious safety issue. It's usually caused by the material wearing off the brake shoes so they can move too far inside the drum.

Drop the front wheel out and pull the brake plate out of the wheel. the cable operates the cam which forces one edge of each brake shoe apart ....

https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v471/fastfitter/frontbrakeshoeside.jpg

Pull the shoes apart against the springs and then 'peel' them off. Fit new (about a tenner I'd guess) and clean and lightly grease the cam spindle where it goes through the brake plate

Richy · Nova Slayer Joined: 10 May 2005 Karma :

D'OH assumed disc sorry Embarassed

sagiliam · Could Be A Chat Bot Joined: 26 Mar 2006 Karma :

Hello, thanks for all the replies been a great help. Im not a paticularly mechanical so would it be best for me to get this done at a shop, or is it fairly easy to do?

finpos · World Chat Champion Joined: 13 Sep 2005 Karma :

Very few bikes still about with cable operated disks Wink

Liam, if you are not confident, get it to a shop. Bearing in mind my warning about over-camming.

The other thing you can do is get a manual. It will describe the process of dismantling/re-assembling the brakes, which is what you will need to do in case of either of the failures described above. Then you can decide if you fancy tackling the problem - and whether you have the right tools.

The other thing the manual will tell you is how to visually inspect the brakes to tell you if they are overadjusted. I'm afraid I can't help with this on your particular bike.

finpos.

Richy · Nova Slayer Joined: 10 May 2005 Karma :

damn i really got to read it more carefully