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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> do i need to change my brake fluid?
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Message started by skipkb on 08/28/14 at 16:30:51

Title: do i need to change my brake fluid?
Post by skipkb on 08/28/14 at 16:30:51

my front brake lever has gotten softer and softer... now to the point where it can touch the handlebar when I apply brake.

Does this mean for sure I need to change brake fluid? Could it be anything else?

thanks!!

(Tried to check the fluid reservoir but screws on it are so stripped I can't get it off .. will need to get a better tool before I change.)

Title: Re: do i need to change my brake fluid?
Post by Demin on 08/28/14 at 16:43:15

Wouldn't hurt to change it.BUT..I would check the pads.

Title: Re: do i need to change my brake fluid?
Post by MnSpring on 08/28/14 at 16:58:50

Or check for any leak?

Title: Re: do i need to change my brake fluid?
Post by oldNslow on 08/28/14 at 17:27:14

2000 correct ? If that's the original fluid it's definitely ready for a change. Can you see the level in the sight glass on the master cylinder ? If the pads are not worn out,and there is no visible external leak, the other possibility is that the brake hose between the Master cylinder and the caliper is getting soft. When you squeeze the lever the hose is just swelling up instead of transferring the pressure to the caliper.

Going to be tough to figure it out till you get the top off the reservoir though, and can see how much fluid is in there and what it looks like.

Title: Re: do i need to change my brake fluid?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/29/14 at 06:37:02

Watch the hose,, pads move IN,, they STOP, but if the hose has started getting a hernia, then it will allow fluid buildup inside. 'Course, Check the pads, thats just part of looking for a problem with brakes, but I suspect the hose.

Title: Re: do i need to change my brake fluid?
Post by gizzo on 08/29/14 at 17:07:39

+ 1 what jog said. Change the fluid for sure,but see if the hose moves when you apply the brake. If it does,it's time for a new hose. I' ve just swapped all the rubber hoses on my other bike for braided and the difference in feel is amazing. Before,the lever would go back to the grip ,now it's nice and firm and stops better.

Title: Re: do i need to change my brake fluid?
Post by DaThump on 08/29/14 at 17:26:23

Not to be the safety police...
Its WAY WAY more important to STOP than to GO. IF this were my bike, I'd treat it as un-rideable till I fixed it.

Depending how bad the stripped screws are

you can try an impact screw driver. Harbor frieght for five bucks the all metal one is better

the screws are probably "Japanese industrial screws" and need the screw driver from toolkit or order the screwdrivers (i found my on amazon) but I bet your past this point as a viable option

very lastly is left hand drill bits and a screw extractor...but on a master cylinder reservoir...sounds dicey

I just chked ebay 20$ gets a used master cylinder or rebuild kit

Title: Re: do i need to change my brake fluid?
Post by Tocsik on 08/29/14 at 18:58:31

Hey, to help out the OP (and maybe some others) anyone have a link to a good replacement brake hose that's a bolt-on for our bikes with stock bars? Both OEM-ish and/or braided?

I imagine there's different lengths for different years of the LS650/Savage/S40 because of the change in the handlebar configuration over the production years.

Title: Re: do i need to change my brake fluid?
Post by gizzo on 08/30/14 at 02:14:46

theres some on ebay.
http://www.ebay.com.au/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xsuzuki+savage+braided+brake+hose&_nkw=suzuki+savage+braided+brake+hose&_sacat=0&_from=R40

If you order, it might pay to measure yours first and email the seller to check the length: When I ordered my Ducati ones the set they sent were completely wrong. They did, however, take my measurements and make a new set at their cost 8-).

Title: Re: do i need to change my brake fluid?
Post by polarpilot on 09/01/14 at 08:15:18

Brake fluid is hydroscopic which means it absorbs water from the atmosphere.
I have an Intruder 1400 that uses brake fluid to operate the clutch.
the Intruder 1400 got really really hot at Sturgis 4 years ago. In fact it got so hot that the water absorbed by the brake fuild boiled. Steam is NOT compressible so my clutch was toast.
The solution was simply to shut it down for an hour by which time the fluid had cooled and the clutch was working again. When I got home the first thing was to do a fluid change.
I would definitely change the brake fluid periodically.

Title: Re: do i need to change my brake fluid?
Post by Dave on 09/01/14 at 10:08:03

My 2000 ST1100 that I bought in the fall had the original brake fluid in it, and it was turning orange and gummy, and the front brake lever was a bit "notchy".....it would move in jerky motions when pulled.

I drained the fluid, took the master cylinder apart and cleaned out the goo, and put in new fluid and bled it. It then worked great.

I don't know exactly how often you should change fluids - I imagine it makes difference if the bike is stored indoors, only ridden on sunny days.....or stored outdoors in the wet. But.....an 87 it is definitely overdue for a change.

Dave

Title: Re: do i need to change my brake fluid?
Post by verslagen1 on 09/01/14 at 11:08:10

brake fluid comes clear, any change its due for a change.

1 small bottle is all it takes... $2 3 bucks... getrdone.

Title: Re: do i need to change my brake fluid?
Post by Ed L. on 09/01/14 at 15:23:46

The stock front brake pads really stink, the ones on my '02 wore out in under 5000 miles of regular riding. I would check the brake pads first and then worry about changing the fluid.

Title: Re: do i need to change my brake fluid?
Post by gizzo on 09/02/14 at 06:11:31

Fluid ought to be changed every couple years at the longest, as a service item. It's easy to overlook, though. I'm as bad as anyone for leaving it til the brake feels spongy. On a bike its easy but I CBF doing my cars as often as I should...

Title: Re: do i need to change my brake fluid?
Post by prechermike on 09/02/14 at 14:02:42

There is a local place here in town that will make brake lines, but they need to know about the fittings. Does anyone know the specifics, I know they are banjos, but other than that and taking the hose off and taking it in, I have no idea. Any ideas on parts numbers, etc for the fittings so I can see if they can make me a line?

Title: Re: do i need to change my brake fluid?
Post by Dave on 09/02/14 at 14:33:11

I used Vehnil for my brake hose. It may not be the cheapest - but the quality is exceptional. You just need to know the length you want, the color, and the fittings you want in each end.
http://www.venhillusa.com/make-your-own-custom-brake-line-1.html

I am somewhat reasonably sure our brake line bolts are 10x1.0.....somebody correct me if they know better.

Dave

Title: Re: do i need to change my brake fluid?
Post by gizzo on 09/02/14 at 17:06:42

Preachermike, you might be best off taking the hose in anyway: If you're having a braided steel one made, it helps to have any banjos oriented in just the right way so the hose fits on nicely. Braided hoses can be really difficult to fit if you need a half or even quarter twist to line up banjos. That was one of the issues I had with my Ducati set last time.

Title: Re: do i need to change my brake fluid?
Post by Xenokilla on 09/25/14 at 19:20:05

273D393B3A04352620263D303331540 wrote:

can you link me to the hoses you got ?

Title: Re: do i need to change my brake fluid?
Post by gizzo on 09/26/14 at 01:05:08

Sure. Here you go. I got mine from this guy.
http://stores.ebay.com.au/wezmoto-eu?_trksid=p2047675.l2563
Took a punt on the ebay thing and it all worked out well and the brake feel is amazing after the 30 year old rubber garbage I took off.
If you meant link to my exact hoses, then no, because they didn't fit. They were supposed to fit a TL but no chance. I sent measurements and orientations and he got it spot on the second time. all good.