Secondary Master Cylinder Survey Question

[Igofar]

I too was told the SMC piston set was on a NATION WIDE backorder....ya think honda knows theres a problem?
I was wondering if Weather/Location have anything to do with the failures or corrosion?
Where do you live? What kind of weather do you ride in? Could this be road salt issues?
Riding in rain? etc. Are there less failures in dry climates (desert) etc.
Just to be safe, I've decided to order a couple piston sets and keep 'em in the spare parts drawer in my tool box just in case. I may even replace the piston set every time I bleed the brake system (once a year) to prevent the rear wheel lock up problem.
I also am packing the rubber boot with silicone grease to better water proof the brake rod shaft and keep water from seeping past the rubber boot and sitting in the SMC causing corrosion.
For $30 bucks for a piston set, I figure it's pretty cheap insurance/maintenance.
Comments?

 

[wjbertrand]

No SMC problems here, ride in rain occasionally (a lot this summer). Don't see salted roads here though.

 

[Mellow]

The part being on back order doesn't really mean anything, you can interpret that anyway you like 1) They are all failing and Honda can't keep them in stock, 2) It happens so rarely there's no reason to keep them in stock, or 3) <insert just about any assumption here>.

Ordering a spare will probably guarantee you will never have the problem again.. LOL

My '08 has 52k on it and it's been in heavy rain every-single-trip I've taken it on since I've had it.. strange... but true.. I've only changed my brake fluid once.. I'll probably do that since the last time was around 25k. I do clean the brake pistons thoroughly whenever I put new pads on as they are exposed just about as much as they ever will be at that point.

I've never had an SMC failure so I can't really comment on that.

 

[dduelin]

I live in the humid subtropics about 5 miles from the ocean. I ride in rain all the time. I change the brake fluid and as part of that procedure purge the SMC every 12,000 miles. I haven't had a problem yet 89,xxx miles. Under the rubber boot of the SMC mine is clean and not corroded at all. I don't pack it with grease.

 

[HondaDave]

2007 ST1300 w/ 19k no problems and it moves freely.

 

[st11ray]

'06. 64k miles. Ridden in lots of rain, cold, hot, humid. Been through road construction that was nothing but 4 inches of mud for 25 miles. I also wash the bike a good bit. No problems here, knock on wood!

 

[ST-Traveler]

07' -- 41,000 miles, no problems with rear brake drag, bleed brakes each season. keeping fingers crossed. I think treemucher was experiencing this problem (rear brake drag) with his '07 last year at the BRG though.

 

[Harpo]

Just went over 30K miles and bled the brakes for the 3rd time. I always check the piston conn-rod and rubber boot for filth on the SMC and they're always clean. I don't put grease in the boot because of the proximity to the rotor. I avoid rain like the plague; it's an anathema for motorcycles.

 

[Highrider]

Riding in the midwest and all around the country - I have not experienced any problems in the last 6 years.

 

[wjbertrand]

91k on my '05 and no SMC problems.

 

[ChucksKLRST]

91k on my 8.5 year old 2003 ST1300, and I just rebuilt my SMC back in March. Make sure you to a complete and proper brake bleed procedure. I belive alot of the issues are caused by air in the SMC. Just for info sake the (Mini ST) NT700 only has a partal linked brake sysstm. Rear to front. Engage the rear and a front puck will also engage. But no link from front to rear. No SMC.
I wonder if this is a result of what honda has found with the ST. Does any other new model use a SMC in a linked system. Goldwing? VFR? Crossover?

 

[Mellow]

91k on my 8.5 year old 2003 ST1300, and I just rebuilt my SMC back in March. Make sure you to a complete and proper brake bleed procedure. I belive alot of the issues are caused by air in the SMC. Just for info sake the (Mini ST) NT700 only has a partal linked brake sysstm. Rear to front. Engage the rear and a front puck will also engage. But no link from front to rear. No SMC.
I wonder if this is a result of what honda has found with the ST. Does any other new model use a SMC in a linked system. Goldwing? VFR? Crossover?

The Wing has a PCV but no SMC from what I remember... Perhaps you're right and that item wasn't pulled into newer models... how long has the NT been around? Before 2003?

 

[Mellow]

91k on my 8.5 year old 2003 ST1300, and I just rebuilt my SMC back in March. Make sure you to a complete and proper brake bleed procedure. I belive alot of the issues are caused by air in the SMC. Just for info sake the (Mini ST) NT700 only has a partal linked brake sysstm. Rear to front. Engage the rear and a front puck will also engage. But no link from front to rear. No SMC.
I wonder if this is a result of what honda has found with the ST. Does any other new model use a SMC in a linked system. Goldwing? VFR? Crossover?

The Wing has a PCV but no SMC from what I remember... Perhaps you're right and that item wasn't pulled into newer models... how long has the NT been around? Before 2003?

 

[Mellow]

Looks like the VFR800 used one.
http://www.cheapcycleparts.com/model_years/1675-honda-2009-interceptor-abs-vfr800a/assemblies/19017

 

[970mike]

07 ST 1300 with 70,000 and no problems with the brakes so far. I also flush the system every year.

 

[ChucksKLRST]

The Wing has a PCV but no SMC from what I remember... Perhaps you're right and that item wasn't pulled into newer models... how long has the NT been around? Before 2003?

The 700 version I think first year was 2007

 

[Mellow]

The 700 version I think first year was 2007

Right, just wondering if the 650? version had one and if not, maybe that design was carried forward.. if it did, then maybe they learned not to do it again for the 700.

The GL1800 and the ST1300 both have linked brakes.... I've owned 2 of each... and can tell you the GL1800 brakes are nice... BUT.. the ST brakes are SO much better. I only noticed this after trading an ST on a GL and the 1st couple of stops I had to make at lights... after that, I never felt like the GL brakes were lacking in any way.