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A wheel problem
Quote from WinginCamera on July 3, 2010, 12:20 amI have a Champion Escort, which has a hydraulic brake on the sidecar wheel hub. Today we were out for a ride when my wife started hearing a scraping type noise coming from the sidecar wheel. We were traveling on some dirt/gravel roads and thought maybe a rock got caught in the tire or something. This noise would come and go, not consistent. I stopped and checked the wheel & mounts and couldn't find anything wrong. After testing the brakes, the noise would stop for awhile, but then returned. Finally it really got loud so I stopped again. After jacking up the sidecar & removing the wheel I found the wheel hub had a lot of friction when trying to turn it, and the disc rotor was not turning with the hub. The disc was locked solid. I then checked the brake pads, both were still seated, but the inboard pad was locked in tight against the disc rotor. The outboard pad was loose to the touch.
At this point I gave up on roadside repair. A passing motorist was flagged down and gave my wife a ride to the next town while I started putting the sidecar wheel back on. About a hour later my wife returned with a flatbed tow truck to take us 60 miles back home. First time in 40 plus years of riding I had to bring a bike back with a tow truck.
I am probably posting this too soon, I will have to remove the disc brake assembly and probably the whole hub. My question is if I have to replace both hub & brake assemblies, aren't these the same that would be used on a trailer? I want to have a plan of action before I start taking things apart. I am thinking I can just take the assemblies down to a trailer parts place and try and match them up. Is this correct?
The sidecar is mounted on a GL1800 if that matters.
I have a Champion Escort, which has a hydraulic brake on the sidecar wheel hub. Today we were out for a ride when my wife started hearing a scraping type noise coming from the sidecar wheel. We were traveling on some dirt/gravel roads and thought maybe a rock got caught in the tire or something. This noise would come and go, not consistent. I stopped and checked the wheel & mounts and couldn't find anything wrong. After testing the brakes, the noise would stop for awhile, but then returned. Finally it really got loud so I stopped again. After jacking up the sidecar & removing the wheel I found the wheel hub had a lot of friction when trying to turn it, and the disc rotor was not turning with the hub. The disc was locked solid. I then checked the brake pads, both were still seated, but the inboard pad was locked in tight against the disc rotor. The outboard pad was loose to the touch.
At this point I gave up on roadside repair. A passing motorist was flagged down and gave my wife a ride to the next town while I started putting the sidecar wheel back on. About a hour later my wife returned with a flatbed tow truck to take us 60 miles back home. First time in 40 plus years of riding I had to bring a bike back with a tow truck.
I am probably posting this too soon, I will have to remove the disc brake assembly and probably the whole hub. My question is if I have to replace both hub & brake assemblies, aren't these the same that would be used on a trailer? I want to have a plan of action before I start taking things apart. I am thinking I can just take the assemblies down to a trailer parts place and try and match them up. Is this correct?
The sidecar is mounted on a GL1800 if that matters.
Quote from GTRider on July 3, 2010, 11:41 amBefore you go too far into major work pull the brake caliper and make sure you don't have a small rock or other debris caught up in the caliper. I've had that happen before and experienced scraping/grinding noises....
Best,
GTRider
Before you go too far into major work pull the brake caliper and make sure you don't have a small rock or other debris caught up in the caliper. I've had that happen before and experienced scraping/grinding noises....
Best,
GTRider
Quote from SidehackRalf on July 3, 2010, 1:29 pmHi Will. The hub on my Escort is the same as a trailer 4 bolt hub. I don't have a rotor on my rig but a friend gave me a pair of hubs with rotors from a trailer and they fit the same as the Escort one. Hope you get the problem resolved.
Ralph
Hi Will. The hub on my Escort is the same as a trailer 4 bolt hub. I don't have a rotor on my rig but a friend gave me a pair of hubs with rotors from a trailer and they fit the same as the Escort one. Hope you get the problem resolved.
Ralph
Quote from WinginCamera on July 7, 2010, 12:53 amWell it's about repaired. I got the hub assembly apart. The hub and spline shaft are OK, will need new bearings. I could not fine a hub with an attached rotor disc attached, but the rotor itself does unbolt from the hub. Dauntless Motors (now called DMC Sidecars) has replacement rotors in stock. Tomorrow I will drive up and pick one up. I already have replacement brake pads (three new sets came with the rig when I purchased it). I also learned a little more about how the sidecar is constructed. I wanted to remove the swing arm and lube the fittings there. Found out I had to unbolt the chair body and raise it up three inches to access the pivot bolt. I had disconnected the caliper hoping to replace it (it was 15 years old, but still working) but Jay at DMC didn't have that model and had no way of getting one. The newer ones mount differently I guess. While the frame & swing arm are off or exposed I am sanding & repainting what I can.
It's looking good.
Well it's about repaired. I got the hub assembly apart. The hub and spline shaft are OK, will need new bearings. I could not fine a hub with an attached rotor disc attached, but the rotor itself does unbolt from the hub. Dauntless Motors (now called DMC Sidecars) has replacement rotors in stock. Tomorrow I will drive up and pick one up. I already have replacement brake pads (three new sets came with the rig when I purchased it). I also learned a little more about how the sidecar is constructed. I wanted to remove the swing arm and lube the fittings there. Found out I had to unbolt the chair body and raise it up three inches to access the pivot bolt. I had disconnected the caliper hoping to replace it (it was 15 years old, but still working) but Jay at DMC didn't have that model and had no way of getting one. The newer ones mount differently I guess. While the frame & swing arm are off or exposed I am sanding & repainting what I can.
It's looking good.