Brake fade?? On a sled??

Tod

Tod

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May 2, 2003
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Decatur, IN
This last weekend while ridding as fast and quick as I possibly could, I found out what brake fade is.....I think.

We were riding hard and fast through some great smooth twisties, either WFO or hard braking for the corners, and I guess I over heated my caliper as my brake lever got soft and eventually as I was slowing down to check it out I had nothing, lever would go to the bar and no brakes at all. Brake fluid was getting on the silencer and I figured my day was over.

We were getting close to a town so I told the others to go ahead as normal and I would be there eventually. Well as I was taking it easy I guess it all cooled down because i got my brakes back and rode the rest of the weekend with out any problem.

Is this brake fade???????

Tod
 
That is the same thing that happened to my 2001 SRX. At the time I thought the pads were finished or something got on the rotor but after everything cooled off the brakes worked fine.
I would suggest that you replace the brake fluid and check the rotor to see if it is warped.
 
Does Yamaha have liquid-cooled brakes? I know Polaris has a design where some of the engine coolant flows through the brake rotor and cools it off, but I dont know about Yamaha.
Either way, it sounds like you got the fluid hot.
 
Yep, you boiled the fluid. You try to find fluid with a higher boiling point. Also you might modify your corner entry by hanging the rear out. This burns off alot of speed. You may have to change your set up a little bit (Less transfer) to make it work, but "body english" will normally work. No matter what flush the system check for heat damage. Tim
 
Little brake fade, happens to everyone. Now i just dont use the brakes as much, carry more speed through the corners, and as someone said, more english really decreased the amount of brakes you need to use.
 
You may be able to get some aftermarket metallic pads which will fade less.
 
If you got fluid on the silencer, that suggests the caliper expanded so much the seals were no longer holding. at the very least blead your system after that.

remember, your parking brake is mechanical, so you still had a brake in an emergancy
 
I am going to go completely through the brakes. New pads, seals, and maybe a braded line.

I did use the parking break for awhile then my brakes started comming back and I rode the rest of the weekend with out any problem.

Tod
 
if you can, maybye try ATE Super Blue fluid. has a higher boiling point and should give you a more positive feel. I put it on one of my cars and the difference was noticeable.
 
Motul RBF 600 has an extremely high boil point, but finds water a little more attractive than normal fluid. I change mine every year, no fade ever.
 
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