Brake problems???
 

Seeing as how there are now a couple of people with brake problems on this board, I thought I'd start a new thread.

Has anyone had a problem on their 999/749 with the master cylinder and/or other brake related parts? I'd be interested to hear how widespread the issue is.

Cheers!

I get a slight stickiness on the front brake of my 2003 999S. This always frees off after a couple hundred yards, but I will be monitoring even closer now after your experience, Twinfan!
I spoke to my dealer at the last service - a bit of copper grease on the brake pad pins was apparently the answer, but I have not done enough miles yet to confirm that this is the answer in my case.
If there's more to tell in the future, I'll be sure to mention it.

Well, just as I posted on the last thread really.... brakes decided to stick on while i was riding, bus driver told me i'd best check my brakes as they were glowing.... this shortly after the front end compressed and i almost came to a grinding halt... fortunately i didn't come off or i wouldn't have been impressed.
But i'm hoping it's just a matter of needing some copper grease on the brake pad pins like Loz, i should get round to looking at it this week i hope (no, i must... need it for work again the week after)

Guys, if you've suffered symptoms remotely similar to what the two blokes who've been down the road have suffered, get the bikes to your dealers and cite this thread!!!

my cousin has a 749 he on manovers in Norway and wiill be itching to ride his when he gets back this week.
So I have sent him email to warn him.


Age

well i've just read the post that TP-996 is on about.... Oh dear...
http://www.ducatisportingclub.com/xm...6381#pid145842
My bike is also a MY2004 bike from Ducati Manchester at the end of May.... and i've experienced the exact same symptoms, except i was lucky enough not to be thrown off...
Guess i'd better ring them on tuesday since I think they're shut on Monday's.... bummer:(

[Edited on 20-2-2005 by spartacus]

I can’t believe this, doesn’t sound right to me
I don’t think I’ve heard of brakes sticking to this level only requiring a little grease on the pins.
Don’t ride it and get some professional advice (that might not be from the dealer if that’s what they told you)

:puzzled::puzzled:

The problem seems to be master cylinder related - greasing pins won't help. They would free off easily is they stuck too. My brakes locked so hard the bike just stopped dead in it's tracks.

spartacus - DM are closed today but will be open tomorrow. I get the feeling Darren is going to get a few calls...

It really wants clarifying exactly what parts are the same on what bikes.

Are all the models of the 749-999 for the whole range?

Do they all use the same master cylinder?

What about calipers, are they the same apart from the radial ones on the Rs?

Good point by andyb as it is now becomming a bit worrying I am sure for all 749/999 owners.

From an external look, I reckon the callipers and master cylinders are the same on all 749/999s, except the radial callipers on the R models. I wonder if it's a bad batch of master cylinders that have caused a problem, as it's a bit funny that sprtacus has a bike almost exactly the same age as mine...

My 2p worth.

Firstly, greasing the pad retaining pin will have absolutely zero effect. The retaining pin on the calipers as used on all 749 & 999 does not directly affect the pads, the pin only keeps the sprung pad retainer in place.

Secondly, I know someone that this front brake locking has happened to. Unfortunately he wasn't so lucky, happened on track, front locked solid and spat him off at 80 + mph! The cause was something to do with a tiny little grub screw on the lever. It had either come out or worked loose and backed out/in, whatever, the result was as above. I think you have to remove the lever to find it.

Don't have a 749/999 master in front of me so can't give any more details I'm afraid and it doesn't seem to be listed as a seperate part in the Duc parts book.

So, guys, check your levers!

Neil.

Very, very interesting...

Neil - did your mate try claiming from Ducati for the fault?? How long ago was this??

[Edited on 21-2-2005 by Twinfan]

just a thought t/fan, I would of wanted to be at where ever you took the bike, with my digital camera, when the bike was taken apart!

Not that im mistrusting of course................. Loads of piccies and chew the fat from that!

Ducati Manchester have done the strip/photos thing. They did that on Saturday for Ducati UK. I'll have to see what they say this week when my insurers contact them.

A bit more info.

From memory, it happened April/May-ish of last year, bike was 2003 999 or 999S, can't remember which, sorry. Think the levers are all the same though?

Unable to claim from Ducati as the bike was bought as written off ex demo purely for track use with agreed zero warranty. I'm pretty sure he made Ducati UK aware of the issue though. Luckily (and surprisingly!) the damage to the bike wasn't too severe, he broke a couple of bones though.

Hope that's of some help, Neil.

