Front brakes locking and smoking....HELP!

[scottsxv1k]

i had the same problem with a 750 maxim, pretty scary, after rebuilding calipers i always made sure i had a wrench with me to relieve the pressure from the front brakes everytime i thought they were starting to lock up on me.

[Shorts]

Well for lack of better description, you'll need to vigorously pump the brakes and bleed properly. Be sure t hold the lever down to expel fluid, then quickly close the bleeder screw, then pump the brakes hard, then hold, then open the bleeder screw, then close...etc etc. Be sure to try to catch the push of fluid at it highest spurt of pressure and close the bleed screw. Check the fluid reservoid and keep filled properly. Then repeat the bleeding thing.

You will have to do this more than a few times. At times, you think there is NO pressure being built up, but keep going. It will stiffen up slowly, but surely.

[rcollins]

Make sure the return orifice in the master cylinder is clear. It will be the small hole just after the plunger from the lever. If this is clogged, fluid will not return to the master cylinder causing the brakes to lock up after a few times.

Pull in the brake lever and make sure you see a squirt of fluid escape the hole. Most master cylinders have a cover over the hole. Just make sure you do not splash it all over you paint.

I believe this is what is happening. I tried bleeding again tonight and pumped the hell out of the brake, held it and opened the bleeder...and just got a tad of fluid to come out, but could never get more than about a inch of fluid in the overflow tube from the bleeder.....and most importantly the resavoir never went down at all. Do I have to replace the entire master cylinder now?