my brakes unnerve me (what could go wrong with brakes...)

[steppen22]

I know very little about bikes, but I'm the kinda guy who likes to get out a tool box and hope for the best. Today I finally got round to looking at my brake, and this is it in its glory.

https://img75.imageshack.us/img75/9081/pict0690uz6.jpg

I'm shocked at how basic this is. Fluid pressure > piston exteriorises > pad forced onto rotar. To think that whether I come to a stop from 60mph or head straight into a back of a car will depend on this feeble set up is quite arresting.

I have to say, I have a new found respect for my brakes. No longer will I see checking the pads as just another thing to tick off my self servicing list.

So, I'd like to know how plausible disc brake failure is. I mean, if my brakes are okay when I head out, it's not likely that they will stop working mid journey - if my pads and fluids are in order, right?

What are all the things that can go wrong with bike brakes that I need to know about? [/i]
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[rotax81]

brakes are very reliable.
check for leaks at all junctions and seals, damaged lines, rubbing lines and pad wear. generally inspect the discs.

i have experianced brake loss once when i was in italy and they over heated due to nearly worn out pads and 42 degrees weather.

plastic bags that get blown onto the disc can make it feel like someone has oiled them but this rarely happens without you seeing it.

above all, dont worry too much as long as you have done your maintenance.

oh. brake fluid absorbs water, change it every 2 years
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[calum17]

it seems basic. but think, for that pressure in the fluid not to be lost - there are a series of seals ... these seals should not get dmaged, because if they do then obviously you lose pressure and then brakes will begin to fail. my opinion of that owuld be it's gradual thing and not likely to happen mid ride - maybe start but not jsut suddently stop working.

the piston can stick. this will be caused by road crap getting onto the piston and then it will not return properly causing it to start to bind on your discs. road crap can also damage the dust seal around the piston which will leave the main (important) seals vulnerable. if the dust seal begins to 'ooze' out at the edge next to the piston - then it needs replacing. road crap can also stop the piston coming out in the first place ...but this isnt likely on your single piston caliper - it's quite liekly on front brakes where there are main pistons (4 on each caliper, or 6 on each caliper - and sometimes 2 calipers) but even then, they will work fine as the other psitons should work ok still under the extra pressure they now have.

discs can warp. caused by extreme exxesive use of the brakes but more commonly binding brakes. they will then need to be replaced and often are not cheap. binding brake pads can will also generate a lot of heat under the friction which can cause the fluid to boil and this your brakes wont work - that's the only likely thing to happen and cause you to have any real and noticeable problems when out which would happen during the ride (ie: brakse just wont work) this is only likely to happen, again, under extreme harsh braking, such as track riding - which is why many racers upgrade their braking systems.

the fluid can be low - you should be checking that anyway, if it is low and then low again - check your pads for a lot of wear (low pads, need to be pushed out further, less fluid in the system) could be an early sign - or you could have a leak.

brake hoses perish - again, this is the sort of thing you should check for occasionly, i give mine a quick once over everytime i wash the bike - every week) you'll be able to tell before anything dangerous happens normally.


there isnt much which could go wrong with your brakes, i'd say, which would cause an all out failure when in the middle of a ride, just regular checking and serviceing any parts that need it before anything major does happen. as you said, they are incrdibly simple and basic, but extremly effective and very reliable.
dont worry too much about them, just appreciate and value them.

[Whosthedaddy]

[ms51ves3]

I'm paranoid about my brake cable snapping after my clutch cable snapped. It's the same sort of cable and the nipple just came off

I can just see myself ending up in a ditch

[calum17]

you'll still have your gears - change down, rev high and force the damn machine 'round! or turn the ignition off and coast to a stop ... gear changes will be best though unless you have an automatic ofcourse

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

The simpler it is the less that can go wrong. Simple systems are always the best.
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[ncrn]

Only thing that I can think of that is likely to go wrong with brakes while riding is the pads getting pushed back in the calliper. If you ever have a sudden wobble at the front or a tank slapper or similar then squeeze the lever to check the pads haven't been pushed back. If they have squeeze a few times to try get them back onto the disk again.
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