Brakes Done?

I think I have finished my front breaks but am not sure. How should they feel? How far should the break lever be pulled?

Mine feels a little soft and pulls almost all the way to the bar. I did use a mitivac to bleed them. Any help is appreciated.

 

Should have about and inch between the brake and the bar, all the way to the bar is too soft. I have about an inch of travel unless I really squeeze. Rebleed them a few more times and when you are satisfied that there is no more air, pull the brake half way then lock the bleed screw. Do this on both sides. This was how I made mine firm anyway. I think that if they are squishy that there is still air in the lines. I don't know anything about the mitivac, but you can do what I described without it easily enough should not take very long. If you do it by hand make sure to use a hose that connects to the bleed screw and the other end into a container with brake fluid.

Qualm

 

Try bleeding the banjo's one by one. Sometimes a bubble tends to stick in the banjo bolt.

It could be helpfull if you can get a pair of extra hands.

Anyway:
1) quickly but gracefully pump a few times until you get pressure and hold the lever in that position.
2) wrap a towel around the banjo you are going to bleed.
3) loosen the banjo just a little.
4) try tightening it again before the brake lever touches the handlebar again.
5) repeat procedure from above for all banjo's, starting at the bottom ones.


grz Thijs

 

Bleed the banjos by all means. Once all is said and done, you are going to have a bit of "excess" lever until the new pads get bedded in. Also, all the pumping and pouring and messing about in the open (which can't be helped) tends to "aerate" the brake fluid; there are "microbubbles" in it now which will consolidate into bigger more visible bubbles as the bike sits, and as you ride it.

Once you've got a reasonably firm lever, put a few gentle miles on it. Be sure to gently heat cycle the brakes with some "incomplete" stops from 20, 30, 40mph. Don't make long hard single application stops from speed; break it up-- apply, release, apply, release. Release the brake just prior to coming to a full stop so that the pads aren't sitting still "clamped" to the rotor when you've stopped.

Once the pads have bedded a bit and you've put it through a few heat cycles, re-bleed. I guarantee you'll get a new bubble or two.

Once you're done, if over the course of the next few hundred miles, the lever begins to feel mushy, do a quick re-bleed. You'll get a bubble or two.

 

Sorry for this newbie question. Is the banjo where the break lines split? If so, what is the best way to bleed them?

 

The banjo bolts are everywhere a line terminates. Like where the line splits there are three, one on the one coming from the MC and one on each of the caliper feed lines. There are also bolts at the capliper and at the MC. Named because they look like a banjo I would think. They can also get gunk built up in them and inhibit braking.

 

Well, that makes sense! Is there a special way to bleed these? It would seem that every time I open one that it would let air into the system.

 

OK I reread the post and saw where it said how to bleed them. How do you know if air is in them?

 

Bleed it underwater...I'm kidding guys! Couldn't resist.
Sorry Jon, you would simply crack the torque on the banjo bolt and gently apply some brake pressure (DON'T GRAB). You should see brake fluid weep out of the joint. Retighten as you apply pressure to insure you don't pull air back into the system. Then get that fluid cleaned up/off ASAP.

 

Thanks. I will do it. Now all I need is a watering hole big enough to put the bike in I will do it. Thanks much.

 

Watch the brake fluid. It eats paint.

 

I keep a spray-bottle of cheap not-Windex glass cleaner, diluted 50-50 with water, to spray down any brake fluid spills immediately.

It works great to neutralize the fluid and clean all residue.

 

Done! Thanks to everyone. Got fluid from every banjo bolt. Going to ride for 20 miles and bleed again. Should be fine. Hope so anyway Thanks again!