Rear Brake losing pressure

eamonk · 10-13-2009, 04:48 AM

Hi,
I ride a 2002 VFR and have intermittent rear brake failure.
Once in a while the rear brake will go - there will be no resistence and fails to brake. The front brakes are fine.
On its last service I replaced the brake fluid but the problem still came back last week. THe last time it happened I had only travelled 4 miles, and once I powered the bike off and on the brake came back on.

Any ideas would be helpful.
Thanks,
Eamon K.

02 VFR Rider · 10-13-2009, 06:54 AM

is this an ABS bike??

eamonk · 10-13-2009, 08:12 AM

No, but they are linked.

02 VFR Rider · 10-13-2009, 08:27 AM

the turning the bike on / off is trowing me off, that should have no effect on the brakes.
did you work on the brakes before this problem came up??

eamonk · 10-13-2009, 11:19 AM

No, this problem happened about 4 times in 2 years. I replaced the brake fluid last May and the rear brake failed last week.
When it happened I pumped it alot but there was no resistence. Then at some red lights - I turned it off for a moment and then back on, and the rear brake worked fine. It still is since then and I have probably drove 200+ miles on it since then.

stoshmonster · 10-13-2009, 12:41 PM

Don't know if this will be helpful to you Eamonk,but here's a little info for you. I own an '03 VFR800,and as far as I know there were two warranty recalls on the '03 models because I received both of them. One was for the melting dash wiring harness issue,and the other was for brake failure due to leaking or faulty proportional valves in the LBS system. I completely removed the LBS system from my bike so I never had any problems with it,but my dash wiring harness on the other hand was melted pretty badly. I'm not sure if either of these two warranty issues will pertain to your '02 model Eamonk,but it might be a good idea to take your bike to your local Honda dealer and have them check your VIN number to see if your bike is elligible for any warranty repair work. Warranty work doesn't cost you anything,Honda picks up the bill.

If you want to check the proportional valves yourself for any brake fluid leakage,they're mounted on a bracket that's bolted to the back of the main engine frame. That bracket is located next to the upper rear shock mount in the space between the back of the engine and the rear subfender. It's a very tight fit in there so Good Luck to you.

reg71 · 10-13-2009, 12:52 PM

trace back from the lines on your rear caliper looking for a wet spot. are you finding any leaks? before spending any money, I'd go through the full brake bleeding process just to make sure it's not air bubbles. if you do that and then still have the problem it might be time to talk to your dealer...

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10-13-2009, 04:48 AM	#1 (permalink)
eamonk Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Last Online: 10-15-2009 12:12 PM Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Rear Brake losing pressure Hi, I ride a 2002 VFR and have intermittent rear brake failure. Once in a while the rear brake will go - there will be no resistence and fails to brake. The front brakes are fine. On its last service I replaced the brake fluid but the problem still came back last week. THe last time it happened I had only travelled 4 miles, and once I powered the bike off and on the brake came back on. Any ideas would be helpful. Thanks, Eamon K.

10-13-2009, 06:54 AM	#2 (permalink)
02 VFR Rider Uber Guru Join Date: Jan 2009 Last Online: Yesterday 03:03 PM Location: MA My Ride: 02 RC 46 View my Photo Gallery Posts: 1,029 Thanks: 141 Thanked 83 Times in 76 Posts	is this an ABS bike?? __________________ Proud Member - Sixth Gen Militia - 1st VTEC Battalion ZG dbl bbl, semi gutted stock exhust " The Chip " power mod, 19mm tail riser and cool red grips

10-13-2009, 08:27 AM	#4 (permalink)
02 VFR Rider Uber Guru Join Date: Jan 2009 Last Online: Yesterday 03:03 PM Location: MA My Ride: 02 RC 46 View my Photo Gallery Posts: 1,029 Thanks: 141 Thanked 83 Times in 76 Posts	the turning the bike on / off is trowing me off, that should have no effect on the brakes. did you work on the brakes before this problem came up?? __________________ Proud Member - Sixth Gen Militia - 1st VTEC Battalion ZG dbl bbl, semi gutted stock exhust " The Chip " power mod, 19mm tail riser and cool red grips

10-13-2009, 12:41 PM	#6 (permalink)
stoshmonster Average Weird Guy..... Join Date: Jan 2009 Last Online: Yesterday 03:53 PM Location: Wisconsin My Ride: '95 Ducati 900ss,'03 Honda VFR800,'04 Honda RC51 Posts: 207 Thanks: 15 Thanked 46 Times in 36 Posts	Don't know if this will be helpful to you Eamonk,but here's a little info for you. I own an '03 VFR800,and as far as I know there were two warranty recalls on the '03 models because I received both of them. One was for the melting dash wiring harness issue,and the other was for brake failure due to leaking or faulty proportional valves in the LBS system. I completely removed the LBS system from my bike so I never had any problems with it,but my dash wiring harness on the other hand was melted pretty badly. I'm not sure if either of these two warranty issues will pertain to your '02 model Eamonk,but it might be a good idea to take your bike to your local Honda dealer and have them check your VIN number to see if your bike is elligible for any warranty repair work. Warranty work doesn't cost you anything,Honda picks up the bill. If you want to check the proportional valves yourself for any brake fluid leakage,they're mounted on a bracket that's bolted to the back of the main engine frame. That bracket is located next to the upper rear shock mount in the space between the back of the engine and the rear subfender. It's a very tight fit in there so Good Luck to you. __________________ Remember,you're not braking til your rear wheel's lifting,until then you're just slowing down.

10-13-2009, 08:12 AM	#3 (permalink)
eamonk Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Last Online: 10-15-2009 12:12 PM Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	No, but they are linked.

10-13-2009, 11:19 AM	#5 (permalink)
eamonk Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Last Online: 10-15-2009 12:12 PM Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	No, this problem happened about 4 times in 2 years. I replaced the brake fluid last May and the rear brake failed last week. When it happened I pumped it alot but there was no resistence. Then at some red lights - I turned it off for a moment and then back on, and the rear brake worked fine. It still is since then and I have probably drove 200+ miles on it since then.

10-13-2009, 12:52 PM	#7 (permalink)
reg71 Squidleyous Maximus Join Date: Feb 2006 Last Online: 11-12-2009 07:54 AM Location: Central Coast, CA - Find Me! My Ride: 1998 VFR 800, 2003 YZ 450 F, 1990 Suzuki DR 100 View my Photo Gallery Posts: 5,396 Thanks: 20 Thanked 131 Times in 86 Posts	trace back from the lines on your rear caliper looking for a wet spot. are you finding any leaks? before spending any money, I'd go through the full brake bleeding process just to make sure it's not air bubbles. if you do that and then still have the problem it might be time to talk to your dealer... __________________ _____________________________________________________ Reg71 - Central Coast, CA 98 VFR 800 - 5G Brotherhood Ride Reports Click here

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