Comleted brake overhual & upgrade!

I really dropped the ball on this one. I swear. I got these parts last May, in 2012. HA! Anyway, I just didn't want the "downtime" involved with the work. Over and entire year later, I finally manned up and excepted the job!


Since I had recently rebuilt the caliper/mc the task on hand was mounting and bleeding.


The caliper I rebuilt was a healthy donor from the parts bike so I had to remove the caliper from my rider. While doing so, I decided I'd like to see her look without the front fender so that came off too. I've never been big on chrome fenders anyhow, especially since my rear fender is no longer chrome. I like it, for now at least.

Once the fresh caliper was in place, I put the newly rebuilt MC back on and add the new SS lines! Without the fender in place I was careful to be sure the new brake line and speedo cable would not contact the bare tire. Just had to do a little reroute on the speedo cable.

Since reading countless stories of the hours involved in bleeding the brakes with just the brake lever, I visited Advance Auto Parts prior to beginning the job. They have loaner tools available there so I scooped up a vacuum bleeder to speed things up! Good stuff, couldn't imagine doing it without. I did have to modify the tool by adding a smaller hose to the tip so it would seal on the smaller bleeder valve. (super glued a few inches of smaller hose in the end)

So I added some fluid and started bleeding. It didn't seem to be working so well at first until I realized I didn't have the valve open enough. I pumped/vacuumed around 10 MC fills through just to be sure there was NO air remaining in the system. Even with the vacuum pump it was a bit daunting...

It got dark last night before the job was finished so I haven't taken the test ride yet. I'm nearly certain it will all be ok though. I'll update post-test ride.



Old setup





Old vs Fresh





Vacuum bleeder





Fresh Caliper







Fresh MC





All done

 

Spiffy. Is there more blue in the bike's future, or is that just a "splash of color" to liven things up?

Did you know that XJ4Ever has the little red plastic insert for the "off/run/off" switch knob?

In regard to the fender, you'll miss it the first time it rains and your pipe wrap will look like crap just that much quicker without one.

PLUS, probably unbeknownst to you, that stock fender incorporates a nice stout stamped fork brace spot-welded inside it in the area of the mounts. If you really want to run sans fender, I would recommend a fork brace.

 

The only other blue is the fuel lines under the tank. So really just a "splash".

I've got a good on/off knob on the donor bike.

I did consider rain and debris on the wrap as well. Mostly I just don't like the chrome. It doesn't match anything else on the bike, kind of a sore thumb. I'll have to work up a fork brace and/or work on a new/modified fender.
thanks

 

Aftermarket fork braces are out there, ATK comes to mind and there are others. Some styles clamp to the fork legs, some bolt to the fender mounting points.

 

I was able to take a very brief test ride around the block. The new upgrade makes a world of difference. I no longer have to squeeze the lever to the grip!

 

I rode maybe 45 miles earlier. Wow, what a difference! I should have done this a while ago.

On a separate note, I may need to order a brake light sensor/actuator. I was a bit abrupt in my removal and accidentally took the switch apart trying to remove it. Then I found the convenient tab underneath it...oops! The switch on the parts bike has been tampered with a well. Reckon its a good reason to hit the bike yard!

 

Is it really that big a difference? That's great as that's my next project! What was the downtime on the bike?

That's a really really good looking set up by the way! Nice work man!

 

I always questioned it too. YES, it absolutely is! Like night and day.

The down time would depend on how far you take the project.(paint or not)

If your simply rebuilding the caliper, MC and adding new lines its a one day job. That being said, if you replace the sight glass in the MC with the awesome watch crystal Len offers you'll need another day for the seal to cure.

The work really is quite simple, trickiest part is the bleeding. I strongly suggest you borrow a vacuum bleeder! All things considered, totally worth it!

In fact, with a good set of brakes it is becoming evident that I also need to rebuild my forks, HAHA.