Rear Brakes dragging - SMC questions

magnus

Joined
Dec 18, 2015
Messages
17
Location
Phoenix, AZ
I just noticed that my rear brake is dragging. Sigh. No Damage yet.

I have a 2004 ABS w ~ 70K miles that to my knowledge has not had any work done to the SMC….so I suppose I’m due for that….I suppose being in Arizona kept moisture out of there this long.
Starting noticing this the day after a tire change. I’m assuming that the shop could not have done anything to mess with the brakes during the tire change and am attributing it to coincidental timing. Maybe it was there before but didn't notice it then.

This is the link to the SMC Piston that I was intending to buy.
https://www.partzilla.com/product/honda/45620-MCS-G04?ref=583cf5d4acded83ee098cd742e9f7b7560bd72ae
  • I understand that there was a change to the SMC starting ~ 2008 or so….and wanted to confirm if I needed to buy the old one or if the new 2008 version was a drop in replacement?


  • I am unable to push the calipers in by hand to compress the pistons and don’t have a clamp that can fit on there while on the bike. Is there something else I should check before starting out on this job?

Now to find a Brake bleeder. I’ve always been intimidated by this job……but I’ve read all the threads on here about it and my body is ready!

Thanks in Advance!!
 
Never think the shop 'couldn't' have done something. If the brakes have not seen any service, i.e. fluid flush, piston cleaning, etc, there could be a myriad of problems... stuck pistons, crooked pads, sticky SMC, binding springs, sliders, etc. You are very close to Igofar (aka Larry). He knows these bikes well, especially the brakes and SMC. I'm sure he'll drop in and offer to discuss this with you. Since you're so close, take it to him and let him 'whisper' on it. As I understand, it will be worth far, far more than what you would pay him.
 
I'm gonna need a white courtesy phone with several spare lines and a hold button :rofl1:
First off, we need to chat on the phone for a bit before you decide to start purchasing stuff.
I would strongly recommend NOT purchasing the rebuild kit, as you will more than likely find it will be money wasted.
PM me a contact phone number, and we'll discuss what we can do to get your bike sorted out.
Standing by the :WCP1:
 
I'll second everything @paulcb said, even if you have to trailer your bike to him. If you do, go to see Larry, I'm very curious if his phone is indeed white and not some other color. :rofl1:
 
Just finished replacing my SMC. In my opinion it's better to spend a few more dollars and just by the whole unit not the rebuild kit. If your SMC is as bad as mine was the plunger was siezed and basically trashed the interior of the smc. IGOFAR is the man to walk you through it.
 
That was not as bad as most of the one's I've seen ;)
When they start crumbling from rust, and the pieces of metal score the bore, they really lock up tight :doh1:
20170810_200518_1551631390985_001.jpg
 
Damnit. This is now someone else for me to be jealous of.
 
Wow!!! Those images are scary! I spoke to Igofar yesterday and new SMC sub-assembly is on order!!! Thank you. More updates will be incoming as soon as I get them. Meanwhile.....down to more reading of these forums.
I gotta say, how does Igofar know so much about these bikes? I bet even Honda's designers don't know half this stuff. he even found me the parts I needed and gave me the part#s!

Now, if only I can unlock my brakes to go see him!
 
Last edited:
jfheath said:
No need to be jealous
Click to expand...
The jealousy is about someone else getting their bike whispered before I have.

John, if I bring my tools to yours, and instead of Larry kidnapping bikes, we kidnap him... sound like a plan? You should have enough adders nearby to keep his snake needs in check.

You won't see me from that beach, no work on weekends. Have a good to though, hopefully the rain will hold off, you've likely seen enough of that lately.
 
magnus said:
I gotta say, how does Igofar know so much about these bikes? I bet even Honda's designers don't know half this stuff. he even found me the parts I needed and gave me the part#s!
Click to expand...
About 372 years of working on them, grasshopper. The engineers don't know this stuff because they never work on them. If they did, you can be sure of two things: they would never break and if they did it would be a snap to repair them.
 
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