How to Cure Motorcycle Brake Drag 

i love your way of storytelling, the music makes it very energetic too. keep it up.

This dude is so chill

Was good to fing you when I did. Just got a ST1300 last fall and like to do my own work..It saves money and I have noone to blame if/when it is wrong. Thanks stud.

Thank you. A dealer did my brakes but they were dragging when I got it back. I did them the next time and tried to clean with a spray-on brake cleaner but it didn’t do anything. I took it to the dealer again the next time and they just did another pad slap, hand-waving the issue like the pads just needed to bed in, thus making me think some drag was normal. In 32,000 miles I ended up having to replace my Ninja 250’s front rotor TWICE and I didn’t know why. My third was already showing abnormal wear at that point too. A toothbrush with brake fluid is the trick I was missing. Thanks!

This is the best video on brake drag out there. Fantastic and thank you. My brake drag doesn't sound bad and doesn't slow the wheel when I spin it too much but the caliper gets very hot and I don't want to ruin the pads or degrade the fluid.. going to put this video to good use

Good video,informative ! Use a boot lace soaked in brake cleaner,when cleaning your brake pistons.

I will try that tomorrow. I just replaced the brake calipers to another model. I did clean it with brake cleaner around the pistons, however I didn't use any brake fluid to lub the pistons, and it was dragging big time

Great video editing! This Kinda exactly what I'm going through now.

Outstanding, I like the method of acquiring the brush. 😂

Now I know where all my tooth brushes go.. Thanks for the brake job..

The editing is amazing...great video I made that mistake....what landed me watching the vid lol thanks you soo much

Good information. This is why I always do my own brake work, even on my cars. Everybody is in a hurry to get the job done. When replacing brake pads on the bikes I always extent the pistons as you did here. However I find it hard to get to the back side of the piston with a brush. What I've found works good is to cut the collar or hem off an old tee shirt, then with it soaked with brake fluid, loop it around the piston and work it back and forth. Also on the Hondas with linked braking and the SMC on the left caliper, the short, tightly bent hoses tend to put a little side pressure on the caliper causing a little drag. It's hard to get the front wheel absolutely free from drag on these bikes.

This true but it all depends on brake pad material as sintered HH pads sound like yours did first regardless of piston condition. I’ve swapped out new bike pads with 50 miles on them with sintered. And they still skim. Never new about using brake fluid to lube portion of piston exposed outside. So after cleaning with soap and water I’m deff going to try this method. Thanks bud.

I read somewhere that using brake cleaner can actually make the caliper seals swell, causing more drag. Brake fluid is ok, but may damage paint on calipers. I prefer to use a little soapy water (dawn) and a tooth brush, then rinse thoroughly.

Took it apart. Beautiful, clean pistons. No dust or dirt inside. Locking was due to gunked up fluid stuck in the hose. Replaced the hose (and the master cylinder because the last time the brake got stuck it pushed the piston too far out and broke the stopper wedge on the previous master cylinder. Master cylinder came with brake handle so of course, I replaced that too along with the banjo bolt and all. No more sticking but it still catches every turn of the wheel. Finally, I grabbed a sandpaper holder and some sandpaper and filed down the disk brake. Only then did the drag stop. Had a slightly warped disk. Not an ideal solution, I give it that, but it worked fine the last few weeks. Battery lasts much longer now that the drag and vibration are gone (it's electric). Wanted to replace the disk but the shop refused to claiming they can only replace THE ENTIRE BRAKE ASSEMBLY (most of which I just replaced, and part of which is perfectly fine). Close to $300 and what a waste!! The hypocrites who claim they "care about the environment". Screw the shop. Just buy the parts and do everything yourself.

Great video. Did you notice if the little pads were worn more from previous owner using back brakes ?

Good vid. Entertaining too. About to clean my FJR1300’s rear caliper. Suscribed.

I enjoy your videos, style and information. I have not owned more than two Honda's at a time like you ( I know, i know, what is wrong with you ? :) But, i do remember when i could afford more than 1 bike, but those days are gone, especially since i do not work anymore, i just ride, ( well, when winter is over ) I do admire and learn from your dedication to start and follow through with a job, and your love of Honda Motorcycles, of which, i got my first one in 1971. I will continue to ride, wrench and enjoy your videos until father time catches up with me, or the law, i mean one little prison break, and everyone freaks out ! Just kidding . Lol

Fab video. It’s happened to me. I always use brake cleaner to clean the caliper then pump pistons out and scrub pistons. Need to check brake reservoirs ?

Use dawn and water, rinse, dry, then qtips and brake fluid to clean the rest. Wipe clean, apply new brake fluid to clean pistons with a qtip. Press in pistons. This way you avoid brake fluid splatter.

Excellent video. Straight to the point.

Thanks for this video. First time bike owner as of last week and my front week is rubbing and making a horrible sound. Replaced the brake pads and think I have to clean the pistons. Whats in the rocks glass??? lol

Very well presented,,,, good humour 👍🇨🇦

mine is not as bad as yours but my wheel is not spinning 100% freely so im gonna try this and hope this wil work. thanks in advance

Comical and clever, all makes sense

put piston lube on the extended pistons and then press them in. Clean excess lube. They make it for a reason.

I just did brake pads and noticed dragging. I'm going to try your suggestion on cleaning and lubing the pistons with brake fluid. And greasing the slide pin. If that doesn't work, it's the excuse for an R1 front end and brakes I've been looking for.

After parking my Ninja 250 for several years with a full tank of E0 and a brand new petcock I found that every drop had made its way through to the engine AND the tank had rusted. Indeed, I now had rusty water bubbles under the paint with rust-clogged pinholes under every one. The bike was always under a cover so I presume the water was condensation. I have a feeling that the E0 would have been stable enough on its own if I didn’t add a whole can of Seafoam, so I think the Seafoam ended up acting like ethanol. Though it was supposed to stabilize for 2 years I figured I had more time since it was E0 (Ethanol-free) but not if the Seafoam was acting like Ethanol. :(

Dude, sounds like he could work for date line

😂 the toothbrush steel was funny

What are your opinions about using calipergrease for pistons versus brake oil?

Just clean with brake cleaner and slight dab of red rubber grease on the pistons, its an easy job.

Would this be a reason for the brakes locking up?

My only issue is, how do you know how much can you push those pistons out?

So THAT's why my brakes drag... Note to self: don't let the main stealer touch my precious brakes ever again. At this point it's been months. The pistons will most likely have to come out so I can get it all, at which point I may as well do the seals too. They're not leaking, but that dust has been there ages and I don't want to chance it.

I tried this and my brakes drag even more than they did before I started

What about when u install a completely new caliper assembly. Nice and clean but still drag. Plus my other brand new bike u can still hear noise when pushing around?

when you pushed the pistons back in after cleaning is it with the resovoir open or closed ?

Great video

did. this my self today, but still noise

Hi, I have a question. When I assemble my brake caliper it fits nice. But when I start pumping the brakes up, the brake pads start rubbing on the disk. Any tips?

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Hey man just some take it or leave it advice, I’m sure you know break fluid is extremely corrosive… that toothbrush is going to fling little droplets on your paint job just like it does your bathroom mirror

That drag sounds fine for the vfr1200

Some level of drag is normal....the info oresented can be misleading unintentionally.