[J-Pip]

I'm getting my ass kicked by these GSXR brakes. I finally got all the parts I needed, got em mounted, but now I cant get them to bleed. I even went and got a vacuum bleeder which made some progress, but not enough.

Once vacuum is applied and the bleeder opened, I get bubbles and foam. I would assume that means that air is getting in some where, but where? Am I forgetting something? I'm getting wned: by a couple of chunks of metal.

 

[AlaskaS3]

Did you use new crush washers?

 

[blackb1ade]

Is there a bleed nipple up at the master cyl. by the lever? I stripped down my AP system on the trackbike for the first time a while back and it wouldn't bleed first attempt - short head scratching session later, I bled the m.cyl. until it was clear then tried again - worked perfectly, as it all flowed stright into the lines and caliper

I have had this on another make of system in the past as well - try this - when there's no bleed nipple up by the lever - ensuring reservoir is full, just (carefully) break the tightness on the banjo bolt right on the m.cyl. housing [not the 'seal' just the tension] - then bleed it as you would a caliper/line by applying lever pressure and JUST releasing enough pressure to see/hear air/fluid bubbling through the gap - lock off once you see fluid proper and/or lever travel/pressure runs out - might need a couple of presses (obviously a big cloth is good to catch any drops of fluid). This should get any air blockage out of the m.cyl - so lock it up tight and try again - hopefully that's what it is

HTH

 

[J-Pip]

I did use new crush washers. The MC does have a bleed nipple on it and I did get some fluid through it. (cloudy and grey) but mostly air, and the resivoir doesn't drain much if at all. I pulled the MC last night and will replace the piston cup set since I have the parts. The part that's got me confused is that if air can get in, fluid should be getting out right? There aren't any leaks anywhere.
I'm also going to try bleeding the system with the old MC to try and isolate the problem.

 

[J-Pip]

Well, I was a bit dissapointed by my findings. It appears that the Calipers are the problem... After hooking up the old MC to the new calipers and having no success, I hooked up the new MC to the old calipers and got it to bleed.
When cleaning and prepping the calipers, I pushed the pistons all the way in, could this be the problem?

 

[Devious2xs]

Well, I was a bit dissapointed by my findings. It appears that the Calipers are the problem... After hooking up the old MC to the new calipers and having no success, I hooked up the new MC to the old calipers and got it to bleed.
When cleaning and prepping the calipers, I pushed the pistons all the way in, could this be the problem?

MAYBE.
I don't understand why the MC did not pump fluid to the new calipers - if anything, they should have leaked - IF the cylinder seal is bad enough to let you push in the pistons by hand.

This is strange. Did the new MC work with the old calipers?

I put my stock brakes on this weekend (I have a date to get the upgraded pistons in the calipers). I put the entire stock system back on the bike, and they still work well - just not as hard as the GSXR parts. They were better than CB's brakes by a long shot.

 

[littlefield]

The vacuum bleeders will pull air in around the loose threads on the bleed valve. I've started putting a wad of grease around the valve, no more bubbles.

 

[J-Pip]

The GSXR calipers never leaked. After sleeping on it, I don't think they're bad. When prepping everything, I pushed the pistons in. I was only able to do this after I rmoved the old lines and there was no pressure on the system. When I did, it pushed all the fluid out of the calipers.
I think there's too much air in the system to build enough pressure for the fluid to push the pistons out. And I don't think that any fluid can get through (at least not enough) We'll see, I'm really jonesing to get it together and ride it, the SV's not THAT much fun. I'm missing the power of speedy. I may putit together with the new 3/4" MC and the old calipers.

And littlefield, I am getting air in through the bleeder, I'm going to try some teflon tape around the threads and around the bleeder.

 

[Devious2xs]

Don't use Teflon tape, use liquid Teflon pipe dope. You don't want to take the chance the bits of the tape will eventually break off and get into the system.

I would consider speed bleeders as well.

I still don't understand how you are not getting fluid through the lines with the GSXR parts. Something is not quite right.

 

[Guest]

Don't use Teflon tape, use liquid Teflon pipe dope.

Brutal! No need to call him a dope. ;D :fingure:

 

[J-Pip]

Well I used the grease Idea, it worked well, the job forbids any use of dope.

I hooked it all up and bled it off the bike, I got fluid all the way through and even moved the pistons out a little. SO it's not the brakes.... It's me. I just hooked it all up and I'm going to enlist another set of hands and a brain and see how that workd.

 

[J-Pip]

Apparently its not me. I think I'm getting air in through the bleeder. After bleeding till no air came out, I bled the MC again and got more air. I'm a bit stuck, I'll try mounting the stock claipers today and see what happens later.
It's been hard to find time, My wifes playing in Vegas and I've got the kids, so it takes me two hours to a 30 min. job.

 

[milq]

I have never had Speedy's or a GSXR's brakes apart, so this may be worthless for you.

If a bike is giving me serious trouble with air in the lines (common, as the m/c simply doesn't move much fluid in order to push the air out), I have a large syringe that I fill with fluid and attach to the caliper bleeder. I use this to backfill the system from the bottom up, usually works well. Dual calipers can complicate things though, as air goes into the other caliper instead of up the line to the m/c. I try to fill both calipers first and then the rest of the system. Minor bleeding in the conventional fashion is still required sometimes.

It's not the ultimate answer, but it may help if you continue to have issues.

 

[J-Pip]

Well, aparently it's not just me. I have a leak somewhere, after letting it sit a night I fould some brake fluid that had seeped out. So I'm going to contact the ebay seller and see what they'll do as far as taking them back, OR maybe helping out for a rebuild kit. Hopefully today I'll get some time to put the old calipers on and bleed them with the new MC.
I am getting some of the speed bleeders and a syringe to back fill. I'm curious, caliper rebuild kits usually arn't too pricey for cars, can't see why they'd be more for a bike.

 

[Guest]

Hmm, let me see. a couple of o rings, motorcycle, $700. ;D

 

[J-Pip]

Probably, I just tried tightening the banjo bolts, the one with a leak went a quater turn (I didn't tighten them excessivly though) but maybe that was where my leak was. I'll try it again today and see. I'm going to try tying the lever down with a zip tie while I'm at work and see if there's any fresh fluid on the caliper later. And I've yet to find a rebuild kit, but from some forums i've found, looks like it'll be about $100 per caliper. :'(

 

[J-Pip]

I'm a bit pissed,  I tried everything on those damn brakes and nothing worked.  I put the stock system on and bled it out in 5 mins.    :horse: :horse: :horse: :horse: :horse: :horse: 

  But man it was good to ride my bike again. Squishy brakes and all.