Lost Rear Brake on R3T

[RichRIII]

on my 2014 R3T ABS, I lost all rear break pressure today on a longer ride. It just pushes to the floor. Fluid level ok. No leaks. Since it is under warranty, I will let the dealer mess with it. I do not think it is air in the line.

 

[scot in exile]

As I used to live in Palmdale I know how hot it can get in your area, after a while did the brake come back? I remember this happening to a few guys at one of the RAA meets a few years ago they were using the rear brake on the curves and boiled the fluid after it cooled down the brake started working again.

 

[rocketjohn]

Hmmm, yeah boiling fluid could be the culprit. On my intruder, the rear brake got so hot once that boiling fluid locked it up. My 70hp bike suddenly ran like 50cc scooter!

 

[Steel]

Hmmm, yeah boiling fluid could be the culprit. On my intruder, the rear brake got so hot once that boiling fluid locked it up. My 70hp bike suddenly ran like 50cc scooter!

The 1400 Intruders were the worst about the clutch fluid overheating, and leaving you without a working clutch.

 

[RichRIII]

I have had them hot before, but they were not hot yet when it happened. They would have been hot later in the trip as I was to take Lockwood Valley to the 33.

 

[RichRIII]

Palmdale and now FWB. Hmmmm

 

[Paul Bryant]

Yep this happened to me when I first got my Rocket.
The rear Brake was fine in normal riding, but when I started blasting through the hills two up, the pedal went to the metal, nothing there ! Scary !
I spoke to a brake specialist he told me I was boiling the brake fluid.
He sold me some high grade Motul fluid which I flushed the system with, bled and set up.
No more problems, end of story.

 

[stollydriver]

Once boiled - replace fluids as moisture can collect and cause future fail

 

[rocketjohn]

Yes, original spec is DOT 4 and that's pretty good stuff, but if it does boil, it's contaminated. If you use fancy fluids do be certain they are compatible with DOT 4. The main thing being you don't want silicone fluid....our brakes weren't made for that stuff.

 

[RichRIII]

I will give it a bleed first then before messing with the warranty, based on everyone's boiling issues. I suppose it could have boiled a n air bubble past the master cilindar valve into the line.