Brake dilemna

[bigred875]

Ok the master cylinder on the z1k sucks ass.. I need to swap it out... I would like to fit one from a 636 to it..... what do i need to do to make this happen. I feel this should be pretty easy but I'd like to make sure before i buy parts..

I plan on adding some SS lines and new pads as well...

[VinceF2]

what sucks about it? doesn't stoppy well enough for ya Big Bastid!!!


No seriously... you a Big Bastid... ok no really... I can't imagine a 2003 master cylinder is "that" crappy... not like ya racin with it ya Big Bastid!!!

[VinceF2]

I guess I could be somewhat usefull

Changing the MC etc is easy... I'm putting an R6 setup on the FZR if you want to see just how easy

ya Big Bastid...

[bigred875]

thats what i figured.. and yes it really is that bad.. I have to bled them a lot..and even when fully bled they are still not great. Not a lot of pressure.. any setting besides "1" on the lever is out of the question..

the problem is that they stop fine but the lever is squishly and has too much play in the begining.. this is a problem with all of the Z's.. it is one of those bike specific things you either just deal with or try to address..

I need to fix it cuz there I have little throttle control when cramming on the brakes because the lever is about touching the bar...

[Tricky Mike]

SS lines, HH pads and clean fluid should make a huge difference. Is the M/C piston diameter the same between the 636 and the 1K?

[bigred875]

Originally posted by trickphoto
SS lines, HH pads and clean fluid should make a huge difference. Is the M/C piston diameter the same between the 636 and the 1K?

it make a small differnce but is a banaid fix...the master cylinder is the problem

[oreo_n2]

i bleed mine all the time for the same reason.... it makes the brakes work good.... til the next track day.

i blamed it on cooked brake fluid from the track. it would be interesting to see how this effects your ride.

[bigred875]

Originally posted by oreo_n2
i bleed mine all the time for the same reason.... it makes the brakes work good.... til the next track day.

i blamed it on cooked brake fluid from the track. it would be interesting to see how this effects your ride.

if you check the Z forum they come squishy from the factory.... I know mine did...but it was never really an issue until recently...I actually think mine is mal-functioning.. I suspect changing the fluids would help and the new lines but like I said..it is a bandaid fix..

have you tried pumping the brake then ziptieing the lever to the bar and leaving it on over night.. that helps too..it pushes any bubbles you may not be able to get on a normal bleed

[Tricky Mike]

Originally posted by bigred875
it make a small differnce but is a banaid fix...the master cylinder is the problem

Gotcha. My $.02 is to look into the piston diameters of the two M/C's. If the 636 M/C piston is a few millimeters bigger or smaller (I'm guessing it is) you may not be too happy with the results.

[ZX-12R]

Originally posted by bigred875
if you check the Z forum they come squishy from the factory.... I know mine did...but it was never really an issue until recently.

I think it is the same for most of Kawasaki's lineup. My '04 12R has a soft lever but it is very progressive and scrubs speed off fast.

When I first got the bike, I was concerned about it until I felt the brake lever on Kahm's '04 10R and it felt the exact same way.

Maybe Hberry can chime in about his '04 636. I bet it is similar.

[richw]

Do you have a mitey vac to vacuum bleed the brakes

Sucks it clean through at speed entrapping the little bubbles

Also had success cracking and bleeding each banjo fitting in turn

Apparent poor braking needing extra pressure is also a simptom of brake spooge on rotors and pads. Solvent clean

Much of brake free travel would be from the caliper pistons moving in and out and new master will not change this

Also if the resevior has a plate over the return holes take it out when you bleed them sometimes it will block the last bubble in the master cylinder

[HBerry]

My brakes are pretty squishy! I havent felt a lot of brakes, but Eugene told me that they were squishy and I should switch to steel braided lines. I will probably do this eventually!

[oreo_n2]

i put the steel lines on last year.... very noticeable difference!
But they still need to be bled after each track day.

Brians old ZX10 front brake lever could touch the bar without much effort in stock form... he went a different route and changed out the whole system to brembo or something like that.

it must be a kawi thing?

[OreoGaborio]

eh, mine aren't that bad. I only use two fingers but it takes some effort to make the lever hit my ring & pinkey fingers.

I do, however, not like how much free play there is before the pads grab. I'm gonna try & source out some HH pads & get em in before the next tracday.

[Kham]

Originally posted by ZX-12R
I think it is the same for most of Kawasaki's lineup. My '04 12R has a soft lever but it is very progressive and scrubs speed off fast.

When I first got the bike, I was concerned about it until I felt the brake lever on Kahm's '04 10R and it felt the exact same way.

Maybe Hberry can chime in about his '04 636. I bet it is similar.

sure is.

[TheIglu]

Eugene keeps touching my front brakes at MM every thursday. I think they feel fine. I'm betting you could pick up a Z-Rex setup for less than a 636 setup.

[Honclfibr]

Originally posted by oreo_n2
it must be a kawi thing?

Yeah mine were similar to everyone else's stock, the lever was a bit soft and spongy but would still brake just fine. Then I put in a set of carbon lorraine pads and stainless lines, now they bit hard with very little travel.

I've heard the arguments in favor of the softer, more progressive braking feel and they make sense...As long as you can reach maximum braking in your levers, you're better off with a longer pull as it gives you more room to modulate...whereas if I were to pull my lever in all the way I would be getting an up close and personal view of my bikes rear end...OTOH it makes me feel better to gently squeeze the lever braking for turn one and have the brakes bite hard and solid...let's me know they're not going to let me down and turn the bike into wall pizza...it's a mental thing sure but I like it.