Another brake problem!

[duganc1717]

So I bought a TLR yesterday and I noticed a slight brake pulsation. The closer to home I got (40 mile ride) the worse the problem became.

After a few hours I took the TLR for a quick ride and you can actually see the dip and rise when you apply the brake @ slow speeds?
Mainly when you are rolling up behind a car in traffic or parking lot around 20-25mph?

The bike is suppose to have new rotors and pads and brake fluid. Also is there any type of brake fluid that is a dark color?
The clutch and brakes are all suppose to have new fluids but, it looks pretty dark through the reservoirs.

[stoinkythepig]

Congrats on the new bike!

New brake fluid is never dark. New rotors don't have runout. Sellers often lie, I'm guessing you don't have new pads either...

[JohnnyV]

[DuncanMoto]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry9000/4.6.0.297 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102 UP.Link/6.3.1.20.0)

Put the bike on a stand and check the rotors and wheel for straightness.
I have recantly seen a wheel with crap on the rotor mount surface that caused that.
I have also seen a bent rim that had been staightened' but aparently not quite perfectly.

[duganc1717]

[duganc1717]

You can see in the pic of the controls the color in the clutch/brake reservoir's. Almost looks purple and all three look the same.

[R7]

I'm sorry!

Carry on

[Paul_E_D]

That's the new grape flavored brake fluid. tasty.

I'd try cleaning the rotors well and then using a 400 grit sandpaper to put a fresh crosshatch on them and see if it still does it. Its often just build up of oils and crap.

[Eric Baker]

DOT5 is purple.

[Pestilence]

DOT5 is purple.

and is NOT COMPATIBLE with any other kind of fluid. Read this.. DO NOT MIX WITH DOT 3 OR 4 or you'lll ruin the seals.

If it is in fact 5 and purple, it's silicone based and perfectly fine to keep using. It's a Hydrophobic fluid in that it won't absorb water like the 3's and 4's. It will however absorb air so requires a little extra bleeding to remove all the air from the system.

[duganc1717]

Pretty sure it's not purple! The clutch reservoir actually had sludge @ the bottom.

[Stegosaurous]

looks like motor oil....

Edit: Have you touched the stuff to see what color it is? Or maybe dip a paper towel in it and get a pic? But it sure is a nice looking bike.

[Jim]

if it's DOT3 or DOT4 & it needs a fluid change, bring it by this weekend & i'll help you out.

[Mad Max]

The pulsation could be caused by either a warped disc, or parts of the disc that have some type of residue on them such as fork oil, grease, etc.

Before I replaced my fork seals and after they started leaking, a little bit of fork oil got onto the brake assembly. The oil is gone but I think some of it may have soaked into the brake pads because the finish of the rotors is dark and burnished looking, unlike what it had been until the leak started. My brakes don't pulsate but they do seem to require much more lever effort than they used to.

You can almost see a dark area on the rotor in the right side shot of the bike, could just be the photo. I plan on disassembling my front brakes, scuffing the rotors, replacing the pads and also rebuilding the calipers and maybe the M/C over the winter. You might be able to just try what Paul said and cleaning the rotors and that could solve it. The brake fluid doesn't have anything to do with the pulsation but definitely flush it with fresh stuff.

Nice looking bike, BTW.

[gixerhp]

The pulsation could be caused by either a warped disc, or parts of the disc that have some type of residue on them such as fork oil, grease, etc.

Before I replaced my fork seals and after they started leaking, a little bit of fork oil got onto the brake assembly. The oil is gone but I think some of it may have soaked into the brake pads because the finish of the rotors is dark and burnished looking, unlike what it had been until the leak started. My brakes don't pulsate but they do seem to require much more lever effort than they used to.

You can almost see a dark area on the rotor in the right side shot of the bike, could just be the photo. I plan on disassembling my front brakes, scuffing the rotors, replacing the pads and also rebuilding the calipers and maybe the M/C over the winter. You might be able to just try what Paul said and cleaning the rotors and that could solve it. The brake fluid doesn't have anything to do with the pulsation but definitely flush it with fresh stuff.

Nice looking bike, BTW.

The Tokico calipers, are know for sticking, especially on the Busa's!
If there is new rotors on the bike also i would suspect that the calipers are in need of being rebuilt also!
I just rebuilt 2 sets of these for friends!

[customfighterer]

that literally looks like used motor oil in the brake resi! wtf?!

[Jim]

The Tokico calipers, are know for sticking, especially on the Busa's!
If there is new rotors on the bike also i would suspect that the calipers are in need of being rebuilt also!
I just rebuilt 2 sets of these for friends!

how much was the caliper rebuild kit? how long did it take? this is something i'm interested in doing this winter.

[gixerhp]

how much was the caliper rebuild kit? how long did it take? this is something i'm interested in doing this winter.

The seal kit for both calipers is around $60 my cost, then a hour of labor, if the calipers are off the bike!

[GixerJockey]

The closer to home I got (40 mile ride) the worse the problem became.

Don't ride near your house... Problem solved.

[Jim]

random thought, have you tried greasing the pivit on the lever

[duganc1717]

random thought, have you tried greasing the pivit on the lever

Jim thanks again for the help. Brakes feel a lot better than they did.

[Jim]

Jim thanks again for the help. Brakes feel a lot better than they did.

i'd replace those pads though. i'm getting a set of Performance Friction pads "99" application.

if you wanted to upgrade, get an 05+ GSXR master cylinder & stainless brake lines to fit. the M/C would be around $50 used & about $90 for the lines.

couldn't hurt to rebuild the calipers over the winter too, if you'd be replacing your lines.

[gixerhp]

i'd replace those pads though. i'm getting a set of Performance Friction pads "99" application.

if you wanted to upgrade, get an 05+ GSXR master cylinder & stainless brake lines to fit. the M/C would be around $50 used & about $90 for the lines.

couldn't hurt to rebuild the calipers over the winter too, if you'd be replacing your lines.

All three makes for a great upgrade!

[Jim]

All three makes for a great upgrade!

i'm getting a 19RCS with a caliper rebuild & Performance Friction pads to use on my SS lines and galfer wave rotors

[Mondo]

i'm getting a 19RCS with a caliper rebuild & Performance Friction pads to use on my SS lines and galfer wave rotors

oh arnt you special