FRONT BRAKES

EGG · Post by **EGG** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 8:29 pm

Right then i am f**ked off with my front brakes.
I have braided hoses Car/lorr pads dot 5 fluid and lately me brakes over night disappear. Also out of the blue when i am riding they go walkies aswell. I think my master cyclinder is knackered. I bleed them quite often.
Question is, now this might sound stupid but i take it any master cyclinder with the same size mounting bracket will fit? If so anyone know which master cyclinder will slip straight on?

Cheers all.

Post by **kevg** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 8:49 pm

Isn't DOT5 just meant for racing where its changed very regularly.i'm no expert on brake fluid but just a thought, might get the discussion going.

EGG · Post by **EGG** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 8:51 pm

Mate that is what i got told to use.

JamesK · Post by **JamesK** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 8:58 pm

Dot5 is silicon based and should be changed all the time, ideal for racing but not for road use unless bleading brakes is you favorite past time

I suggest flushing the whole system through with Dot 5.1 (AP stuff is cheap and good) and go from there.

It could also be some trapped air in the system, I would push the pistons all the way back into the calipers before bleeding them.

EGG · Post by **EGG** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 8:59 pm

DOT 5 being synthetic should mean it does not need replacing unless it's contaminated. Well thats what i have been told.

EGG · Post by **EGG** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 9:07 pm

Done the pushing back pistons thing. I don't think it's that end or the fuild. When they work they are great. I keep having to bleed the top end seems like a constant flow of air. When i get my bike in the morning i have no brakes. Wind the lever all the way in and pump it a couple of times then then wind out all the way and they come back i even do this on the move sometimes just so i can stop. I think the piston/cylinder is knackered.

Ians98VTR · Post by **Ians98VTR** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 9:23 pm

hi Egg, front brake can take ages to bleed,without brake bleeder,i did mine just using lever,tubes,and jar,took ages to get right,but once done brake lever is solid,braided hoses,ebc hh,s,dot 4 fluid,now brill,one finger braking no problem,but the pain in the butt was the bleeding,has to be done right mate,good luck

EGG · Post by **EGG** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 9:30 pm

Mate i have had 3 different people aswell as me have a go. Once they done are great just does not last at all, hence why i and my mates think the master cylinder is U/S.

Sharpe1 · Post by **Sharpe1** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 3:20 am

You should be able to purchase a seal kit for the master cyl. If you O/H it yourself, just make sure there is no wear on the sleeve. The problem with using one off any bike is that they have different diameters and travel lengths, so they may not be effective or can be too effective. That's not to say it can't be done, you just need to be careful. I would hate for something to happen to you because you whacked anything on and it didn't work properly!

Stratman · Post by **Stratman** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 10:11 am

Don't use DOT5 for the road. It is hygroscopic i.e. it absorbs water vapour so you will always get problems unless you change it virtually constantly.

The brakes on the Storm aren't THAT bad, so you need to check seals, sticking pistons etc.

Took me ages to bleed my braided hoses and next time I'll use one of those Halford EZ bleed kits - I think they cost about Â£15.

EGG · Post by **EGG** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 8:03 pm

Thanks for all the info. My mate is a mate of Craig Jones so i will ask him to ask his pit crew what they think. Great bloke with loads of time for us shite riders.

Post by **firestorm_al** » Wed Jul 27, 2005 8:15 pm

Make sure you clean the calliper pistons with cotton buds ( q-tips for those across the pond ) and brake fluid. The pistons should easily push back into the calliper body using your fingers and not have to be forced back in.

Sticky pistons in the callipers will make the brakes feel spongey as if there is air in the system which is why folk end up splashing out on braided hoses only to have the same problem.

If that doesn't work it's the piston seals in the callipers you want to be sorting out. Make sure you get rid of all the crap from within the groove that the o-ring sits in or you'll have sticky brakes again.

You definetly want to be running DOT4 on the road though.

Al.

grinner · Post by **grinner** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 3:47 pm

Or stick the master cylinder from a cbr600rr straight on. if you're really flush go for the calipers too, all direct fit!

one finger stoppies!

EGG · Post by **EGG** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 5:39 pm

looking at getting a blade/SP1 master cylinder from my mates for a few days to see how i go.

tiggerii · Post by **tiggerii** » Sat Jul 30, 2005 2:45 pm

Just fitted a set of braided hoses to my bike, changed the fluid (DOT 4 again), bled the brakes with the help of my wife and now have fantastic brakes that only need one finger.

Once the novelty wears off it will be time for some HH pads to finish off the package.