Kawasaki Concours Forum
The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => The Bike - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: thundermax on December 06, 2012, 09:05:10 PM
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2009 w/abs, 17.7 k miles. Rear brake has to be pushed down a ways to slow. Actually, i would describe as kind of weak. Front brakes are great. Don't know if it is supposed to be this way considering ABS.
Please describe your rear brake pedal and grab. Thanks.
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Flintstoneian
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That's normal... You can try bleeding it (both bleeders). Sometimes that helps a little. Otherwise, it is what it is.
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That's normal... You can try bleeding it (both bleeders). Sometimes that helps a little. Otherwise, it is what it is.
What Jim said; if your rear brake is anything like mine when I first got my bike, bleeding it will make a huge difference !
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Bleeding is fairly simple I think. Says to use DOT 4 brake fluid, have to get some, all I have is DOT 3.
Have to find the bleeder valve and the wrench to use on it. Take off seat, cap on brake fluid. Fill it. Pump up brake pedal. Loosen bleeder valve, push out fluid to bottom of pedal, tighten valve, refill fluid to top, repeat. Repeat, repeat. Eventually after doing this several time I will have pushed all the fluid through the system. I assume there is only one bleeder valve but I could be wrong.
If you have done this would appreciate confirmation of procedures. Thanks.
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Bleeding is fairly simple I think. Says to use DOT 4 brake fluid, have to get some, all I have is DOT 3.
Have to find the bleeder valve and the wrench to use on it. Take off seat, cap on brake fluid. Fill it. Pump up brake pedal. Loosen bleeder valve, push out fluid to bottom of pedal, tighten valve, refill fluid to top, repeat. Repeat, repeat. Eventually after doing this several time I will have pushed all the fluid through the system. I assume there is only one bleeder valve but I could be wrong.
If you have done this would appreciate confirmation of procedures. Thanks.
There are two bleeder valves on the rear caliper.
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Bleeding is fairly simple I think. Says to use DOT 4 brake fluid, have to get some, all I have is DOT 3.
Have to find the bleeder valve and the wrench to use on it. Take off seat, cap on brake fluid. Fill it. Pump up brake pedal. Loosen bleeder valve, push out fluid to bottom of pedal, tighten valve, refill fluid to top, repeat. Repeat, repeat. Eventually after doing this several time I will have pushed all the fluid through the system. I assume there is only one bleeder valve but I could be wrong.
If you have done this would appreciate confirmation of procedures. Thanks.
You're VERY close except that the rear has two bleeder valves. Lots of guys miss the one on the inside of the calaper.
I use the Motion Pro 08-0143 Hydraulic Brake Bleeder. It makes doing the brakes and the clutch a snap. You can do the whole bike in about 15 mins with this thing. I use it on my cars and truck too.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000MXW2EM/ref=wms_ohs_product (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000MXW2EM/ref=wms_ohs_product)
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/3150lhJAaVL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
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+1 to that.
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Good info. My 2010 ABS rear brake is the same. I have to push it along way to get any braking. I have kind of gotten used to it though. If I fix it I'll be "emergency Stopping" all the time.lol
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2009 ABS 12,000 miles. Rear brake has always been on the weak side but it works well when used alone to slow the bike when I need to bleed some speed entering a curve. I have bled the brake caliper when flushing out the lines but only used one bleed valve ( missed the other one). I'll use both bleeder valves with the next flush and see what happens.
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2009 w/abs, 17.7 k miles. Rear brake has to be pushed down a ways to slow. Actually, i would describe as kind of weak. Front brakes are great. Don't know if it is supposed to be this way considering ABS.
Please describe your rear brake pedal and grab. Thanks.
works better with a rock in it (http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j180/stevewfl/bigthumb.gif)
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Not in a good way, Steve.
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Am buying the Motion Pro bleeder.
My idea is to bleed both nipples at the same time. Tubes attached to nipples coming to a T with the single line going to the check valve. On out fron there.
If you have this tool do you think it is possible? Thanks.
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I guess you could with the proper fittings but why? Do one at a time and have done with it. It's not rocket science. ;)
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Am buying the Motion Pro bleeder.
My idea is to bleed both nipples at the same time. Tubes attached to nipples coming to a T with the single line going to the check valve. On out fron there.
If you have this tool do you think it is possible? Thanks.
No reason to do both at once. Do the inside first then the outside.
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The return spring for the pedal is WAY to strong. I removed mine all together and it made a world of difference, you can actually use the rear brake. It will work that way but not recommended, I will replace it with a lighter spring when I get around to it.
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That is a project for someone: find the good spring to use. I do not even know where to go for such springs, a hardware store?
One more question: Do you have to take off the calapers to bleed the inside or outside? Thanks.
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You don't need to take off rear caliper to bleed it. With Motion Pro bleeder it will take you less then 10 minutes to do it. Remember to cover all painted surfaces ( just in case if you spill brake fluid ) and keep adding new brake fluid to reservoir every few "pumps" of the pedal, so you don't suck in the air!
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You don't need to take off rear caliper to bleed it. With Motion Pro bleeder it will take you less then 10 minutes to do it. Remember to cover all painted surfaces ( just in case if you spill brake fluid ) and keep adding new brake fluid to reservoir every few "pumps" of the pedal, so you don't suck in the air!
I see this thing mentioned all the time. I just ordered one, although i've done a million brake bleeds without it. Maybe Teressa will get a break hehe