rubbish brakes, any ideas?

[triumph]

Ive given up on the brakes on my zerox, when it was new they had absolutely amazing stopping power but then it started to fade, sent it back to the importer (danfay) and they didnt fix it. Ive recently replaced the front disk and master cylinder. Ive had to replace the master cylinders 3 times??? they keep wearing out and as a result the levers arent being pushed out enough to turn off the brake lights so have to keep replacing them??? anyone else have this problem? Theyre brembo callipers and master cylinders. The pads are always kept within the safe wear limits (EBC/ scandanavian brake systems) i dont abuse the brakes or drive the bike hard so its not that. And ive bled the system of any air. I can lock up the wheels no problem its just that i really have to squeeze the crap out of the levers to get any decent response and from doing this over time i now have really sore joints in my fingers. I want them back the way that they were where i just had to barely touch the levers and the pads would bite onto the disks and stop me without any effort. Any ideas?

[dobo]

Braided lines maybe? Maybe the actual lines you have on there are a bit haggered..

How do you mean you've had to replace the master cyl 3 times, would have thought that shouldnt "wear out"
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[triumph]

Originally Posted by dobo

Braided lines maybe? Maybe the actual lines you have on there are a bit haggered..

How do you mean you've had to replace the master cyl 3 times, would have thought that shouldnt "wear out"
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thats why im so pissed off! they shouldnt wear out but they do. Im not a fan of brembo brakes, my brothers bike has a brembo front calliper and its given trouble before too. The bike was trouble from day one when new, i sent it back to the shop i got it in with 3 A4 pages of faults. The bike was dangerous when new, the lights turned themselves on and off, the throttle jammed full on, engine wouldnt start, battery wouldnt charge, locks didnt work etc. In the end i had to pull the bike appart and fix it all myself as the damn shop couldnt solve the problems
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[dobo]

Name and Shame!!
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As regards the brakes, I dont know then, would have thought it can only be a certain number of things..ie air in hoses, leaking fluid, new pads, not enough fluid etc etc...are they wearing out in that theyre rusting or something, is it one of those plastic ones or like a little metal box
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Have you any adjustment on the levers to correct, or theyre not plastic levers or something (doubt it like but you never know, dealer sounds like a cowboy)...

[triumph]

Originally Posted by dobo

Name and Shame!!
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As regards the brakes, I dont know then, would have thought it can only be a certain number of things..ie air in hoses, leaking fluid, new pads, not enough fluid etc etc...are they wearing out in that theyre rusting or something, is it one of those plastic ones or like a little metal box
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Have you any adjustment on the levers to correct, or theyre not plastic levers or something (doubt it like but you never know, dealer sounds like a cowboy)...

no dealer was actually a really good shop, very well known. Theyre family friends which made it awkward, take my fathers advice and never do business with family or friends. The calliper is all metal with a gold finish, has braided hoses, and the master cylinder and lever are alloy. The return in the lever just wears out almost as if the spring or whatever it is has vanished. Id think that the seals inside the cylinder must wear out and stop giving a good seal hence loosing pressure in the lines? thats all i can think of

[KTMkenny]

its really important that the correct fluid that brembo recommend is used . there are many grades.
worth a cheak.
by the way. master cylinders dont really wear out. the seals may. and it takes a good few years for that to happen.

[triumph]

Originally Posted by mrkennethporter

its really important that the correct fluid that brembo recommend is used . there are many grades.
worth a cheak.
by the way. master cylinders dont really wear out. the seals may. and it takes a good few years for that to happen.

yeah im using the recommended fluid. Its just really frustrating, like they still work fine its just annoying when i think how powerful they used to be plus theyre wrecking my fingers. And your right they shouldnt wear out
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i'll show ya the worn out ones if you dont believe it! the bike is high enough milage for a 2 stroke (31,000 miles) but they still shouldnt wear out. Is it possible to get brake seal kits still like back in the good auld days?

[chopper]

Originally Posted by triumph

yeah im using the recommended fluid. Its just really frustrating, like they still work fine its just annoying when i think how powerful they used to be plus theyre wrecking my fingers. And your right they shouldnt wear out
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i'll show ya the worn out ones if you dont believe it! the bike is high enough milage for a 2 stroke (31,000 miles) but they still shouldnt wear out. Is it possible to get brake seal kits still like back in the good auld days?

are ya using sintered pads, they would help.
could there be oil or some other substance on the disc ?is the disc drilled ?

[triumph]

Originally Posted by chopper

are ya using sintered pads, they would help.
could there be oil or some other substance on the disc ?is the disc drilled ?

hey chop, not sure what the pads are, i just bought them and fitted them, it has EBC and scandanavian brake system pads in it. Cant remember which end has which pads though. The disks have been factory drilled for cooling, the front one is new only has a thousand or so miles on it but still made no difference. Oil on the pads is a possibility but i dont think thats it as the braking isnt really much different when i fit fresh pads? I reckon that the problem is with the master cylinders but when ever i replace them theyre grand for a few thousand miles and then they start fading again but theyve never been like new again. I dont think that its my driving style recking them as i take it pretty easy. It just bugging me/absolutely wrecking my hands. Ive completely run out of ideas for what it could be. At this stage all i can think of would be to replace everything. I'll be laying the bike up in two month but i just want to fix the problem myself before i go. I dont like it when something beats me
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[chopper]

Originally Posted by triumph

hey chop, not sure what the pads are, i just bought them and fitted them, it has EBC and scandanavian brake system pads in it. Cant remember which end has which pads though. The disks have been factory drilled for cooling, the front one is new only has a thousand or so miles on it but still made no difference. Oil on the pads is a possibility but i dont think thats it as the braking isnt really much different when i fit fresh pads? I reckon that the problem is with the master cylinders but when ever i replace them theyre grand for a few thousand miles and then they start fading again but theyve never been like new again. I dont think that its my driving style recking them as i take it pretty easy. It just bugging me/absolutely wrecking my hands. Ive absolutely run out of ideas for what it could be. At this stage all i can think of would be to replace everything. I'll be laying the bike up in two month but i just want to fix the problem myself before i go. I dont like it when something beats me
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if ya can......
send one o them oul m/cyls this way and ill take a look and see whats up with it

[triumph]

Originally Posted by chopper

if ya can......
send one o them oul m/cyls this way and ill take a look and see whats up with it

your around trim aint ya? ive kept two of them incase i ever decide to make a go kart and need brakes
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theyre fairly well enclosed, to be honest i dont think they can be stripped, just the brake switch and lid for the reservoir. I'd think they'd have to be cut open for a look at the seals

[triumph]

your around trim aint ya? ive kept two of them incase i ever decide to make a go kart and need brakes
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theyre fairly well enclosed, to be honest i dont think they can be stripped, just the brake switch and lid for the reservoir. I'd think they'd have to be cut open for a look at the seals



also i sometimes get a shudder on the front brakes, its exactly like you'd get with a warped disk but it aint warped? Its an odd bike, reliable as heck though

[panther600]

youre cylinders shouldnt be failing.has to be some other reason.its one of them conundrums wrapped up in an enigma.

[FlatKnuckles]

I have Brembos. I also have cable issues. Not with the breaks but with the throttle assembly. The fluid isn't spoiled or too low is it??

[LittleBlackBlade]

dude you need new brake lines. you've done everything else.. if all was done well can only be you or the brake lines!!!!!!

[SMcN]

Try using sintered brake pads, I had a similar problem on my mx bike. I had to really squeeze the lever
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and i was told to use EBC sintered pads. They work a treat!!