Author Topic: Front Won't Build Pressure  (Read 10285 times)

Offline Daytona_Mike

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Re: Front Won't Build Pressure
« Reply #40 on: March 25, 2020, 03:35:53 PM »
Oh shyte  .. you are correct. C14 front brakes are  not self centering with slides.
 I learned something today. Thank You.  I was thinking of my old C10 and my dirt bikes... all self centering.                                                     
                            C14 are radial -opposing piston- fixed caliper brakes.  My bad..   On my KTM's you spin the wheel and hit the brake to center the wheel before tightening the pinch bolts.    Now I am back to wondering what your issue is?  One side (2 of the 4 pistons)  of the caliper pushing harder than the other side?    Now you have me watching his videos.  Is there a chance you need a master rebuild? How old is your bike?


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Offline Michelle

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Re: Front Won't Build Pressure
« Reply #41 on: March 25, 2020, 06:10:58 PM »
Left field question. Does it have the stock brake lever?

Also remember that on a linked brake bike the line goes from the master back under the tank to the ABS unit, then two lines come back under the tank, all the way to each front caliper. That's a lot of line to hide air bubbles in.
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Offline okrider

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Re: Front Won't Build Pressure
« Reply #42 on: March 25, 2020, 07:42:11 PM »
I don't think my master needs a rebuild as it was working fine before I tore the calipers apart. My bike's a 2011 with 43k miles. It is a very long system, I'm aware, I just don't know what to do to completely flush the system. I think I'll buy some more brake fluid tomorrow and do a non stop flush for about 15 minutes, see if I get anything.

I tried hanging the calipers sideways today to see if I can get any air out that might've been stuck inside the caliper, I got nothing, going to leave it hanging upside down overnight, with the lever pulled, see if it's better by morning.

It does have the stock lever. Why?

There's no bleed nipples by the abs unit right? That would've helped as I could scratch it off the list. Of course the ABS unit having upward facing hoses doesn't help the situation, some chance I got a bubble in the stupid ABS unit as it's a high point.

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Offline Michelle

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Re: Front Won't Build Pressure
« Reply #43 on: March 26, 2020, 01:04:35 AM »
Some similar problems have been traced back to aftermarket levers. So we know it isn't that.
I use a vacuum pump to suck the fluid through, rather than push. Makes life a whole lot easier and saves swear words for when I really need them.  ;)

https://www.harborfreight.com/Brake-Bleeder-and-Vacuum-Pump-Kit-63391.html

No, there are no bleeders on the abs unit. One by the master and one on each caliper.
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Offline okrider

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Re: Front Won't Build Pressure
« Reply #44 on: March 26, 2020, 05:56:07 AM »
I have a vacuum pump but I haven't been using it for long enough at a time to move fluid through the entire system, I simply didn't think there'll be air trapped in the lines, and I've been trying to bleed the calipers this whole time, I'm going to try that today. Going to attach the fluid pump to the speed bleeders and pump the brakes like a mad man, see if I get anything out. Fingers crossed..
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Offline Michelle

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Re: Front Won't Build Pressure
« Reply #45 on: March 26, 2020, 06:18:30 AM »
Get a different colour fluid and keep pumping (or sucking) until it comes through.
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Windsor Green 1997 GTR1000

Offline VirginiaJim

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Re: Front Won't Build Pressure
« Reply #46 on: March 26, 2020, 06:48:02 AM »
This is getting into the realm of a Haroldo thread...Excellent.  I wonder if I can designate that through the software and tag the thread?  I could create a new board just for those types of threads.  We just don't get them often enough.



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Offline Freddy

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Re: Front Won't Build Pressure
« Reply #47 on: March 26, 2020, 06:50:33 AM »
 :yikes:
The best substitute for brains is .............what?

Offline VirginiaJim

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Re: Front Won't Build Pressure
« Reply #48 on: March 26, 2020, 07:04:06 AM »
Nothing wrong with that but it's basically a thread where someone does some maintenance (routine or otherwise) and it goes quite sideways and we all chip in to virtually work on it. 
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Offline okrider

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Re: Front Won't Build Pressure
« Reply #49 on: March 26, 2020, 11:24:13 AM »
I just pushed half a big bottle of fluid through the system. No improvement. I'm so frustrated with this..
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Offline MtnRider

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Re: Front Won't Build Pressure
« Reply #50 on: March 26, 2020, 12:32:33 PM »
Back to Daytona Mike's earlier question. Maybe take the master cylinder apart and clean. Maybe a bit of "stuff" is stuck in there letting fluid bleed back to the reservoir? I'm no brake expert so asking others what they think on this.

Offline VirginiaJim

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Re: Front Won't Build Pressure
« Reply #51 on: March 26, 2020, 01:24:11 PM »
Personally I would be leery of touching anything else but the calipers themselves.  You could introduce more issues unrelated to the original issue. 


It's been awhile since I put seals in my calipers but do they have to have a specific orientation?  Some seals have a chamfered set in they're not exactly square and they need to be put in the cylinders correctly or they won't work/seal right.  Only way to tell is to feel the seals in the cylinders and see if there's a lip and orient the new seals the same way.


I'm thinking if there is a right way, you should feel the lip on the top side of the seal.


My issue that lasted years was a shudder in the front brakes.  I replaced everything, sometimes twice.  One piston wasn't working right and once I replaced the seals everything was fine except I now have to replace the washer on the left side as I put two of them on the same side.


http://youtu.be/C26ww0dsMTI
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Offline MtnRider

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Re: Front Won't Build Pressure
« Reply #52 on: March 26, 2020, 01:44:28 PM »
Thanks, Jim. Probably right.

Offline okrider

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Re: Front Won't Build Pressure
« Reply #53 on: March 26, 2020, 02:06:24 PM »
This is the same video I referenced earlier, the seals don't have a specific orientation as far as I could tell, I definitely ran my finger over them and looked at the new ones for any uneven surfaces but nothing, they seem to go either way.
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Offline VirginiaJim

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Re: Front Won't Build Pressure
« Reply #54 on: March 26, 2020, 02:32:08 PM »
Well, that rules that out..  Probably square cut seals.
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Offline okrider

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Re: Front Won't Build Pressure
« Reply #55 on: March 26, 2020, 04:05:29 PM »
I did notice that the caliper halves don't come together as flush as they can, going to loosen the bolts and try to see if I can get it to be more flush. I don't think that'll change anything, but I'm grasping at straws here
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Offline VirginiaJim

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Re: Front Won't Build Pressure
« Reply #56 on: March 26, 2020, 04:42:18 PM »
You replaced the little o-rings sealing the halves, right?  Where did you get the parts for the rebuild?
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Offline okrider

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Re: Front Won't Build Pressure
« Reply #57 on: March 26, 2020, 05:47:49 PM »
yeah, from Murph
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Offline MAN OF BLUES

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Re: Front Won't Build Pressure
« Reply #58 on: March 26, 2020, 06:28:20 PM »
watched this thread from page one. and refrained from any responses, to allow all the other folks to do so, and find it a bit refreshing, with so little given, just waiting it out.

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Offline okrider

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Re: Front Won't Build Pressure
« Reply #59 on: March 26, 2020, 07:19:28 PM »
do you mean you're waiting it out, aka you know why this is happening? Because I would really like to stop suffering and start riding  ;D
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