I replaced my front master cylinder with no bleeding necessary!

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BigSherm
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I replaced my front master cylinder with no bleeding necessary!

#1

Post by BigSherm »

Hi Fellas,

I ordered a smaller-bore front brake master to compliment my new stainless brake lines and improve my braking performance.
IMG_0295.JPG
IMG_0295.JPG (211.69 KiB) Viewed 278 times
It's meant for a Kawasaki Z1. Out of respect for what Mr. Honda did with this masterpiece, I reused the Honda reservoir cap!

I had already replaced the lines, and I got such a solid, air-free bleed, I was wondering if I'd be able to replicate that when I replaced the master cylinder.

Then I had a brainstorm! I unbolted both front brake calipers and took them off the brake discs so I could squeeze the brake pads together and pump all my fluid down in to the calipers. Then I soaked up the remaining fluid in the reservoir, replaced the master cylinder and pressed apart the brake pads, pumping about half an inch of air-free fluid back up into the new empty master cylinder and reservoir!

It worked!

All I had to do was top off the brake reservoir, and I still had the super-firm brake feel I had before!

I'm a genius!

Well, I feel like one, anyway! I'm sure someone has thought of this before, but I've never heard of it.

I hope someone else can use it.

One caution, though, make sure the reservoir cap is on when you spread the pads apart. If not, even if you spread them slowly, the brake fluid will shoot to the garage ceiling!

Scott
Last edited by BigSherm on Mon Feb 20, 2017 4:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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5speed
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Re: I replaced my front master cylinder with no bleeding necessary!

#2

Post by 5speed »

cool idea..
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Re: I replaced my front master cylinder with no bleeding necessary!

#3

Post by GLDCW »

I'm assuming the M/C that your replacing is empty when you un-bolt the brake line from it ? Then you re-attach the brake line to the "New" empty M/C that is empty ?

Forcing the 2 Calipers with the brake pads touching to open again would force any trapped air that would enter the brake line at the M/C when it was removed ?
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Re: I replaced my front master cylinder with no bleeding necessary!

#4

Post by BigSherm »

Yep!
Much of the fluid was pumped down into the calipers when they were removed from the disks and then pumped closed.
I soaked up the rest out of the reservoir with a rag before removing the old master cylinder.
Then when I attached the new master cylinder and spread the pads apart, that returned much of the fluid to the new master cylinder. All I had to do was top it off and the lines were still air free!

Scott
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Sugs
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Re: I replaced my front master cylinder with no bleeding necessary!

#5

Post by Sugs »

I did the same thing when I replaced my master cylinder with one from a cbr f4i. Worked great. Wish it was going to be that easy when I rebuild my calipers.
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Re: I replaced my front master cylinder with no bleeding necessary!

#6

Post by ericheath »

Cool, thanks for the tip.
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Re: I replaced my front master cylinder with no bleeding necessary!

#7

Post by GLDCW »

How difficult was it to spread the brake pads apart when you pumped the brake lever to where the pads were touching when the calipers were removed from the forks ? Weren't you afraid that pushing the pad out that far that the piston in the caliper would move past the seal in the caliper bore ?
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Re: I replaced my front master cylinder with no bleeding necessary!

#8

Post by robin1731 »

GLDCW wrote:How difficult was it to spread the brake pads apart when you pumped the brake lever to where the pads were touching when the calipers were removed from the forks ? Weren't you afraid that pushing the pad out that far that the piston in the caliper would move past the seal in the caliper bore ?
With the pads in there it would be about impossible to push the piston out that far. They are pretty long.

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Re: I replaced my front master cylinder with no bleeding necessary!

#9

Post by BigSherm »

GLDCW-
I'm not sure how close I was to pushing the caliper pistons too far, but I had no problems after pushing them back in.

Just got a break in the storms of the century here in SoCal and took a short test ride.

The brakes feel great!

Scott
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Re: I replaced my front master cylinder with no bleeding necessary!

#10

Post by GLDCW »

BigSherm, Worked like a Charm action1 Peformed procedure as outlined above and re-attached the brake line on New M/C. Brake pads were very easy to squeeze by hand back into calipers to provide enough gap to slide over brake rotors. Topped off M/C with brake fluid and pumped the brake lever several times to regain brake lever travel. Smaller bore M/C ( 5/8" ) feels so much better with less brake lever travel :-D :-D Look forward to riding the bike soon and see the difference in brake performance dancr Thanks again for the TIP anim-cheers1
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Re: I replaced my front master cylinder with no bleeding necessary!

#11

Post by BigSherm »

You're welcome!
It worked so well, and saved so much hassle, I'm still surprised I've never heard of this before.

Scott
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jdvorchak
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Re: I replaced my front master cylinder with no bleeding necessary!

#12

Post by jdvorchak »

I would be tempted to just put a big flat blade screwdriver, or any robust steel plate, between the pads and then pump it up. In my mind that would cause less marring to the pads when it's time to push them back into the calipers. I keep my old worn out pads and use them when I want to pry against a pad to compress the piston.
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Re: I replaced my front master cylinder with no bleeding necessary!

#13

Post by warhead_71 »

Great idea. Thanks for sharing!
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Re: I replaced my front master cylinder with no bleeding necessary!

#14

Post by GLDCW »

http://www.ebay.com/itm/401043758059?_t ... EBIDX%3AIT

This is the Link to the M/C that I used on my 75' Wing. Finish is real Nice and after installing, brake lever feels really good. Look forward riding it tomorrow :-D
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Re: I replaced my front master cylinder with no bleeding necessary!

#15

Post by GLDCW »

I just received my SS 3-Line front brake line kit from Galfer. Very Nice Kit and extremely Fast delivery !

I'm wondering if removing the front calipers and squeezing the brake pads together would ease the installation of the new brake lines without dealing with the laborious bleeding method ?

If not, any other Tips ?
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