Master Cylinder...

[Chris#37]

Guys and girls...

After a few off track excursions at the weekend racing at Pembrey, first being a school boy error getting on the gas to early and losing the rear from top 7! :smt013 Second off was due to massive brake fad ...

The question is i need to get a new master cylinder... which ones, what ya recommend...? was thinking of just getting a 636 2001 cylinder, would that work?

[RedexRobB]

I think I'm right in saying that brake fade isn't caused by the master cylinder, but by the brake fluid being heated by the heat generated while braking.

Getting a better master cylinder will improve braking but won't stop fade.

Fresh fluid or racing fluid will probably help.

[Chris#37]

I agree...
Thanks for your reply... but the small fact that i have snapped my master cylinder off makes me need to get a new one! wondered if it was worth just getting a new and different one??

Also was using HHpads i heard these are not as good as others??

[AFM327]

636's weren't made until 2003 but if your going to replace it the best cheap alternative is an 06 to current R6/R1 master. It is a brembo radial, you should be able to find one on ebay for a decent price. I don't care much for the EBC HH's, couldn't even get them here in the US for the stock calipers. I've got a ZX6r front end now so I have better brakes and more choices in brake pads too.
Bleeding your brakes is good advice too, I bleed my brakes EVERY race weekend.

[Chris#37]

Yeah i bleed my brakes every race weekend too when im not snapping the master cylinder off ...

I have had feedback that the HH are crap when hot due to the copper in them...

I have been told the R1 ones are good to get aswell!

Will it make a difference with the fluid i use?

Thanks again AFM327

[AFM327]

I use the Motul brake fluid and vesrah rjl pads. Don't think they have them for the stock calipers though.

[gavinfdavies]

as for pads, if you're gonna be changing often and you can't bed them in on the road, DP sintered pads. They need almost ZERO bedding, and i've not noticed any fade as yet. Better then EBC or Ferodo's sintered offering (i've tried each type once).

[mark400]

We have tried many different setups - Brembo is of course a great option, but we think the best combination of price / power is definately using GSXR K1-3 or GSR calipers ( you will need spacers diagrams of which are elsewhere in this forum) and a GSXR K6 -K9 master cylinder, which are radial too
The standard zxr 400 calipers are made from flexi alloy, and the design is from the late 80's - Conversely, the GSXR pots are very light, very powerful and about 80 quid - Which is around the cost of replacing the seals on zxr calipers anyway.
Forthermore, the gsxr radial master cylinders are cheap too (ebay 50 - 70 quid) and bloody powerful, and the span is adjustable too.
It is possible to get decent braking power out of the standard system, but you need perfect calipers & seals and rebuilt master cylinder with new dot5 fluid, and best is to tie wrap the lever against the bar for a couple of days to expel the tiny air bubbles

[stevi5]

Hi mate what you need is a Brembo master cylinder from an RC8 KTM. Recon your calipers and fit Performance Friction pads and if you can fit PFM disks.