Thank you: Rear brake works now!

**Flyingpony** · 15th July 2005, 01:02

Question & solution post can be found here

After getting new chain & sprockets installed, the rear brake suddenly stopped working.

Thanks to all for your advice, both for brakes and my diet. Frosty’s advice was detailed and simple enough, I could follow it.

Following his advice:
Removed the clipper unit and gave one pump. If you do two or more

Needless to say, you'll need a screwdriver or such to force apart the brake pads.
It was very tight and required heaps of wiggling before it was finally on.
Braking performance improved greatly but wasn’t spot on. At least it could lockup on very smooth concrete with some effort.

The brake fluid bleed:
Decided to replace the brake fluid as it was old (2.5yrs). Had never done this before but felt there was nothing to lose in terms of braking performance because it wasn't really working anyway at this stage. Got two very large air bubbles out during the first half dozen pumps. Ended pumping one and bit reservoirs through. Interesting though, the old brake fluid was dark red, but the new DOT4 is actually clear?
Brake performance has been restored.

I've still to replace the front brake fluid - winter daylights are short. So hopefully this weekend - rubbing hands together in anticipation.

**Flyingpony** · 23rd July 2005, 22:21

Did the front brake last weekend. Took less than 15 minutes.

Got no air bubbles but the old fluid was much dirtier than rear done weekend before.

Tested the front brake and quite freaky though, got the rear end to up lift slightly. Could hear the rear wheel doing tiny lock ups has downward weight pressure disappeared. Done some 20 test brakes at various speeds/pressures before giving the all clear.

Note: Brake fluid tastes slightly horrible and bitter

[overfilled reservoir so used my brake bleeding hose to suck some out - oops]

Feel a lot more confident with working on the bike now that I’ve learnt another skill. Interesting how shops were going to charge me $50 and my own home made bleed hose [here] saved another $25+.