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Message started by skatnbnc on 07/11/10 at 12:56:23

Title: Changing brake fluid HELP needed
Post by skatnbnc on 07/11/10 at 12:56:23

All I've ever done is top the brake fluid off when changing out my front brakes. Well its past time for the brake fluid to be drained and replaced with new.

So I went to the Clymers, checked ye olde owners manual and looked at our Savage CD. But I cannot figure a few things out.

1. I dont have the "brake pump" thingy to bleed the fluid.
The manual method described in Clymers says "hold brake lever in, AND tighten bolt 1/2" etc"

Ummm...I cannot reach like that. I have only two hands and they are attached to short arms. Can I use a rubber band to hold the brake lever or does it need squeezed as the bolt is adjusted?

2. I think, looking at the pics, I need a hose to go from the cylinder to an empty bottle to drain the old fluid. Can I use a rubber hose (soft, flexible, and on hand) or does it have to be something different due to the corrosive fluid?

3. I am confused by Clymers instructions on draining - do you keep moving/turning the bolt? How do you know when to turn it at all? My guess was turn it to start draining, then turn it back, which ties into the brake lever question - when do you do THAT?

Of course, this HAS to be done today, my one day off because I ride daily to work....! Help!

Title: Re: Changing brake fluid HELP needed
Post by verslagen1 on 07/11/10 at 13:42:47

changing the fluid is easy.
1st get a rubber hose to fit over the nipple on the brake bleeder and stick it into a cup.
if you don't have one laying around, you can use the battery vent tube, blow it out 1st.
2nd, remove the master cylinder cover, have a rag on hand, that stuff eats paint.
3rd, open the brake bleeder and grab a beverage.
4th, keep an eye on the fluid level, when it gets low, refill it. don't let it suck air. when you've gone thru about half a small can, you're done.
5th, close off the bleeder and check your brake. if it's spongy, you'll need to bleed it.

bleeding the brakes.
set up as before, cover off, tube on bleeder in cup.
kneel on the left side of the front tire, right arm on a wrench on the bleeder, left reaching up to squeeze the lever.
bleeder should be broken loose but not open.

squeeze the lever, then open the bleeder.
squeeze down to the grip then close the bleeder.

repeat, checking lever feel every so often.
don't forget to refill the master.

Title: Re: Changing brake fluid HELP needed
Post by skatnbnc on 07/11/10 at 13:50:13

Geez V-man that was a great easy to understand explaination!

THANK YOU!

Why can't the manuals be written like this - sheesh I was getting a headache trying to figure Clymers out.

Okay, I am out to work on this - any guess as to the nut coming off anytime soon? Whenever I start a new project on the Suzi, I am always dealing with factory-tight nuts & bolts that frustrate me into banging things around. :P

Title: Re: Changing brake fluid HELP needed
Post by verslagen1 on 07/11/10 at 14:09:20

the cover screws may give you a hard time, but as you've said you refilled it so shouldn't be hard fast.

the bleeder has a wrench flats so no problem there either.

manuals are written by mechanics who don't accept criticisms from ordinary folk. what the hell do we know anyway.

Title: Re: Changing brake fluid HELP needed
Post by james may on 07/11/10 at 14:16:06

Repair manuals ar usually meant for peoples who already have a good understanding of how bikes work. And they usually include their way of doing it that is not the only way and they tend to leave out alot of important details. If your into doing all the work on your bike it suggest getting a basic beginners book on motorcycle maintenance that has pictures and lamens language to get the basics of how everything works. Then the only thing you need the manual for is torque specs and wiring diagrams, electrical resistances and voltages, clearances and maintenance schedules.

Or you can just on here..

Title: Re: Changing brake fluid HELP needed
Post by bill67 on 07/11/10 at 14:40:35

I change the fluid as often as I do in a car that is never,I had a 1983 Suzuki GR650 went 28000 miles it sit for 20 years sold it to a guy he never changed it,The brakes still worked good,I never had to add fluid either.

Title: Re: Changing brake fluid HELP needed
Post by skatnbnc on 07/11/10 at 15:03:46

Well I just finished the fluid flush & change out - 20 minutes tops ~ PISH ~ it was so easy!

I guess I just needed a morale boost to get thru it ;)

I've had to replace the brakes twice on my 2006. At those times I just topped off the brake fluid.

This is the first time I flushed it and replaced. The fluid in there was coffee coloured and the brake lever had gone soft this past week. Brake lever is now tight, fluid clear, all good for this weeks daily commute.

THANKS! :)

Title: Re: Changing brake fluid HELP needed
Post by thumperclone on 07/11/10 at 15:14:30

3B3035356F6E590 wrote:

im with u bill but the ssm says every 2 years to replace(ive missed 2x)
my truck has 101300 mi never done..car 90k never done..

skatin
glad to hear every thang went smoothly isnt this site(slaggy) awesome?!!! ;)

Title: Re: Changing brake fluid HELP needed
Post by skatnbnc on 07/11/10 at 15:28:27

Yes, this site has ALWAYS been a huge help to me when it comes to maintenance and troubleshooting.

In particular the step-by-step with photos of basic things like the oil change and front brake change. It sooo much easier when it broken down for me with pictures. I am not so good with just written, and worse with techie manual writing.

