You will need to get a bleed tube first (1.5 meters is a good length) - available at any hardware or auto store. And also get some dot 4 brake fluid. And a spare bottle (an old milk jug is fine). You will need to do 1 brake caliper at a time , and 1 valve at a time (I think the front has 2 valves). If you feel comfortable with this then you can do multiple calipers at a time (though still only 1 valve per caliper at at time). The reason I say do one at a time to start wtih is you do not want to let air into the braking system - that is a very bad thing! 1) Remove cap from brake fluid reservoir. 2) Hook up the bleed tube to the valve found on the caliper (on either front or rear) and place the other end in the bottle. if there are 2 valves on the caliper I know you are supposed to either furthest from the reservoir OR closest to the reservoir... (I forget which - I have in the past done the one furthest first) 3) Open the valve and wait. Some will say pump the brakes, some say hold the brake on, others will say wait. Whatever you choose it will slowly but surely drain out. As it drains constantly top up the brake fluid reservoir - as I said before make sure that air does not get in!!! 4) Once the fluid coming out the bleed tube is bright green then it is time to re-close the valve. To do this hold the brake lever on, and then close the valve (otherwise you won't have any brakes). Then move onto the next one. (if you see any bubbles coming out in the fluid you will have to wait till they dissipate before closing the valve). It takes time - about 10 minutes per valve. Just be patient. And before you go out riding again check your brakes to make sure they work! And finally - don't let the brake fluid get on any fairings or paint work - it will eat away at it. So it is wise to have some spare damp rags just in case.
Don't forget, if your brakes don't work after bleeding, or they aren't working 100%. Try bleeding the master cylinder. There's a nut at the end of the tube that feeds the fluid to the brake, compress the brake lever, undo the nut, wait until there's nice green fluid coming out without air & tighten it again making sure you havent let go of the lever until you have it tightened fully. Should be good then.
After being disgruntled with a still slightly spongey brake feel after doing a number of full flushes and even a reverse flush, i finally decided to crack the master cylinder banjo bolt as Raaqi has suggested. Jeebers! The difference is huge. I'm not going to say it's a poorly designed system but the obvious place for bubbles to pool is at the top of the master cylinder before the banjo bolt. Personally i'd advise anyone who's trying to get every last bit out of their brakes to crack the master cylinder banjo an hour or so after doing the bleed, then do it again after a day or two. I now have approximately 1cm of lever play before the brakes come on hard and strong. Not that i'm endorsing it but single finger braking is now almost too effective in traffic.
Can we get pictures of this? Something like the brakes is really important and we don't want them messing up do we
Hi there, just clarifying this banjo bolt phenomenon becuase I'm keen to do it while the front fairing is off. Can you tell me which bolt it is, I assume the one directly after where you add the fluid. Just tell me which number, Thanks!!
Bolt #1 in your photo is the high point of your braking system, and collects many teeny little bubble. Crack the bolt. Wrap a rag around the hose TIGHTLY (brake fluid rips the bejeezus out of any paint or non-brake rubber). Squeeze the lever lightly, and loosen the bolt slightly and sufficiently for fluid (and bubbles) to weep out. Re-snug the bolt before releasing the brake lever. Repeat until lever firms up nicely - do NOT allow the reservoir to empty below the minimum line, or you have to do it all over!
Cool thanks champ. Im free now but its too damn hot to go to the garage! Ill post how it goes. <!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="" title="Very Happy" /><!-- s -->
"Too hot", he sez... It's snowing right now, -10C with another 8-10deg of windchill. My bike is sitting in a (small) snowdrift. <!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_sad.gif" alt="" title="Sad" /><!-- s --> Wanna trade?! <!-- s:alcoholic: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_all_coholic.gif" alt=":alcoholic:" title="Alcoholic" /><!-- s:alcoholic: -->
Haha where abouts are you? Its 43 degrees celsius here, with an extreme UV index of 11. My bike's sitting in a tin shed, in approx 12,000 pieces. where do I sign? <!-- s --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_cool.gif" alt="" title="Cool" /><!-- s -->
Far out, thats way 2 hot! <!-- s:-? --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_Eyecrazy.gif" alt=":-?" title="Eye Crazy" /><!-- s:-? --> This Thread is really helpfull and FzrShredder That photo actually helps others just as much. Thanks for the info everone!
Blah, it only got down to 33 overnight here or something like that. (the Mrs told me but i dont listen to what she says) Was a tad warm yesterday, had to go out in the car and its got no air conditioner. Was a little bit uncomfortable. Bob
I'm on the other side of the planet from most of you characters - sunny Canada. Cheers! <!-- s:cheers: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/th_Cheers.gif" alt=":cheers:" title="cheers" /><!-- s:cheers: -->
