Rear Brake Lock Up : Kawasaki ZX Forums: Kawasaki Ninja Forum

gtr14greg · 06-02-2008, 05:00 PM

I got the bug as well. Cruising around 50mph, began to accelerate and had no power(OD). Tried again, nothing! Pulled over and braked as usual. Rear brake pedal was stuck up. Pulled off the road and tapped the brake again. It released! WTF, I thought? Rear disk was cooked. Brake was now released but hot and glazed. I could not have ridden more than a half mile with the brake applied without knowing it. Rode the bike to my dealer some 15 miles away without any problem. They have it now for eval and disposition.
Seems to me that something in the master cylinder was not releasing the pedal nor the caliper. Very strange indeed! I was baffled and confused to say the least.
This is a non ABS model.

G2

Sniper1977 · 06-03-2008, 08:14 PM

GTR14 Greg, Keep us posted on the result of this.

gtr14greg · 06-04-2008, 03:56 PM

was by today and they have not found a potential cause. Kawasaki had the usual question, "did you have your foot on it". "No!!!" I said. I know how to ride without my foot on the brake. Rarely use it anyhow. Wish someone had the answer. probably will go unanswered.

G2

gtr14greg · 06-05-2008, 07:40 PM

No apparent defect found. Kawasaki is replacing the scorched rotor and pads under warranty. Wish they'd found something obvious. He also adjusted the pedal down a little in hopes that it was too high and make have not let the pressure off the master cylinder.

G2

GONE GATOR · 07-21-2008, 05:17 PM

I was kinda celebrating that I was not having issues like you guys and my rear brake locked up on me! I was riding along about 40ish and nearly fell forward due to a rapid decell. I did not get all the way off the road and could not push the bike in neutral. The back brake smelled burnt up. I was thinking about my options and when I tried to push it again it had released. I had almost no rear brakes on my way to the dealership. I brought along a copy of GRT Gregs post for the service guys to look at. Will let you know if I get a rational explanation!

gtr14greg · 07-22-2008, 04:37 PM

Thanks
Here is another thread

http://forum.concours.org/index.php?topic=42624.0

G2

Quote:

Originally Posted by GONE GATOR

I was kinda celebrating that I was not having issues like you guys and my rear brake locked up on me! I was riding along about 40ish and nearly fell forward due to a rapid decell. I did not get all the way off the road and could not push the bike in neutral. The back brake smelled burnt up. I was thinking about my options and when I tried to push it again it had released. I had almost no rear brakes on my way to the dealership. I brought along a copy of GRT Gregs post for the service guys to look at. Will let you know if I get a rational explanation!

philipintexas · 07-27-2008, 09:53 AM

Some of these posts sound like the read brake stuck without first being applied ?? Is this true or am I reading some of them incorrectly? Sticking on after application I can understand, but riding along and sudden deceleration caused by a sticking brake? If this is the case would someone who experienced it please clarify. Thanks

gtr14greg · 07-27-2008, 08:45 PM

not exactly sure but, I believe that is how mine happened. The previous rear brake usage, that I remember, was several miles back when a firetruck zipped out a side street in front of me. Other than that, I doubt they were used at all for some 3-4 miles until I realized that a problem existed that seemed like a loss of engine power. That was, in fact, a stuck rear brake.

G2

Kyleakin · 08-17-2008, 08:42 AM

Hi Greg,

Looks like I had the same issue a couple of weeks ago. I was driving on the highway from Zaragoza (Spain) to Boudry (Switzerland). I had a very very strong counter-wind and had not even noticed that my rear break locked up. When I arrive in the French border my rear break wasn't working at all. The disk was dead blue (!?!) and I saw oil from the break's circuit on my tire. Very frightening indeed! I obviously purged the oil, disassembled the break assembly, wash my tire and drove the last 600 miles w/o rear break. My GTR 1400 is now at my dealer for evaluation. I’ll keep you posted.

gtr14greg · 08-18-2008, 05:03 AM

Thanks, we'll be waiting for a reply. I cut the clear rubber return spring cover off mine the other day. It kept sliding down the spring. I was concerned that it may have been stuck in the system somehow and causing this problem.

G2

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kyleakin

Hi Greg,

Looks like I had the same issue a couple of weeks ago. I was driving on the highway from Zaragoza (Spain) to Boudry (Switzerland). I had a very very strong counter-wind and had not even noticed that my rear break locked up. When I arrive in the French border my rear break wasn't working at all. The disk was dead blue (!?!) and I saw oil from the break's circuit on my tire. Very frightening indeed! I obviously purged the oil, disassembled the break assembly, wash my tire and drove the last 600 miles w/o rear break. My GTR 1400 is now at my dealer for evaluation. I’ll keep you posted.

Boomer · 08-18-2008, 05:20 AM

One of the guys on the French forum had a stone get stuck on his back brake pedal.
This held the brake partially on and over time the caliper cooked.
Once the caliper got hot enough it boiled the brake fluid which produces a lot of pressure and applies the brake pretty hard.
When it cools off the boiled fluid re-condenses and frees up the brakes.

It's a design flaw as the way Kawi designed the brake lever something can get stuck between it and the bike.

He fitted a small flap to prevent stones getting in there.
I'll see if I can find some more info.

gtr14greg · 08-18-2008, 03:28 PM

That make the most sense of all the possibilities that occurred to me. It released as if something was involved(stuck) in it. I was unsure about the rubber cover over the spring. Either way the cover was not staying put the whole length of the spring. The cover is gone now.

G2

tp

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boomer

One of the guys on the French forum had a stone get stuck on his back brake pedal.
This held the brake partially on and over time the caliper cooked.
Once the caliper got hot enough it boiled the brake fluid which produces a lot of pressure and applies the brake pretty hard.
When it cools off the boiled fluid re-condenses and frees up the brakes.

It's a design flaw as the way Kawi designed the brake lever something can get stuck between it and the bike.

He fitted a small flap to prevent stones getting in there.
I'll see if I can find some more info.