Spongy brakes

[MrWasabi]

I replaced the front pads and fluid on the bike about 3 months ago and when I did the feel on the lever was fantastic. Firm and only needed a few mm of travel to start braking.

Since then the feel has been getting worse and over some time so bad that the lever can reach the handle bar. Although it doesn't need to go that far down to start braking but before I had no hope in hell of pressing it down so far.

So when this happens I cable tie the lever to the bar and leave it over night, the next morning I get that firm feel again but it will only last a few weeks to a month.

The pads have plenty of meat left, the fluid is topped up, does this sound like I may have a small leak in the hoses?
I took a good look around and can't find any evidence of cracking or leaking in any part of the braking system. Anyone have any suggestions what I should be looking at or what I should do?

I did get asked what did I want for Xmas, and my reply was new set of hel lines. To my surprise it wasn't shot down with a "no way" but should I go to that extreme?

[robracer]

Owen, it is probably the best thing you could do as far as mods go, that + bleed the brakes every few months to keep the fluid fresh & remove any air that might have developed in the lines, I can hep you with the conversion over Chrissy if you want I will be working right through this year, so we could do it at Sevo.

[peterodactyl]

Fitting stainless hoses isn't really an extreme thing. Bikes only come with rubber hoses because they're cheap and production bike spec is governed by economics.

A plus on stainless lines is that they won't deteriorate over time and the line won't expand and lose you braking pressure when you pull on the lever. Fit 'em.

[MrWasabi]

Well i just confirmed my purchase of a 2 line system for the bike. Not allowed to open it till xmas tho

Rob thanks for the offer mate, we'll have a chat at EC next week about that


Now...what colour to get?

[robracer]

Silver

[MrWasabi]

hmmm silver on red...

[robracer]

Just dont get Green

[MrWasabi]

yeah i wasnt even contemplating it mate dont worry was going to go red tho... but i like the silver idea.