Rear brakes

[hitmanh]

Hi all,

I've got an issue with the fluid in my rear brakes... it looks like turkish coffee. I discovered this yesterday when riding a loaded bike through welsh hill country in the rain, the lack of any real power in the rear brakes was an unpleasent surprise.

The brake fluid was last changed about 3500 miles ago by a dealer. Is it usual for it to go off so quick? I'm thinking about replacing the reservoir lid seal is there anything else I should be looking at before I bleed the fluid?

Bike is a 2001 850r, non-ABS.

Cheers

Matt

 

[John Armstrong]

How many years / months has it taken to do the 3500 miles?

Service schedule for brake fluid changes is IIRC in calendar periodicity.

 

[hitmanh]

How many years / months has it taken to do the 3500 miles?

Service schedule for brake fluid changes is IIRC in calendar periodicity.

The service was april this year, and just to add, the brakes were fine going into Wales

 

[sproggy]

The brake fluid was last changed about 3500 miles ago by a dealer.

Are you sure they changed it? Rather than just charged you for changing it......? It doesn't sound much like 4 month old fluid.

 

[hitmanh]

Are you sure they changed it? Rather than just charged you for changing it......? It doesn't sound much like 4 month old fluid.

Er... well I didn't actually check at the time, always a possibility.

 

[Stewart H]

I change my brake fluid once a year myself, it goes in almost the colour of water and comes out just a tiny bit darker, I have had difficulty getting all of the air out of the rear end, needing to have a couple of tries before getting the pedal to feel firm enough.

Stewart

 

[Mzokk]

I change my brake fluid once a year myself, it goes in almost the colour of water and comes out just a tiny bit darker, I have had difficulty getting all of the air out of the rear end, needing to have a couple of tries before getting the pedal to feel firm enough.

Stewart

Do mine every year as well. Costs pence and doesn't take much time esp on a non servo non ABS bike

Should not have an issue with air if you don't let any in in the first place.

 

[hitmanh]

I need to get the calipers off for a clean, depending on the condition of the calipers I might also order the refurb kit and replace the seals and replace the rubber hose with braided steel ones. Give me a good chance to take a look at the master cylibder to.

Cheers

Matt

 

[Stewart H]

Do mine every year as well. Costs pence and doesn't take much time esp on a non servo non ABS bike

Should not have an issue with air if you don't let any in in the first place.

I have ABS, the persistent bit of air got in when I put the braided hoses on and pulled the pistons out of the caliper for a good coat of looking at, I use plastic syringes to bleed the system backwards, works a treat and normal fluid changes are painless
Stewart

 

[King Rat]

Stewart, just goes to show, you should only fix it when it has gone wrong.

Ride it like you stole it.