Any tips on bleeding front caliper?
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Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 620
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Any tips on bleeding front caliper?
06 Streetbob, changed the fluid, a pain in my side to bleed. Gonna let it sit over night with resevor cap off and lever tied down, any suggestions?
Dosen't seem like the line is taking in any fluid.
Dosen't seem like the line is taking in any fluid.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 886
Likes: 6
Do you have a service manual? Have you ever bled brakes on any other vehicle? What seems to be the issue. You are aware that you have to open the bleeder valve and then slowly pull the brake lever, with the brake lever pulled all the way, hold it close the valve, slowly let the brake lever out, repeat until all air is out of the line, then ensure the bleeder valve is closed and fill the reservoir. I doubt that just leaving the valve open and the lever tied back is the way to go...
If you are doing it by yourself you can get the speed bleeders or a bleeder kit (you should be able to find it at a dealer or any motorcycle parts catalog.
If you are doing it by yourself you can get the speed bleeders or a bleeder kit (you should be able to find it at a dealer or any motorcycle parts catalog.
Last edited by bigmikaele; Apr 1, 2011 at 09:36 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 7,736
Likes: 1,524
From: Coromandel Peninsula New Zealand
Cap on and lever tied back can help but the real trick is to unbolt the caliper and raise it up high. Don't drain fluid and then replace if it want an easy time of it....bleed old fluid out and top up as it gets real low in the resevoir....you'll know when to stop because the fluid coming out of the bleed pipe will be clear(er).
You may need to unbolt the brake line and raise it up to get it to bleed before bolting back on caliper.
You may need to unbolt the brake line and raise it up to get it to bleed before bolting back on caliper.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 149
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From: wichita, ks
I just rebuilt my front caliper, and while I was picking up the parts I bought a speed bleeder for it (3/8-24). It was the first time I've ever used one and it is by far the easiest way I've ever bled brakes. Just open a 1/2 turn and slowly pump the lever til bubbles quit coming out, close the valve and your done.
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From: TOAK western branch
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6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2011
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From: Australia
This is the best way. you can buy brake Bleeder kits but I find the above to work best
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Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,629
Likes: 46
From: East Hartford, CT
Best results for me was to purchase a brake bleeding kit from sears and hook up the line (I used small clear tubing from fish tank) to cover the bleeder and open the cover and pour as needed while you suck every once of old dirty fluid out replaced with new clean.
works great and gets the abrasive old fluid out keeping your brake system clean.
If you did that every 10,000 miles it would stay trouble free.
I learned that from a harley mechanic. Made sense to me.
Fast clean job.
works great and gets the abrasive old fluid out keeping your brake system clean.
If you did that every 10,000 miles it would stay trouble free.
I learned that from a harley mechanic. Made sense to me.
Fast clean job.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 402
Likes: 1
From: central ma
Here's what u do .. buy yourself one of those meat marinader syringes. The one I picked up cost $15 and had a large needle that fit perfectly on my bleeder hose. Next you simply stick syringe into the end of your bleeder hose. Now with the bleeder closed you pull up on the handle like you were drawing blood. This is gonna create a vacuum. Now all you do is crack open your bleeder and all your air gets sucked into the syringe. This should also draw fluid into the line at the same time.