Can't get any front brake pressure

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Can't get any front brake pressure

Postby bishboy » Mon Apr 13, 2009 4:07 pm

After putting the brakes back on the R1, I can't seem to get any pressure in the lever at all despite numerous bleeding attempts.

I thought the master cylinder may have be broken after the crash but brake fluid is coming out of the bleed valves, so I'm not sure the master cylinder is broken. I think the brakes worked after the crash, but the fluid was drained during the pulling apart and putting back together. I did change the pads but I didn't remove the pistons, merely pushed them back in a bit.

Is it worth cracking the banjo's at the master cylinder and the calipers to bleed off any air?

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Re: Can't get any front brake pressure

Postby ZX-10R_04 » Mon Apr 13, 2009 4:18 pm

bishboy wrote:Is it worth cracking the banjo's at the master cylinder and the calipers to bleed off any air?

Yeah i would sure give that a go seems thats what worked for mine b4 when i kept trying to bleed them & no luck till i done that
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Re: Can't get any front brake pressure

Postby Wattie » Mon Apr 13, 2009 4:54 pm

i they bleed all the way out its pretty hard. i stuck the hose on the bottom nipple and sucked on it till the fluid came through.

some mechanics have a vacuum bleeder that does the same thing. once you have fluid down the bottom, bleed as normal. 8)
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Re: Can't get any front brake pressure

Postby Gosling1 » Tue Apr 14, 2009 7:58 pm

Get a 'Speed-Bleeder' kit. These have a 1-way valve in the tube that fits over the bleed nipple. Just fit the tube, open the nipple, and pump the brake lever repeatedly (keep the fluid level up..) - you should get lever pressure. Repeat on the other side.

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Re: Can't get any front brake pressure

Postby Wattie » Tue Apr 14, 2009 10:06 pm

when i goot my calipers off, the fluid just syphoned out on its own, even witht he 1 man bleeder kit, i couldnt get the fluid going. so i sucked the stuff through!
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Re: Can't get any front brake pressure

Postby IsleofNinja » Tue Apr 14, 2009 10:27 pm

Is it running Goodridge lines like mine that cross from the right to the left caliper ie one line to m/c ?
If so try bleeding as per Gos's post starting with the R/H caliper then the left.(if you use the 'Wattie method' I would recommend a long length of clear pvc tube ie evapourative air con hose from hardware etc---B/F tastes almost as bad as gearbox oil!! :oops: )

You may even have to unbolt,chock the pads and raise L/H caliper to bleed properly.
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Re: Can't get any front brake pressure

Postby bishboy » Wed Apr 15, 2009 12:07 pm

Brakes are fixed, the lever is a harder than a 15 year old watching porn.

Cracked the banjo bolt at the master cylinder (running twin braided goodridge lines) and did a couple of bleeds at the master cylinder and a couple at each caliper's banjo joint just for good measure.

It should now stop like a thing that stops quickly or even possibly as quick as a woman passing a shoe sale :lol: , with the new EBC GFA pads (from Aussie Parts for same price as HH pads ;) ) and new Castrol SRF fluid (as recommended by hemi)

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