Bleeding Bloody Bleeding Brakes

[gwigs]

Hi Guys,I,m having a real hard time getting my front brakes bled.
My brakes were dragging a little bit so I pulled the callipers apart ,cleaned them and when I bled them I couldnt get
decent pressure ,you could pull the lever back to the handlebars.
So I pulled em apart again and put in new seals, boots and new pads.
Spent 6 hours trying to get good pressure...
If I clamp off the hoses or even just 1 side just above the calliper...hey presto pressure .
If I clamp off hose from master cylinder....pressure.
I cant see it being a master cylinder problem.
I have bled many brake systems on cars and never had such problems.
I,d be ripping my hair out if it wasnt so short ,just got a number 3.
Hoping someone might have some clues for me
Thanks in advance
By the way its a gsx 1100f suzi

[unstuck]

Sounds like you still have air in the caliper.

[gwigs]

Think I have it solved,some how put callipers on wrong sides last time I had them off,
the hoses need to come into the callipers from the bottom so that the bleed niples are higher
so as not to trap air.....will find out soon wont take long to swap em over.....
Found this out by googling it ......love the interweb....
Will keep you posted

[gwigs]

Think I have it solved,some how put callipers on wrong sides last time I had them off,
the hoses need to come into the callipers from the bottom so that the bleed niples are higher
so as not to trap air.....will find out soon wont take long to swap em over.....
Found this out by googling it ......love the interweb....
Will keep you posted

Thats was a good theory but they go on one side only.....still I had some hope for a few minutes

[FJRider]

Any air bubbles in the clear bleed line from the bleed nipple .. to your waste bottle ... ???

Bleed one caliper at a time. Keep the reservoir topped up.

Sounds like it's sucking air in.

[Ocean1]

Thats was a good theory but they go on one side only.....still I had some hope for a few minutes

Take the calipers off and turn them over so the bleed nipple is at the top. Find something disc thickness and flat to keep the pads in place.

If that don't help try taking the hose off at the caliper, put the caliper in a vice nipple up and bleed it there first.

[BoristheBiter]

If they are anything like the gixxer's brakes you need a vacuum pump thingy or you will be there all day.

I changed my front pads and they burped so I tried to bleed them and after 4 hrs I went to the bike shop, they stuck a little machine on them and 10sec later (ok maybe a bit longer) they where done.

They said I could do them the way I had been but it takes for ever.

[Drew]

You have trapped air in the master cylinder.

Put it at such an angle, ( I lean the bike over, and requires having only just enough fluid so as not to spill), so that the banjo bolt is lower than where the fluid enters the master. Move the lever in and out a very small amount until bubbles stop coming out.

Then bleed the calipers.

I am nearly always right when I tell people this after they have removed the lines for whatever reason, and I still have to argue half the time. So this time, I've said it, ignore me if you want.

[gwigs]

You have trapped air in the master cylinder.

Put it at such an angle, ( I lean the bike over, and requires having only just enough fluid so as not to spill), so that the banjo bolt is lower than where the fluid enters the master. Move the lever in and out a very small amount until bubbles stop coming out.

Then bleed the calipers.

I am nearly always right when I tell people this after they have removed the lines for whatever reason, and I still have to argue half the time. So this time, I've said it, ignore me if you want.

Thanks Drew I,ll give it a go

[DEATH_INC.]

What I do is get a CLEAN oilcan and pump the fluid from the bottom up to get 'em started....works every time.

[spanner spinner]

yep as allready eluded to the air is traped in the elbow of the master cylinders, I always borrow a spare set of hands and unbolt the master cylinder then tip it to a angle that puts the banjo bolt out put lower than reservoir. It will then bleed up.

[gwigs]

Tried Drews method put bike on side stand ,pressure a little bit better but
but still going around in in ever depressing circles.
Given up for the night ,but I fucken hate letting machines win,so
I aint beaten yet but extremely dissapointed,I will be victorious

[Zedder]

Tried Drews method put bike on side stand ,pressure a little bit better but
but still going around in in ever depressing circles.
Given up for the night ,but I fucken hate letting machines win,so
I aint beaten yet but extremely dissapointed,I will be victorious

Apply the brake then hold it in with a cable tie and leave it for at least an hour.

[Coolz]

One thing you could try...leave the resovoir cap loose and tape the lever hard up to the twistgrip. Leave it overnight. The theory being that air bubbles rise and it will self bleed overnight. Doesn't always work but worth a try.

[bogan]

Take the calipers off and turn them over so the bleed nipple is at the top. Find something disc thickness and flat to keep the pads in place.

If that don't help try taking the hose off at the caliper, put the caliper in a vice nipple up and bleed it there first.

+1 to this plan. Make sure to crack the banjo's a bit too, sometimes the air gets trapped in there; messy bleed but often gets results.

Also, its not just that the piston are over retracting each time?

One thing you could try...leave the resovoir cap loose and tape the lever hard up to the twistgrip. Leave it overnight. The theory being that air bubbles rise and it will self bleed overnight. Doesn't always work but worth a try.

That doesn't make any sense, if it would self bleed why wouldn't it do it without taping the lever?