I've read many posts about the ST1300 SMC failures on this site and have noted the cautions about the resulting rear wheel lock up or dragging brake pads. It happened to me...last weekend. Just over 60,000 miles on the OD of my 2007 ST1300. I keep the bike garaged...but I don't hesitate to ride in the rain. Texas, rain? Yeah right.... What did happen and where the culprit water came from....I was in NM for 10 days performing at a music festival...this last month. It's monsoon season in NM and it rained a bit everyday. My bike was sitting in the condo parking lot all week. I had no time to ride during the festival.
Pre '08, the SMC had two small holes (not at the bottom of the cylinder) that were supposed to drain water from the rubber boot covered piston. Those holes didn't work. Post '08, Honda revised the SMC housing with a cut in the cylinder and a drain trough. Seems if water sits in the area around the rubber boot....the boot doesn't seal good enough to keep it out of the piston area and corrosion around the piston keep it from retuning to it's original position after use. Symptoms might start with simple dragging on the rear brake disk....act then...'cause if you don't, it will lock up and you've got big trouble.
In my case, I was close to home. I was coming to a stop light and applied equal pressure on both front and back brakes and I felt a slight pull in the rear. After I stopped I looked down and around....and all seemed well. I started up at the green light and I knew the rear brake was dragging on the disk. I *only* had two miles to get home....so I headed to the barn. I pulled in the driveway, got off the bike, looked carefully at the back brake/rotor....and it was bad news. The disk was damaged beyond repair and the almost new brake pads were melted together from pad section to pad section. The pistons didn't apply pressure evenly and the violence associated with the SMC failure BENT the heavy brass backing plate on the outside brake pad. I'll post up photos later this afternoon after I upload them to my Smug Mug account.
The GOOD NEWS. Al Lamb's Honda (Dallas Honda) has a great service department. The two lead guys in the department both ride ST1100s and know the drill. Ted Poovey, the service manager, has been with Al Lamb's Honda for 33 years!! I have had the best of luck using this dealership....though both of my ST1300s....so only good things to say about these folks.
Parts have been ordered and are on the way. Warrantee all the way!! No fights, no issues, just good service.
Forest
PS DON'T mess around with this SMC issue. If you feel those back brakes dragging...get the bike in for a checkup. A totally locked back wheel will take you down fast. Photos later....
Pre '08, the SMC had two small holes (not at the bottom of the cylinder) that were supposed to drain water from the rubber boot covered piston. Those holes didn't work. Post '08, Honda revised the SMC housing with a cut in the cylinder and a drain trough. Seems if water sits in the area around the rubber boot....the boot doesn't seal good enough to keep it out of the piston area and corrosion around the piston keep it from retuning to it's original position after use. Symptoms might start with simple dragging on the rear brake disk....act then...'cause if you don't, it will lock up and you've got big trouble.
In my case, I was close to home. I was coming to a stop light and applied equal pressure on both front and back brakes and I felt a slight pull in the rear. After I stopped I looked down and around....and all seemed well. I started up at the green light and I knew the rear brake was dragging on the disk. I *only* had two miles to get home....so I headed to the barn. I pulled in the driveway, got off the bike, looked carefully at the back brake/rotor....and it was bad news. The disk was damaged beyond repair and the almost new brake pads were melted together from pad section to pad section. The pistons didn't apply pressure evenly and the violence associated with the SMC failure BENT the heavy brass backing plate on the outside brake pad. I'll post up photos later this afternoon after I upload them to my Smug Mug account.
The GOOD NEWS. Al Lamb's Honda (Dallas Honda) has a great service department. The two lead guys in the department both ride ST1100s and know the drill. Ted Poovey, the service manager, has been with Al Lamb's Honda for 33 years!! I have had the best of luck using this dealership....though both of my ST1300s....so only good things to say about these folks.
Parts have been ordered and are on the way. Warrantee all the way!! No fights, no issues, just good service.
Forest
PS DON'T mess around with this SMC issue. If you feel those back brakes dragging...get the bike in for a checkup. A totally locked back wheel will take you down fast. Photos later....