My front brake pads have worn to the point they are completely gone. The metal plate is still there, and they haven't eaten up the rotors by any means, just the pads are gone. However, all my brake fluid has leaked out, and I have a dead lever. Anyone else have this problem?

Also folks, just FYI, be sure to check your exhaust pipe headers...mine and two other friends' have had the bolts back out...

 

Lightman, better hurry up & get that fixed. You've got some serious riding coming up real soon!

I put my holeshots back on a couple of days ago and noticed I only had a little less than 1/16 of an inch on my front brake pads on the Grizzly (about 1500 miles). I guess I'd better change them when I get back from my trip...

 

Yes, hatfield mccoy , leaving next thursday! Can't wait! The quad is going in tomorrow. Hopefully the leak isn't anything serious.

 

lightman, you dont mention if you can actually see a fluid leak or if you're just going by the level. Unless there is an actual visible fluid leak, it is normal with a disk brake system for the fluid level to drop as your pads wear, due to the increased caliper volume caused by the increased extension of the caliper. I first encountered this on my pickup, noticed the fluid was low so topped it up, did brake pads later(they were worn right out), and when i squeezed the caliper back in to make room for the new pads, I made a mess of brake fluid everywhere when it overflowed the master cylinder. I would think that this symptom would be amplified in a small volume system like on a quad. In short, I bet that installing new pads will put your fluid level back to where it's supposed to be. Unless of course you are seeing an actual fluid drip or leak.

Hope this helps.

 

I agree with 589650 don't see how the piston could extend past the seal to allow a fluid leak with the caliper still mounted basically there's not enough room for it to do this probably just the fluid is low and allowing you to pull the lever more than it is pushing the piston.I'm an auto tech and don't see how it could leak just by this unless the seal has actually failed inside the caliper.

 

well despite your speculation, yes the fluid is leaking. I refilled the reservoir and watched it all pour out onto my garage floor within an hour.

Back to the drawing boards guys [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

Well I'll have to punt on this one [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

One of the caliper pistons was forced out of it's bore. Try cleaning, and reinstalling same(make sure the seal is not damage in that bore), you will have to refill and bleed the system. The fluid DOES get displaced, out of the master cyl. reservoir, into the caliper bores, as the pads wear. Good luck!

 

Thanks TRX! Thats kinda what I was thinking. The piston got a little out of wack, just not enough to come out since the pad backing was still there. We'll see, I hope it's nothing major.

 

This happened to mine, during a mud bog race... I assumed I broke a hose or ??? ( it was dirty )... turns out the dealer said the pads were warn & pushed out too far, & let air in the line ??? or fluid out... but I had no grip pressure... they did not replace my pads, just bled them & it was OK... I am replacing the pads with new severe dudy pads ...WAM