[Guest]

Finally got my brakes fixed under warranty. It took 4 weeks for the parts and another 2 to get it booked in. When I picked it up the mechanic said they felt the same, he still doesn't believe my there was a problem. Maybe if he rode it he would notice the differance.
They felt heaps better on the way home, just hope they stay like it.
My front brake pads still have half life left in them after 33,000klms (20,600mls) is this normal? Maybe now they work I will start using them. 8)

 

[24gt]

must be nice our dealer down in denver still hasn't gotten the parts yet and its been over a month and a half. GRRRRRRRR!!!! :finger:

 

[MrBiff2You]

I got the same story from my mechanic but, after some good floggings and about 1000 miles they still feel good. Enjoy!

 

[bruiser06]

when i took my bike in for the 6000 miles service, i got the same story - the parts aren't here yet. however, the mechanic thoroughly cleaned the calipers and the lever feel improved dramatically. he said just cleaning the calipers with some sort of liquid cleaner improves the feel and he was right, the spongy feel is gone for now. when it returns, i plan to clean the calipers on my own. would anyone know what the liquid aerosol cleaner might have been? help? thanks.

 

[TheGuvnor]

They all say the same shit...you can tell they don't own an S3 with the brake issue or they would understand. I guess this topic is very sore with dealers.... :violent1:

 

[ruscook]

Sprints had a similar problem with soft lever feel and increasing level travel. Whoever asked about the cleaner. The brand out here is Brakekleen about $10 a spray can that lasts about 12months. Hope this is useful, one thing I'm glad about the 07 S3's don't have this problem.

Here's my reply from TRAT Sprint forum: Assuming it won't get me banned here's a link to the thread: Sprint Brake thread

Copy of my posting from the thread below:
Firstly CLB, the change in travel is NOT due to wear. You can fix the problem by cleaning the caliper pistons there is no need to bleed the breaks. I had a 05/06 Sprint that had this problem and I bought a spary of brake cleaner. Each "clean" lasted about 2000km before feel went "off" and travel increased markedly. I then coated the pistons with rubber grease and this lasted about 6000km before the feel went off. Over about the 5 times I did the different fixes, I only bled the brakes once.

Here's the forum topic that discussed this last year
http://www.triumphrat.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=Forum&file=viewtopic&topic=37548&forum=20

The following is the "cleaning fix" from that thread:
"1) Undo both bolts on 1 front caliper
2) Remove from disk/fork
3) ***Lightly*** squeeze the front brake lever until some of the "clean" metal of the piston barrel is showing.
4) Spray with "brakeclean" (top and bottom)
5) Use a medium flat blade screwdriver to open the pads/return the pistons
6) Refit caliper to fork/disk
7) Pump lever until firm/hard to get rid of sponginess from opening the pad gap
8) Repeat steps 1 to 7 for other caliper for Jap bike style firm lever action
9) Repeat 1 to 8 every few thousand Kms as necessary.

I did this at 2700KM, so I'm hoping it's not that often, around 5000KM when I do an oil change would be fine as you can do this while the oil drains from the sump.

This took all of 10mins including find sockets and screwdrivers to do the job.

I went for a 150KM rid this afternoon and had the brake lever set on position 2 and the brakes were great.

When I cleaned them the spray dissovled and removed a significant amount of gunk that looked like brake pad dust. It seems to be sticking to the pistons, preventing them from returning against the seals, giving a very spongy feely. Cleaning removes the gunk and the pistons return when the lever is released and the seals retract leaving you with a nice firm action feel."

Russ

 

[J-Pip]

I did this when I changed tires, it's not that difficult and the benefit is great. A bit of a hassle, but worth doing once a week till the damn dealer gets the parts in.

 

[Guest]

One good thing about my brakes, it's how I got onto these forum's to start with. I found how to do a temperary fix, and have done it about every 3,000klm's. It really bugs me how stubborn Triumph have been about the whole thing. If they had done a recall it would of saved us a lot of trouble. I find it hard to believe that nobody in the Newcastle area with a Sprint or Triple has complained about there brakes. I don't think I'll take my bike back there.
Any Aussies on here delt with Coff's or Gosford dealers? Already a 360klm round trip, what's a few extra k's on speedy.

 

[scrannel]

Mine had not yet reached the point of lever-hitting-bar, but were really mushy from day one. I felt I deserved the best brakes -- so instead of dicking around with the dealer fix, I did this. Brembos.

