Spongy brake lever
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- Gemini
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Spongy brake lever
hi guys,
me and baz overhauled my 6pot tokicos and replaced the seals along with cleaning all the toad out of them
bolted them back on, bled them and they stopping power is awesome - however, the brake lever is spongy and pulls back too close to the bar
any ideas how to sort this so they arent spongy and so i only have to tap them and they come on?
i have braided lines also
gem
me and baz overhauled my 6pot tokicos and replaced the seals along with cleaning all the toad out of them
bolted them back on, bled them and they stopping power is awesome - however, the brake lever is spongy and pulls back too close to the bar
any ideas how to sort this so they arent spongy and so i only have to tap them and they come on?
i have braided lines also
gem
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- masterofinsanity
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Re: Spongy brake lever
we have also replaced the piston, spring and seals in the master cylinder.
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- Gemini
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Re: Spongy brake lever
just had a thought,
the bleed nipple is on the lower part of the caliper, so maybe some air is getting trapped at a higher point?> being that air will rise...
does this seem likely?... maybe i should wedge the pads so the pistons dont pop out and hold the caliper so the nipple is at the highest point and bleed them
i could also reverse bleed them
gem
the bleed nipple is on the lower part of the caliper, so maybe some air is getting trapped at a higher point?> being that air will rise...
does this seem likely?... maybe i should wedge the pads so the pistons dont pop out and hold the caliper so the nipple is at the highest point and bleed them
i could also reverse bleed them
gem
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- masterofinsanity
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Re: Spongy brake lever
take em off mate and hold em up, give em a belt with a soft hammer (or several small taps) to dislodge any trapped air.
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Re: Spongy brake lever
Almost certainly air in there somewhere
Did you use the right fluid..........and a really good quaility one at that ?
Did you use the right fluid..........and a really good quaility one at that ?
- Gemini
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Re: Spongy brake lever
think i will bring bike over to yours mate. cuz i cant hold caliper, whack with a hammer and bleed at same time
gem
gem
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- Gemini
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Re: Spongy brake lever
err, dunno.
so i need expensive good quality fluid?
is there anything else apart from trapped air that could do this? - worst case scenario
when the brakes come on the are well strong just cant live with the spongy feel
gem
so i need expensive good quality fluid?
is there anything else apart from trapped air that could do this? - worst case scenario
when the brakes come on the are well strong just cant live with the spongy feel
gem
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- RedexRobB
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Re: Spongy brake lever
Did you use a fresh bottle of fluid? Not one thats been sat on the shelf open?
If they are still like it when i come up next Gem ill bring my vaccum bleeder and do them for you. Better than pumping with the lever anyday!
If they are still like it when i come up next Gem ill bring my vaccum bleeder and do them for you. Better than pumping with the lever anyday!
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Re: Spongy brake lever
I can't see anything else that would cause it other than air in the system.
I always bleed brakes off the bike. It's much easier. Obv you need something you can clamp the lever/master cylinder to so you can pump it. Then when it's done just thread the master cylinder back up through the front end.
Your pistons shouldn't pop out if you have pads in there. But if you have an old pad or something kicking around you could stick that in there in place of the disc.
I always bleed brakes off the bike. It's much easier. Obv you need something you can clamp the lever/master cylinder to so you can pump it. Then when it's done just thread the master cylinder back up through the front end.
Your pistons shouldn't pop out if you have pads in there. But if you have an old pad or something kicking around you could stick that in there in place of the disc.
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Re: Spongy brake lever
Gemini wrote:err, dunno.
so i need expensive good quality fluid?
is there anything else apart from trapped air that could do this? - worst case scenario
when the brakes come on the are well strong just cant live with the spongy feel
gem
Errrrrrrrrr yes brake fluid is one of those things that when you really really need your brakes to work it might just save you life.
So yes use good quaility brake fluid and use it from an unopened bottle. Once you are finished unless your going to change the fluid very regulary like once every race meeting throw whats left away.
Brake fluid has an affinity for water it soaks it up from the air and if you put contaiminated brake fluid in you bike once the fluid gets hot the water content boils.......................with very unpleasant results.
Apart from air or contaiminated fluid the only other thing it could be is a faulty seal somewhere?...........or a leak? or old rubber hoses?..............but you fitted new seal all round didn't you ?
- masterofinsanity
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Re: Spongy brake lever
fitted new dust seals caliper seals looked fine,polished the pistons and replaced hoses with braided lines, and replaced seals and piston in the master cylinder.
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- Gemini
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Re: Spongy brake lever
right then baz, i think im gonna have to get some more fluid. then come over and bleed brakes off the bike or at least take off calipers from mountings and bleed them after whackin em with a hammer
gem
gem
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- masterofinsanity
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Re: Spongy brake lever
yeah take em off mate and start again i think, stick em in the vice.
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- Gemini
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Re: Spongy brake lever
how dya mean? strip the calipers down again?
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- masterofinsanity
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Re: Spongy brake lever
nah we'll get em off the bike and move em about see if we can dislodge any air.
Don't forget people there is more to the zxr400 than this forum... check out www.zxrworld.co.uk also.