I just replaced may rear caliper piston seals and brake pads on my '05 Suzuki Vinson. Now I barely have rear brakes. I have bled the brakes thoroughly and their is NO air in the lines. What could possibly be wrong?

 

Hello? Anybody read this forum anymore?

 

Check your fluid level again, then pump the foot pedal repeatedly--you need to push the piston out from the caliper until it makes contact with the brake pad.

 

@KQ400Pilot - I have already done this when I bled the brakes. I took everything back apart today and cleaned everything and greased the pins. If I put ALL my weight on the foot pedal it will slow the ATV down. The last set of pads I had on it were the sintered kind and they wore down all the way to the metal within 125 - 150 miles. Could these pads glazed my rotor? Thanks for any info.

 

how does the pedal feel? firm like usual or squishy?

 

@lt230sman - It feels somewhat squishy. The pads just will not grip the rotor.

 

Not knowing what condition your system is in, I'll hazard a few guesses here.

Do you get adequate pressure to stop when you apply the handbrake lever and not the footbrake lever?

Is there any damage to footbrake (bent lever/actuator, etc?)

If it's spongy, you may have a rubber hose line component expanding with the pressure instead of it pressurizing the caliper

You might also have a bad rear cylinder...as close as they are to the exhaust, heat does take it's toll on that component.

Do you have a Suzuki FACTORY service manual for your Vinny? They have a troubleshooting section that usually solves the problems (very few) I haven't been able to figure out myself

 

@TexasRoadlawyer - The last set of rear pads I had on this ATV were the sintered kind and they wore down all the way to the metal within 125 - 150 miles. Could these pads, or I should say the metal behind the pads glazed my rotor? Everything else on the rear brake system works fine.