front brake lever travel - a worry...

[cocciag]

I've noticed that my front brake lever has started to travel far further than it used to - a good two-fingered squeeze used to pull the lever about 2 cm back and if I kept the same pressure on, the lever moved no further. Now, if I maintain pressure, the lever slowly continues to come back to the hand grip... until it eventually meets it.

I can't spot any signs of fluid leakage... so has anyone had this problem before or any ideas that it might be ?

ta,
cocciag

 

[Chris G]

I've noticed that my front brake lever has started to travel far further than it used to - a good two-fingered squeeze used to pull the lever about 2 cm back and if I kept the same pressure on, the lever moved no further. Now, if I maintain pressure, the lever slowly continues to come back to the hand grip... until it eventually meets it.

I can't spot any signs of fluid leakage... so has anyone had this problem before or any ideas that it might be ?

ta,
cocciag

have you recently done or had done a brake fliud change


cos if so the crud built up on the master cylinder piston tends to drag itself thruogh the seals and then you have leaks

 

[ferguscawley]

Bleed 'em !!!

Sounds to me like you have got air in the system. This happens as brake fluid ages - it absorbs moisture due to it being hygroscopic and then when you brake, the heat in the calipers causes the water in the fluid to boil - releasing air bubbles into the fluid, causing the spongy effect you are experiencing.

Bleed the brakes and replace the fluid with nice fresh stuff. Should take you no more than 20 minutes to do.
Do a search on bleeding brakes if you have not done it before.

ferg

 

[cocciag]

thanks guys.

looks like my saturday morning is now spoken for.

cocciag.

 

[Lord Snooty]

Replace your fluid with new. The easiest way which avoids having to bleed them is to us a vacuum pump at the caliper end. Suck the fluid through the system until fresh fluid shows in the pump reservoir, make sure you keep the master cylinder topped up though. I do mine round my mate's cos he has a compressor and it takes about 5 mins to do the front brakes. There are hand pumps available that will also do the job - try car accessory shops. A good investment cos bleeding brakes manually is a PITA.