Bleeding front brakes!

cashy · Post by **cashy** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 7:42 am

I have just got a set of goodridge hoses race set up.

The rear went on great and bled with no problems at all, fitted the front with double banjo straight off the master cylinder and tried various washer options and ways off bleeding it through but with no joy.

To try and find out what was going on we even took the d.banjo off and started pumping the brake lever and only a very little trickle of fluid was coming through and yes there was fluid in the cylinder, we checked the 2" long pipe from the cylinder to the lever for blockages but nothing, it seems as there is a problem with the lever, but are we doing anything wrong, my friend is completely mistified by it

, although it was working fine before we started.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Max · Post by **Max** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 1:51 pm

I put the same setup on mine a while ago, the best way i have found to get them bled is to suck the fluid through from the master cylinder and out of the bleed nipple useing a syringe or similar. it only takes about 5 mins and works well.

Bink · Post by **Bink** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 2:25 pm

Best done with a vacume pump and not ORALLY ... Yeck!

Max · Post by **Max** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 5:14 pm

What do you mean? brake fluid is well tasty

Druid · Post by **Druid** » Tue Mar 01, 2005 9:27 pm

I use the syringe method as well, but I fill the syringe with brake fluid and inject it through the caliper. That way it's forcing the air upwards which is where it's tending to go anyway.

Once you have a reasonably firm lever, tap the calipers and hoses to free any trapped air, go make a cup of tea while the bubbles flow up to the m/c and then give it a gentle squeeze and watch the bubbles flow into the reservoir. Tying the lever back to the handlebar overnight can also firm up the lever.

Stormin Ben · Post by **Stormin Ben** » Wed Mar 02, 2005 2:12 am

Hindsight comment
when doing this I always pump the brake pistons a long way out in the calipers BEFORE removing the old hoses.
Then when you fit the new hoses you push the pistons back into the calipers thereby forcing fluid UP the pipes (ie in the same direction as any bubbles want to go)
Then top up the resevoir and you're done

Current predicament comment
Nip to Halfords and splash out Â£15 on an Eezi-bleed kit
Use a couple of clamps to fit a cap to the resevoir,
Attach the pressure end to the front wheel
Put a piece of hose on the bleed nipple and open the nipple .
Hey presto, the pressure in the tyre forces fluid down the lines and the brakes are bled in about 10 secs per side

hope this helps

Ben

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Demetri · Post by **Demetri** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 2:01 am

if you dont mind the extra work, try taking off the calipers and raising them higher then the master, bubbles go up and keeps fluid off the disks and wheel. works well for me!