Soft brake lever

[reds]

Hi guys,

My brake levers pretty soft at present (you have to pull it back a fair distance before you feel it do anything) - is there a simple way to get it pumped out a bit more - or is it a matter of draining the fluid out of it and replacing ???

[masterofinsanity]

probably just needs rebleeding mate, bring it round and i'll have a look if you want.not this weekend tho' lol

[reds]

haha, well like you said it was soft and nearly back to the bar, its starting to get on my nerves now - would like it a bit sharper

on the plus side i got some carbon fibre stickers off of ebay and have managed to cover the paint damage, looks pretty ok now !

Bike should be booked into stelath for 6th sept - just waiting for a confirmation

[zxr_oli]

I have virtually exact same problem; would pull back the lever and would only start braking right before the bar.
To fix it, take of the front calipers, get some WD40 on the pistons (obv making sure none goes on the pads / discs) and keep pumping the level until the the pistons are out a fair distance, clean up as much crud as you can with more WD40, push pistons back in and install calipers again.
Worked liek a charm for me, much more braking power and bites where it shoud do.

[reds]

going to have a go this afternoon - bit of a nightmare without the paddock stand though ! figured will try the wd40 tactic first, then if that doesnt do it, move onto bleeding it !

[cargo]

How long has the brake fluid been in there...............

Brake fluid "goes off" it absorbs water and can seriously affect braking performance..................for road bike use I'd suggest changing the fluid at least once a year.

My race bikes get new fluid every other race.

[reds]

well im planning on trying the wd40 technique first, brought some brake fluid but its dot 3 that i need not dot 4 ! so will have to try a bleed another day, if the first technique doesnt work !

[cargo]

One of my 400s has a ZX10R front master cylinder it's a radial type............................ bit of a job to fit it because of where the brake pipes bolt on but .....................mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm lovely lovely brakes

[reds]

well it might be i have to buy some new ones, i cant even get the other ones off to strip them down, completely seized on, or glued !!!!

[zimm]

dot 3 and 4 are compatible, and dot4 is better

[cargo]

Is it the caliper bolts that are siezed ?

If so just imagine how siezed/corroded the caliper pistons are....................never mind what state the pads might be in............

[extonyg]

i use dot 4 in my zxr its the upgrade to dot 3 and better quality alot easier and cheaper to get hold of as well.

[Gemini]

reds, after 17,000 caliper rebuilds on my zx7r im an expert

chances are it just needs bleeding due to air in system somewhere,

if not then one or more pistons are sticking

i would b reluctant to simply spray wd40 at them as that really aint gonna offer a long term fix

best way is to get calipers off and pop out pistons, clean them then rebuild, i swear by using red rubber grease to line pistons and pots but u can also use brake fluid to help get them back in,

simples!

gem