Reasons Your Motorcycle Brake Calipers May Be Locking Up
If you’re stranded on the side of the road with your calipers locked up, use this article to troubleshoot some of the possible causes.
There are a few different things that can cause this locking up, so let’s go over the common causes:
Common Causes
Stuck parking brake
The parking brake is a common reason. Sometimes it will get stuck and stay on, causing it to drag.
Malfunctioning brake lever
A bad rear brake cable or caliper. This occurs if something happens to your brake lever and you don’t notice in time to stop using it.
Worn out pads
Your front brake pads could become worn out, especially if you’ve been putting off replacing them for a while.
Air in the lines
Air in the lines can cause your brake pedal to feel spongy, soft or pulsating. When air gets into the brake lines, it causes the calipers to lock up and prevent them from doing their job properly. This is a common problem if the motorcycle isn’t driven on a regular basis.
The caliper can go bad
A caliper can simply go bad and start locking up for several reasons. One thing could be worn down brake pads or damaged caused by dirt debris from the road.
Cheap parts or parts that are improperly installed can also cause issues—corrosion, leaks, a stuck piston and even bad brake fluid.
A lot of these issue can be resolved yourself if you are mechanically inclined but if you’re not sure, just contact your mechanic so you know the job is done right.
Regular Service and Inspections
It’s worth checking if your brakes are working properly before you ride. You can do so by pumping them a few times while riding slowly around an empty parking lot. This will help you ensure everything is working as intended.
It’s also really important to inspect your bike every few months for other signs of serious wear and tear so you can catch any small issues before they get worse and require expensive repairs or you get hurt.
Don’t attempt to fix them yourself if you don’t know what you’re doing, it could end up being more costly than just taking it in for service. The best thing to do is call a mechanic who can diagnose the problem and fix it for you quickly—and safely!
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