Very weak rear brake?!

Forum rules
Please can you post items for sale or wanted in the correct For Sale section. Items / bikes for sale here will be removed without warning. Reasons for this are in the FAQ. Thanks
amorti
Regular Member
Posts: 957
Joined: Sun May 18, 2008 4:51 pm
Bike owned: CB-1, MSX125
Location: Gibraltar

Re: Very weak rear brake?!

Post by amorti » Wed Apr 13, 2011 8:49 am

Here's a thought - if it's no good from standard, even when rebuilt, why not modify it so it is good?

On the Triumph T595 the standard mod was to replace the 14mm rear master with a 1/2" rear master off a kawaksaki ZXR400L / ZXR750. This made the brake require much less pedal input and gave modulation instead of on/off. You could also modify the pivot for the cleat so that your foot had more leverage over the master cylinder.

Don't struggle with rubbish, mod until it works ;)

davedrave
Settled in member
Posts: 35
Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2011 7:20 pm

Re: Very weak rear brake?!

Post by davedrave » Wed Apr 13, 2011 9:39 pm

CRM wrote:
davedrave wrote:
CRM wrote:self answered your own question there.
my UK bike has an awsome rear brake (being 40 odd i use the rear brake alot) however i have owned many a NC30 which had crap rear brakes.
new disk will help, however fresh pads, and rebuild the caliper and fresh fluid will ensure it works correctly.
Just curious what has being 40 odd to do with using the back brake?
Yep, pretty well, when i grew up i was always taught to use 75/25 on the brakes. bear in mind 350lc's had shit front brakes, and the rears were hardly much better. you did longer skids in your undies back then.
moving on 20 years brakes are superb, ok the NC30 and RC30 were same era, but i couldnt afford one then like most. however i think it's an age thing, i use the rear alot in town and at slower speeds, makes the bike a bit more controllable. besides 15 stone doesnt help and i am too fat and lazy to be giving it a handful of front brake and getting all uncomfortable.
Thats gas how a bike can dictate your riding style, my first bike was so bad i pretty much used the front brake, and then used the back brake as the horn because the horn wasnt as loud as the oul dodgy drum ;)

zYgoat
Settled in member
Posts: 44
Joined: Wed Sep 01, 2010 9:00 pm
Bike owned: LS125, RGV250, NSR250, NC30!
Location: Ruislip, London

Re: Very weak rear brake?!

Post by zYgoat » Thu Apr 14, 2011 10:44 pm

Just wanted to say thanks to everyone again for their input :)

I plan on replacing the disc, and doing a full overhaul on the rear brake system :peace:

Oh one other thing!... When i purchase a new back disc, which would you guys recommend?
Sourced the original part from David Silver for £79 and the EBC part from Rick O is £100.
Is the EBC worth the cost?

Thanks again!

Wes

User avatar
alexwitham
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
Posts: 1340
Joined: Wed May 20, 2009 10:04 pm
Bike owned: 675R, GSXR6, NC30
Location: Norwich

Re: Very weak rear brake?!

Post by alexwitham » Thu Apr 14, 2011 11:58 pm

Speak with Rick, think he does a selection of aftermarket discs which are of good value and perform well. You can get a good enough rear disc for sub £50.

sil3nt
Settled in member
Posts: 93
Joined: Fri Jun 25, 2010 7:31 am
Bike owned: GPX 250, NC30
Location: New Zealand

Re: Very weak rear brake?!

Post by sil3nt » Fri Apr 15, 2011 2:27 am

I often only use the rear brake when slowing down gently. Like coming up to a roundabout i brake early with the rear and only use the front if i know im going to have to stop.

The other week this failed as i hit the rear in the wet and the bike snapped sideways. Managed to get it under control and stop for the roundabout without getting squashed by the large SUV going through. Not sure if it was the shinko on the back or painted lines on the road. Probably both!

But the rear brake is a lot weaker than on my GPX 250.

zYgoat
Settled in member
Posts: 44
Joined: Wed Sep 01, 2010 9:00 pm
Bike owned: LS125, RGV250, NSR250, NC30!
Location: Ruislip, London

Re: Very weak rear brake?!

Post by zYgoat » Fri Apr 15, 2011 9:04 pm

Hey all,

Just wanted to tell everyone that i've just gotten off the phone with Rick and he's an absolute gem of a guy! Really so helpful and a wealth of knowledge. It makes me really want to meet more people from 400GB!

Had a nice long chat with him and i've been advised to clean out the caliper and check for seized pistons and gunge build up under the dust seals... change fluid and see how it goes from there. Would probably find out loads more just by opening them up :)

Also going to be looking at changing the shock :grin:

Cheers again everyone and indeed Mr. Oliver!

:rocks:

User avatar
iDemonix
Site Supporter
Site Supporter
Posts: 651
Joined: Tue Aug 24, 2010 10:26 pm
Bike owned: '92 NC30
Location: Banbury, Oxfordshire

Re: Very weak rear brake?!

Post by iDemonix » Fri Apr 15, 2011 9:54 pm

I hardly ever touch my rear brake, mainly because it hardly works - it's on my list of shit I have to deal with.

NC30's eh?
A roaring V4 is the summer soundtrack.

zYgoat
Settled in member
Posts: 44
Joined: Wed Sep 01, 2010 9:00 pm
Bike owned: LS125, RGV250, NSR250, NC30!
Location: Ruislip, London

Re: Very weak rear brake?!

Post by zYgoat » Sat Apr 16, 2011 12:30 am

Hey iDemonix, your bike looks exactly the same as mine...

Now we have 2 things in common :P

Post Reply