And of course the pep club of "yes you CAN do it" that is here too. :)

Title: Re: Changing brake fluid HELP needed
Post by james may on 07/11/10 at 16:17:27

Different types of brake fluid also have different life spans and it's usually time not milage. The worry is that it will absorb water And rust out the lines eventually or in more complex systems possible crud can gum up solenoid valves.

Title: Re: Changing brake fluid HELP needed
Post by bill67 on 07/11/10 at 16:20:29

Am 71 years old and never seen it happen.

Title: Re: Changing brake fluid HELP needed
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 07/11/10 at 17:49:52

I had the neighbors 84 Dakota in the shop, Brakes were toast, had to replace the master cylinder & flush all the lines, pulled all the lines off the 2 valve bodies on the frame, flushing just wasnt cutting it, so I blew them out. He had never changed his fluid & it was a mess in there.

Title: Re: Changing brake fluid HELP needed
Post by Digger on 07/11/10 at 18:31:08

686366663C3D0A0 wrote:

Am 71 years old and never seen it happen.

Am 53 and have seen it happen twice, both on cages....both mine.

I learn by screwing up!

Title: Re: Changing brake fluid HELP needed
Post by verslagen1 on 07/11/10 at 18:39:23

i've seen it too in an old RV
if the vehicle is not used enough to heat up the brakes, it will never drive off the water.

Title: Re: Changing brake fluid HELP needed
Post by ero4444 on 07/12/10 at 09:27:34

an RV with no brakes sounds like a good way to ruin the family vacation.

It makes sense to me that if enough water is absorbed in the brake fluid, then going down a mountain will be enough to boil the water at the caliper, turning the brakes into spongy nothing until they cool off, long after the impact at the bottom of the scenic overlook.

Perhaps the steam would blow past the piston, or water corrosion would screw up the sealing, but either way the brakes would not work right when you really want them to.

Somebody posted fluid changing instructions here 3-4 months ago - it was easy and slow fun.

Title: Re: Changing brake fluid HELP needed
Post by bill67 on 07/12/10 at 11:02:48

766572736C6167656E31000 wrote:

i've seen it too in an old RV
if the vehicle is not used enough to heat up the brakes, it will never drive off the water.

5 miles a year for 20 years must have been enough to get rid of the water.

Title: Re: Changing brake fluid HELP needed
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 07/12/10 at 11:52:02

Im pretty sure the laws of physics dont apply in your life, Bill. Youre blessed more than you know.

Title: Re: Changing brake fluid HELP needed
Post by bill67 on 07/12/10 at 12:06:02

10 years on my 1500 Suzuki hydraulic clutch and brakes never been changed or added too,I'm blessed by the Pope.

Title: Re: Changing brake fluid HELP needed
Post by Serowbot on 07/12/10 at 12:17:55

4D46434319182F0 wrote:

10 years on my 1500 Suzuki hydraulic clutch and brakes never been changed or added too,I'm blessed by the Pope.

...angels are changing your fluids... :-?...

Title: Re: Changing brake fluid HELP needed
Post by verslagen1 on 07/12/10 at 13:39:18

475F55405A565A57340 wrote:

coffee is a drink and shouldn't be used to brake with.
it's so easy to swap out and takes very little fluid to do it.
my brother races in nascar like competition and they flush out the fluid every race. Now that's a highly critical application, but his car is only once a season and it was fully comtaminated last season. So if a brake system that gets heated to boiling every week can go bad in one year, ol'bill's ought to be very questionable by now.

Next thing for you to do is replace the brake line with a stainless steel braided line. Your old rubber line will feel like a ballon in comparision.

Title: Re: Changing brake fluid HELP needed
Post by WD on 07/12/10 at 18:30:25

Yep with a braided stainless line that useless single piston caliper isn't so useless. Braided stainless line and a small sportbike 2 piston caliper would make a ton of difference, and commuting is hard on that little stock system.

Might just hit the bike breakers after work tomorrow at that...

Title: Re: Changing brake fluid HELP needed
Post by bill67 on 07/12/10 at 19:23:25

Best way is to watch traffic and let off the gas you don't have to be hitting the brakes all the time.And use both brakes it will stop must faster and smoother if you have too.

Title: Re: Changing brake fluid HELP needed
Post by james may on 07/12/10 at 22:57:43

Yeah unless I'm stopping at a light or a stop sign I don't ever need to use my brake the compression on the bike is fine.. Usually have to hold in the clutch to coast to a stop or the compression will stop me before I want to. But I like to use my brake when traffic is behind me so they know I'm stopping. Should figure out a way to turn the brake light on when the throttle is closed.

Title: Re: Changing brake fluid HELP needed
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 07/13/10 at 05:15:24

Theres a guy running a Guzzi who got concerbned about No Brake Lite while slowing on compression. He tapped the intake manifold & used a vac switch to run the lite.
I was wondering if a guy could put a switch on the throttle plate, so when its at idle, the lite is on.

Title: Re: Changing brake fluid HELP needed
Post by bill67 on 07/13/10 at 05:34:44

You don't have to step all way down on your brake petal for the brake light to come on.