Rear brake "clicks" or "pops" into place when braking

[katparr]

Occasionally when I'm coming to a stop I can feel the pedal on my rear brake "click" or "pop" into place as I'm pressing downward -- almost like it's suddenly catching. Doesn't SEEM to affect the braking and I don't feel any locking up of the rear wheel.

Can't tell if this is just a pedal quirk that a cleaning and oiling will fix up, or if it's more serious.

Anyone ever had this happen or know of any reason this might start happening?

'82 GS450T, FYI.

Kat

[Dave8338]

Sounds like the caliper is hanging up slightly at the rear wheel. Just to be on the safe side...I'de pull it apart and clean things up.

[Steve]

Actually, according to the fiche at Alpha, there is no caliper.

That's right, drum brake on the rear.

You might want to take it apart to make sure that the lining has not come off the backing plate, and also make sure that everything is as snug as it should be, all spacers in the right places, etc.

.

[salty_monk]

Sounds like the brake shoe might have a lip worn on it to me... It could also perhaps be at the end of it's life & jamming at the extreme of the piston (not 100% sure of the design inside there but it's possible). The piston could also be corroded & jamming up. You could have some junk in the system that is blocking the fluid flow & popping out of place when fluid pressure is high enough.

You need to take it apart to find out what's going on in there.

Dan

[katparr]

I just took it for a ride around the block and it seems that the click only happens when I press roughly on the pedal as if doing a quickstop -- I push down, it is smooth for the first 3/4, then the 'pop', then it travels the rest of the way. If I do a slow, smooth pressure I neither hear nor feel it.

I was really hoping to not have to take it apart, but it sounds like you're all in agreement. I might look to have a mechanic do it -- I don't have much experience meddling with brake systems. Anyone have a notion of what an examination and cleaning like that might cost?

[katparr]

Also, some more specs on my bike if they're helpful:
- 82 GS450T like I said
- 13500 on the odo
- just had the stator and regulator replaced and the bike given a pretty good lookaround at a mechanic's since I bought it last month.
- it'd been garaged for a good while, cosmetically it's pretty sound but a dent in the tank from getting punched by a car a few years back. The bike didn't suffer much but a few scrapes.
- i don't have much else in the way of history on it, sadly. bought on the cheap from a guy leaving the country.

Maybe that'll help in the diagnosis, I don't know...

[rustybronco]

I don't have much experience meddling with brake systems. Anyone have a notion of what an examination and cleaning like that might cost?

Somewhere between the price of a piece of sand paper or the price of new linings... get the hint?

[Steve]

I was going to say "good luck at getting a mechanic to look at it", but then you said you had already been to one for something else.

A smaller shop or private mechanic would be more willing to look at it than a dealer. In fact, many dealers have a 'ten year rule'. Anything older than ten years does not make it past the front door. Their reasoning is that bikes are generally neglected, outdoor toys, so many of the bolts will be rusted into place, and they will not be able to do the work without some very time-consuming bolt extractions, which really cuts into their bottom line.

Dan (Salty Monk), there is no fluid in his rear brake system. It's a drum brake operated by a rod attached to the brake pedal.

.

[spindle]

I don't know about your bike, but had a Honda with worn out rear shoe's lock up for a split second when the piston extended to far. Long enough to fall over at a stop sign around 5 mph. Just fast enough to scratch things up. Take an afternoon to pull the wheel off and check things out. No need to get scratched up.

[hampshirehog]

Sounds like your shoes have worn too low and the cam inside the drum is able to pop past maximum opening.

[Big T]

Easy job

Pull the rear wheel from bike

Pull out brake plate

Look at brake shoes

Take pictures and post

OOps, forgot

#1 Get new brake shoes

[Dave8338]

Could be the brake arm slipping on the splines, also. Have you checked to see that the pinch bolt is tight?

[bwringer]

And make sure the brake lever pivot is greased. Sometimes these get rusty and hard to move and do some odd things.

[katparr]

Thank you -- all of you. This GS forum is really an awesome resource.

I will have a chance to take a close look at the brake assembly on Friday - shoes and bolts and levers -- and will report in with photos and info then. Keep your fingers crossed this is a easily fixable issue. Because you know what sucks about 10 year rules at bike shops? When they "bend" the rule but then charge you extra just to take a look! Sigh.