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rear caliper on fire

Posted: Wed May 16, 2012 5:19 pm
by Nogwuy
think its time to overhaul my rear caliper and replace disc & pads. touched the rear brake coming down a slip road off a47, felt like it was binding & brake padal a total sponge so pulled over. smoke and flames (rubber bleed nipple and plastic brake light switch cable both touching caliper alight!) good job i had a bottle of water in my bag.
got home ok after cooling off (front brake only), just stripped rear caliper and pads are almost just metal left, my bad for not checking i know, but no advisory on mot less than 1000 miles ago.

any advise on work needed to the caliper, or on what disc & pads to replace them with much appreciated.

Re: rear caliper on fire

Posted: Wed May 16, 2012 6:44 pm
by blinkey501
Nogwuy wrote:think its time to overhaul my rear caliper and replace disc & pads. touched the rear brake coming down a slip road off a47, felt like it was binding & brake padal a total sponge so pulled over. smoke and flames (rubber bleed nipple and plastic brake light switch cable both touching caliper alight!) good job i had a bottle of water in my bag.
got home ok after cooling off (front brake only), just stripped rear caliper and pads are almost just metal left, my bad for not checking i know, but no advisory on mot less than 1000 miles ago.

any advise on work needed to the caliper, or on what disc & pads to replace them with much appreciated.
Clean the paint off the pad edges so they slide into place easily.
If you have to tap them into place they are too tight and will stick on when brake has been used.
Copper slip the edges and the back of the pads on the steel has this will stop sqealing of the brakes

Re: rear caliper on fire

Posted: Wed May 16, 2012 6:55 pm
by Nogwuy
[/quote]
Clean the paint off the pad edges so they slide into place easily.
If you have to tap them into place they are too tight and will stick on when brake has been used.
Copper slip the edges and the back of the pads on the steel has this will stop sqealing of the brakes[/quote]

thanks for the tip
i have now split down the caliper completely and need to replace the seals, was going to go for these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/140702700054? ... 5533wt_952

and thinking about replacing the disc with this

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/APRILIA-RS125 ... 712wt_1185

these pads

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/370340395914? ... 1275wt_952

or these?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/320755152589? ... 686wt_1185?

& some nipple covers!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/300626933229? ... _938wt_952

Posted: Wed May 16, 2012 7:33 pm
by fatboy
Obvious but check the pistons and bores for corrosion and pitting,even the smallest manky bit can stop the piston receeding
Be very careful if you are handling any burnt seals,they can produce a very nasty acid thats not kind to flesh

Re: rear caliper on fire

Posted: Wed May 16, 2012 8:17 pm
by blinkey501
Nogwuy wrote:

thinking about replacing the disc with this

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/APRILIA-RS125 ... 712wt_1185

I saw this disk when listed and did keep it in my watch list.
I take it you bought it? I know it was'nt around for long :smt087

Posted: Wed May 16, 2012 9:11 pm
by Nogwuy
Yep I bought one. All the others for simular price were used standard ones so seemed daft not too. He has sold a few so I bet he will have/ get more if you ask?

Posted: Wed May 16, 2012 10:05 pm
by Aladinsaneuk
if it were me, i would replace the lot - new disk but secondhand / serviced caliper

Posted: Fri May 18, 2012 1:49 pm
by bigearsbilly
hoho!

That happened to me on a Caponord a few years ago.

Quite entertaining isn't it?

Re: rear caliper on fire

Posted: Fri May 18, 2012 6:37 pm
by Falcorob
blinkey501 wrote:
Nogwuy wrote:

thinking about replacing the disc with this

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/APRILIA-RS125 ... 712wt_1185

I saw this disk when listed and did keep it in my watch list.
I take it you bought it? I know it was'nt around for long :smt087
He's relisted them for a once only special price of £39. Or £37 if you buy it now?? :smt003

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ws/eBayISAPI. ... 1027478044

Posted: Sun May 20, 2012 4:39 pm
by Thumper
Almost sure to be caused by a mal adjusted rear brake lever... :smt115

Posted: Mon May 21, 2012 7:36 pm
by moggyvan
....What Thumper said. If the rod and lever aren't adjusted correctly the brake fluid does not always return from the calliper to the master cylinder.
The same thing happened to me last sunday and I had to pull over and allow more slack in to the lever. Brake disc was a dull cherry red.........