Cheers mate. Sounds like it's a 999 AND 749 issue then :o

Think i'd best let my friend know, since he has a MY2004 749bp think he got his a month or so later than me though.

Rather than comparing date of first registration, given the number of '04 9s sitting in dealers for a few months, would it be a good idea to compare frame numbers. I would guess the frame number will be allocated at the point of build and therefore if it is a dodgy batch of master cylinders they should be fitted around the same time.

From the frame numbers, if they are within say 200 frames of each other, then they were probably built at roughly the same time.

Sorry to hear of the problems...sounds like an issue that needs quantified as soon as possible !

Thought someone would have posted frame numbers earlier but to start the ball rolling:
My frame number ends in ...4745, it's an 03 999, so far no problem with brakes

I'll get mine on here later...

Mine is an 04 749s purchased November 2004 last six digits of the frame number are 003690.

I've never owned anything later than a 2001 ST, but on the these bikes the brake and clutch lever have a large grub screw near the pivot. It looks for all the world as if you can use this to adjust the lever span but this is a mistake, because if you adjust it too far the master cylinder piston doesn't return far enough to let brake fluid return and the brakes effectively 'pump up' until they lock.

Since, somebody mentioned 'grub screw' earlier on in this thread could it be a similar problem?

I know the 749/999 have a different master cylinder and I've never really bothered to look that closely at them so I could be talking rubbish

Front brake has "dial" for adjustment so the grub screw theory may or may not be relevant.
I know on the superlight it had a small plastic insert between the adjuster and the cylinder plunger.

Your getting confused with the span adjuster and the screw that takes up slack in the lever before pumping the fluid.

my details are

registered march 2004

binned feb 2005

frame no ends in 002616

interesing to see tf's conclusion on the matter...!!!

i can see d.i jack frost getting in on this one?:lol:

you may have radials on yours ..
but you may have the same lever and master cylnder.....!!!!!!!
you say you of to spain too....!!!!
are you the next guy.........:puzzled::puzzled::puzzled:

british hospital food is one thing...!!!

spanish hospital food , well thats another.........:barfy::barfy::barfy:

Yep, Pete has had exactly the same problem as me. Front brakes locked, bike went down. I forgot to get my frame number last night, so I'll have to do that later.

Scary stuff huh?


My thoughts exactly...

Get it booked in to your dealer pronto, they are just too close for comfort.

[Edited on 22-2-2005 by jobr]

i have sticky brakes, were locked on when i tried to move it 1 night.

749s
reg'd may 2003

frame = 000228

Cheers folks - keep them coming!

I should get my repair estimate around 4pm today.

As posted by neil748r
Secondly, I know someone that this front brake locking has happened to. Unfortunately he wasn't so lucky, happened on track, front locked solid and spat him off at 80 + mph! The cause was something to do with a tiny little grub screw on the lever. It had either come out or worked loose and backed out/in, whatever, the result was as above. I think you have to remove the lever to find it.
As posted by jools
I've never owned anything later than a 2001 ST, but on the these bikes the brake and clutch lever have a large grub screw near the pivot. It looks for all the world as if you can use this to adjust the lever span but this is a mistake, because if you adjust it too far the master cylinder piston doesn't return far enough to let brake fluid return and the brakes effectively 'pump up' until they lock.

Since, somebody mentioned 'grub screw' earlier on in this thread could it be a similar problem?

i recently fitted a pair of adjustable levers to my 600SS just a simple job i thought until i had brake binding puzzled by this i saw grub screw and wound it out this relieved the problem of brake binding then i noticed the original ones have same grub screw but are araldited in place to stop tampering and vibration so i loctited the new ones in place --dont know wether this has any relevance to your brake problems saw the threads about the grub screw and thought id add my 2p's worth

Cheers mate. Could well be related. Fault at the factory, or should it have been done/checked at PDI?????

[Edited on 22-2-2005 by Twinfan]

twin fan --just read me mr haynes it states thats they are araldited at the factory!!!! i know the SS and 74*are a world apart but may help?

Cheers - that's worth knowing. Thanks again!

Maybe Luigi was too busy having a fag one afternoon....

At the risk of sounding sexist (would I ever?!?), the visitors to the factory said that a lot of the assembly is done by wimmin.
So perhaps Luigi was too busy to keep his eye on Mrs Luigi's work.


INCOMING...!!!!!!!:D

The ladies built the insides of the motors, but the blokes put the bits on and in frames. I think Mr Luigi himself is to blame...

think i let tim & jon out on mine first:lol: