Motorcycle brakes locking up or dragging? Solutions.

If your motorcycle brakes are locking up here are some reasons why.
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[@firstcomment2801]

SO, my SCREW that holds the brake handle to the master cylinder. I had it way too TIGHT, SCREW DOESN'T NEED TO BE TIGHT, just a little loose. Another good find.

[@jamesgaszak3685]

Good to know. Thanks.

[@carreteras101]

thanks for the helpful video. not overfilling the master cylinder reservoir to allow the calipers to retract is an excellent point. cheers

[@jamesgaszak3685]

Yeah it's that or aftermarket levers sometimes aren't machined right and also won't let the master cylinder air to retract.

[@brahimmhamed5454]

Hi thanks for this nice video. Nice advice. I want to add something happened to me. My rear tire blocked on a new brennelli TRK 502 X. I left cooled down for a while then everything works fine. From my analysis of what I have done before I figured out that I forget my foot on the rear brake while driving. I was stupid enough to do that and wise enough to figure that out. Good ride!

[@firstcomment2801]

OK, too full(RES) for summer riding, Fluid heated up and I took pff the Aftermarket shorty Lever. Thank you.

[@jamesgaszak3685]

Yup those after market levers are not machined properly and can cause build up of pressure in the Master cylinder. Switch out the shorty to an OEM lever and you should be back in business.

[@RayBelizean]

Thanks for the tips brother!

[@jamesgaszak3685]

No problem. Glad I could help👍🏼

[@specjalista88]

Bro you lost me at the beginning when you said breaks might locking up because there’s air in the fluid 😂😂😂 On a hot day 😂

[@SR71BBFLYER]

I can’t laugh because that actually happened to me. On a ride home I felt my bike start to drag and pulled over. I discovered the brakes had locked. I couldn’t budge the bike an inch. While trying to figure out what to do I got something to drink from a nearby store. It was hot out. After my soft drink I checked the bike. I could now roll it. The brakes cooled enough??? Once I got it home I had the rear brakes bled and I heard a puff of air come out of the line. That’s why I searched these vids to find out who else had a similar experience.

[@robauti1]

Hey, this could be really helpful for big group of people that now owns a Dominar (Bajaj version of the Duke 390). The bike is mostly great, but the rear brake gives a lot of truble. I own one of them, and I've already changed the fluid and cleaned the single piston the bike has on the rear, but it keeps heating up, even on very short rides. The weather does not help, its very hot, but i still have a few this to tey before giving up and sending it to the mechanic. I'll keep you updated. If we can figure out what the problem is, it would be a huge help for all Dominar owners here in Argentina!

[@jamesgaszak3685]

I would bet the piston is over heating. I would get steel braided lines with fresh fluid and an upgraded rear brake caliper. See if brembo makes a rear caliper for your bike. Either way keep me posted.

[@robauti1]

@@jamesgaszak3685 Ok, 2am here, kinda long trip tomorrow (800km) The brake fluid level just past over the max, took out some, left it right in between min and max, also manually separated the brake pads from the disk, I'll make sure not to use the rear brake tomorrow but if it starts to drag my last resort will be to just remove the pads and fix the problem next week. Will see tomorrow 🙈

[@firstcomment2801]

Rear brake locked up from front (RES) too full because Honda ST1300 have linked brakes, Front handle controls some rear braking.

[@jamesgaszak3685]

That's good information to know. Thanks

[@chulee8148]

Thanks man great job

[@jamesgaszak3685]

Glad to give a video to help anyone in need.

[@robertflores8030]

Thanks

[@jamesgaszak3685]

No problem man.👍

[@moorishalkhemist]

Thanks bro.

[@jamesgaszak3685]

Yeah man. I hope you got some help from the video.👍🏼

[@firstcomment2801]

first ride home, front brake locked up, I bet it was the old fluid. Totally cleaned all brake system and. Rode 1000 miles and rear brake locked up. I have a cheap Ebay brake lever. Maybe that. Because I tore rear brake apart, everything looks great. My other bike, I have ridden 5000 with cheap Ebay Levers. So that's fine.,My problem might be I filled the resievors too much. Has air space. I also cleaned the vent lines in the metal cap. Good video, I can fix it all myself.

[@jamesgaszak3685]

I would say it's the eBay lever that's the problem. If the lever isn't machined right it won't release the air valve in the master cylinder properly and it will cause a build up of air pressure and lock your brakes up.

[@graysonjohnston7972]

Helpful

[@jamesgaszak3685]

Glad to help. I don't know why there are not more videos like this one.

[@nadida165]

Is this advice standard for all bikes. Great advice. Thank you

[@jamesgaszak3685]

Yes this advice works on all bikes.

[@luciofernandes5136]

Thanks man

[@jamesgaszak3685]

No problem. Hope the video helped.

[@jaredbullock3082]

Another reason is the return port is clogged

[@jamesgaszak3685]

@@jaredbullock3082 yup that happens as well.👍🏼

[@TheHighestGodisGood]

Thank you James! This really helps with my 2015 Street Glide. Hot day, front brakes started clamping on their own... like moisture buildup, needing a flush?

[@jamesgaszak3685]

@@TheHighestGodisGood more than likely needs a flush but if I were you I would upgrade your lines to steel braided as well. Sometimes the old lines won't flush out the crap and you refill them just to find out there was a pinhole that was letting air in causing moisture build up. You and your life is worth replacing the lines. Bad brakes are the number 1 killer in bike accidents.

[@TheHighestGodisGood]

@@jamesgaszak3685 Thank you man!!

[@TheHighestGodisGood]

@@jamesgaszak3685 Another thing is I just installed new a handlebar and had to solder-extend the wiring and reroute the hydraulic cables, as they are at their length limit with a 14" bar. They do allow the bars to go fully turn though. Could a any of that or a potential miswire cause the front brakes to auto clamp out of the blue? And, could the ABS be doing the auto front braking even though it doesn't pulsate and the ABS light doesnt come, when I know it can light up? A dealer has the bike now, but I wanted to steer them as best as possible and you know your stuff.

[@jamesgaszak3685]

@@TheHighestGodisGood a dealer should figure it out quick. If you routed the cables good and it isn't pinching then you should be good but since I can't physically see the bike I can't know for sure. If the brakes were working fine before the bar install that might be an indication that something is not hooked up properly though. As for the abs there could be a number of problems which again I couldn't know for sure unless I was there to inspect it.

[@breadgarlichouse2265]

maybe a dumb question.. if the motorcycle brakes lock up and you release the lever or foot pedal, will the brakes unlock ?

[@jamesgaszak3685]

Not if pressure is built up in the lines from heat, moisture being in the brake fluid or your master cylinder release valve is clogged. You need to open the bleeder valve or untighten the banjo bolt to release pressure so you can move your bike cause the tires will be locked up.

[@breadgarlichouse2265]

@@jamesgaszak3685 thank you for the reply.. I didn’t know that could happen :) your videos are very informative

[@jamesgaszak3685]

@@breadgarlichouse2265 thanks. I'm just here to help 👍🏼

[@eccentr3c.]

so do you have any solution how do i clean the pin boot? because i put too much grease on it and it got like vacuum like you said

[@jamesgaszak3685]

Use brake cleaner and a q tip to clean it out real good

[@eccentr3c.]

@@jamesgaszak3685 ah okay, thanks for the answer!

[@allday3433]

Replaced caliper seals & rebuild master cylinder still getting locked up

[@jamesgaszak3685]

Did you check the release holes in the master cylinder? Do you have any aftermarket parts?

[@allday3433]

@jamesgaszak3685 i have checked the holes in MC & this problem began in stock configured. since then I replaced mc seals, calip seals new st br lines & dot4 still having this issue

[@allday3433]

@jamesgaszak3685 this happens 1 minute to 5 minutes while on first ride of the day basically as soon as the brakes are used & warmed up.

[@jamesgaszak3685]

@@allday3433 did you change the brake lines?

[@jamesgaszak3685]

@@allday3433 which brakes are locking up front or rear?