 

[Guest]

must be nice our dealer down in denver still hasn't gotten the parts yet and its been over a month and a half. GRRRRRRRR!!!! :finger:

Is that Foothills? My '05 is going in tomorrow to have the fix done.....hopefully. I called and told them what I wanted doing and gave them all the details:

"..... the installation of coated caliper pistons to the front brake calipers - claim type "GOODWILL", fault code 02020291 and repair code 12020205."

but wasn't convinced that they either understood what I was asking or that they will have the parts in. The service guys kept saying things like "mushy brakes, bring it in and we'll have a look".

I guess I'll find out tomorrow. :wtf:

 

[kcjones]

Those Brembos look sweet.
Mine's an '06 that was after the brake update, and the brakes are great, better than my friends '04 r1 (although he has about 9000 miles on, and his maintenance routine is to change the oil and wash the bike once a year, whether it needs it or not).

 

[scrannel]

must be nice our dealer down in denver still hasn't gotten the parts yet and its been over a month and a half. GRRRRRRRR!!!! :finger:

Is that Foothills? My '05 is going in tomorrow to have the fix done.....hopefully. I called and told them what I wanted doing and gave them all the details:

"..... the installation of coated caliper pistons to the front brake calipers - claim type "GOODWILL", fault code 02020291 and repair code 12020205."

but wasn't convinced that they either understood what I was asking or that they will have the parts in. The service guys kept saying things like "mushy brakes, bring it in and we'll have a look".

I guess I'll find out tomorrow. :wtf:

Yeah, and interestingly "Motor Cycle Usa" did a
shoot-out where the '06 Speedy finished dead last:

"...despite what appears to be top-notch components like
Nissin radial-mount calipers on 320mm rotors actuated through
braided brake lines, require a ridiculous amount of lever travel
before strong power is delivered."

and: "...It's worst scores were for its mushy brakes..."

In the article they mentioned Triumph said they had a 'fix' for the lousy brakes. Remind them they said that...

 

[Guest]

Been 4,000klm's since my brake fix and slowly getting soft again. No where near as bad as they used to be. Think I'll go for the GSXR brakes when I can afford it. Those brembo's look sweet too.

 

[zooplancton]

mine have been fixed now for several months and it's been permanent! always feels nice now.

 

[BUCKET]

wHEN I GOT MY 40,000km service done at Moto Arena at Nerang,Qld they cleaned the brakes and changed the fluid,they have been great ever since and the bike is just about to go back for the 50,000 service,ride on! :drink:

 

[kartstar]

Every time I read a thread like this I am soooo grateful to have a great dealer. They're out here, I swear! I bought my '05 used w/5600 miles from Myers Ducati-Triumph in Asheville NC. They were up front from the get-go: the service mgr knew about the recall, and ordered the updated pistons the day I bought the bike. He's the one who pushed me to get the recall done after doing the "special bleed" to keep me rolling until the parts came. He had the parts inside a week, set me an appointment to do the work in conjunction with my 6000 mile service, and had the bike in for only a couple days.

3500 miles since the recall was done, 1 day on the track, and my brakes feel as good as when I picked them up.

These guys have been nothing but good to me.

 

[Guest]

I'm reserving judgement on my dealer (Foothills in Denver). The parts hadn't yet come in but the service guy was aware of the fix and had ordered the pistons from Triumph. So time will tell......... :

 

[24gt]

dont hold your breath i've been waiting for the patrs to come in since febuary, from ericos. Do you think triumph thought if they just held out long enough that we would quit bitching about it?

 

[Guest]

Febuary! I'd be surprised if they have even ordered them if they are not here by now. Not great service especially considering the cost of the bike :jerkit: Let's see if Foothills come through......... ???

 

[Wheezer]

Recently picked up an 04 S3, and the feel of the front brake was really soft. I was used to two finger braking, and that just wasn't an option here. I thought a flush/bleed would take care of that. Not. My search here brought up the post from Ruscook on cleaning the caliper pistons. With the caliper off, and squeezing the lever, two of the pistons didn't move at all. I clamped one side to get the other side moving, then blocked the third piston, to get the fourth piston to move. Bingo. That cut the lever travel in half. It's still a softer feel than I was used to, but the braking power is there, without mashing my fingers.