Rear brake pedal goes to the floorboard

Bucko · October 21, 2019, 01:09:39 AM

Quote from: Old Drifter on August 29, 2019, 08:42:10 AM
Yesterday I went for a ride and the rear brake pedal goes to the floorboard with little to no brake resistance. The fluid reservoir is at the lower level (no leaks). Could the pads be worn at only 10,500 miles?

The Drifter is the only bike I've ever owned with the rear brake pads (or shoes) wear out before the front ones. I think I went through 3 rear sets before I replaced the fronts for the first time. Admittedly, the rear braking power for the Drifter (and I assume all Vulcan's) is unusually song for a bike and so tend to use the rear brake more so than on other bikes..

Old Drifter · October 20, 2019, 18:05:11 PM

Thanks for all of the responses guys. The bike is in storage right now due to me moving. I haven't had a chance to look at it. Will report back with findings. Thanks again.

RockinRollin · October 20, 2019, 11:48:32 AM

If that is the case , the question is - how did air get into the system? You might want to check for leaks also.

DrifterRob · October 05, 2019, 13:41:07 PM

Had the same issue. Plenty of meat on the pads. Took out my bleeder and bled the brake. Problem solved.

greenbarn · September 19, 2019, 21:17:31 PM

Yes absolutely your pads could be worn out at 10K. They could be worn out 5 or 6 times in 10K---- Depends more on the rider than on the miles. Need to check the thickness of the pads, probably both front and back to make sure.

Sounds like you have low fluid and/or air in the brake system, if you have no brake pedal. You could have a leak and not have a "big enough" leak to have seen the fluid. Or if the pads are worn enough the fluid could be low because the caliper is extended, due to the low brake pads.

Old Drifter · August 29, 2019, 08:58:42 AM

Quote from: mittico68 on August 29, 2019, 08:55:50 AM
Do you ear any squeak, when breaking? If so, then it could be that pads are worn. Check them out.
But I guess the matter is the breaking system itself.

Hi Marco, no squeaks or squeal. I'm thinking maybe worn pads. Haven't had time to look at it yet. Thanks.

mittico68 · August 29, 2019, 08:55:50 AM

Do you ear any squeak, when breaking? If so, then it could be that pads are worn. Check them out.
But I guess the matter is the breaking system itself.

Old Drifter · August 29, 2019, 08:42:10 AM

Yesterday I went for a ride and the rear brake pedal goes to the floorboard with little to no brake resistance. The fluid reservoir is at the lower level (no leaks). Could the pads be worn at only 10,500 miles?