Hi all

Once again in need of advice. My back brakes are about as effective as those of our local taxi drivers who use cardboard as brake pads. There is still plenty of pad left and i have tried bleeding them, the resevoir is full but they really suck. Any tips?

Have a great Easter.

For you guys in the States it's spring and here Autumn. No better time to ride

You may want to up grade your brake line the stock dose have the tendancy to expand. there is also better pads out there as well but i would thy the line up grade first.

Make sure the brake pads are seated properly in the retaining clips. If the pads are even a little out of place it will really limit the brake performance. The stock unit is capable of locking up the rear wheel so something is definately wrong with yours. Keep trying until you find it.

I just replaced the rear pads on my '05 and discovered the inner pad was hanging up on plate. Removed the pad and filed it enough to clear and reinstalled it. Never have I seen this before but it was real. I used EBC sintered brake pads.

Make sure the brake caliper piston is functioning properly. Remove the caliper, remove the pads, remove the plastic that fits in the piston, check for debri and remove if there is any. Lightly press on the rear brake pedal while checking to see if the piston moves. The piston should move easily. Push the piston back in the caliper.

How bad was the fluid you flushed?

Rear brakes are never as effective as front brakes. Agree with the comment about the brake line but you should be able to tell if it is bad by looking at the brake line since it will be swollen and maybe just in a place or two. The inside of the brake line will break down and restrist the brake fluid flow.

I'm betting that the line still has air in it.

This would be the simplest thing. Didn't he say they were bad before he flushed the fluid.

Recently installed new brake pads and the rear caliper felt stiff or did not move easily.

To feel good about travleing with this caliper I need to pull it off and check it for proper function. What is the best method of testing the caliper / piston for proper movement? What do you do to check the caliper?

After the caliper is checked and working properly I am going to flush both calipers and fill with new fluid.

Really? I've never been able to lock the rear wheel on good traction surfaces.

Yep, done it a couple of times on the pavement.

Yeah, I can lock my rear.