Air in the front brakes.

[DarkSkies]

About six months back, using good quality hydraulic fluid, I bled my brakes - as so many people had recommended - given their notoriety. I got a few bubbles out but nothing to write home about.

Six months later, lever to the bars easily, but no discernible loss in performance during riding - I re-bled them.

I was astonished at just how much air was in the system (front). Not just a little more than you'd have liked but LOTS as in, at one point, I thought a seal had gone somewhere because I'd already got through half a bottle of fluid. Eventually, after the best part of 500 ml, the last bubble was removed. Lever is firm and braking noticeably firmer.

Anyone else found such a dramatic amount of air in such a short space of time?

[Limey]

All the time. when the pliers on the pads trick stops working its time to bleed.

[DarkSkies]

On 2006-09-12 13:23, Limey wrote:
All the time. when the pliers on the pads trick stops working its time to bleed.

That's cr&p! My old Z1000 could go two years without bleeding - and then only tu put new fluid through the system.

[ This message was edited by: DarkSkies on 2006-09-12 13:50 ]

[Avi8or]

5/8 master and twin lines. Still going stiff after 2 months...........

[Limey]

On 2006-09-12 14:24, Avi8or wrote:
Still going stiff after 2 months...........

I'd see a doctor about that, mate!

[speedcubed]

Quote:


On 2006-09-12 14:24, Avi8or wrote:
Still going stiff after 2 months...........



I'd see a doctor about that, mate!

I thought you needed to call the doctor if it stayed stiff over 4 hours :-D

[ This message was edited by: speedcubed on 2006-09-12 14:53 ]

[JVS1670]

Can anyone please give a little better explanation of the pliers technique.........never had to do such a thing and would like to know how its done without damaging anything. Thx

Just got a used 05, lever is fine but who knows what will happen.

[Limey]

The "Pliers Method" is simply using pliers or similar and grabbing the top of the pad and the outside of the caliper and squeezing the piston back. Do one pad at a time and pull the lever a few times 'til it firms up then do anther pad, this will limit the amount of fluid being pushed back to the MC. Takes a couple of minutes at best.

[batistuta]

On 2006-09-13 07:20, Limey wrote:
The "Pliers Method" is simply using pliers or similar and grabbing the top of the pad and the outside of the caliper and squeezing the piston back. Do one pad at a time and pull the lever a few times 'til it firms up then do anther pad, this will limit the amount of fluid being pushed back to the MC. Takes a couple of minutes at best.

hey Limey, could you explain this method in more detail please. like which end do you bleed from when doing this...the bleed nipples or the M/C etc....

thanks

I am STILL thinking to spend on a good vacuum bleeder... do you get better results with those? cant make up my mind.

[Limey]

This method is not bleeding at all, this is just unsticking the pistons, all nipples are closed. When this method fails to produce a solid feel on the lever its time to bleed the brakes. I bleed by pumping the lever a few times and holding it tight while opening the bleed valve on the caliper (one side at a time) as many time as needed to get as much air out as possible. I'm fed up of doing this, the dealer is going to put new seals in next week, if the problem returns then I will just put the Gsxr brakes on