Front Brake Problem
Thread Starter
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,906
Likes: 145
From: SE Louisiana
Front Brake Problem
I decided to flush the brakes on my recently-purchased '07 Deluxe. They both seemed to perform fine, but I didn't know if the original owner had ever changed the fluid, plus I wanted to install Speed Bleeders. Work on rear went smoothly, installed SB, pumped most of a bottle of DOT4 thru, closed it up. HOWEVER, on the front brake, I installed the SB, backed it off the prescribed amount, opened the master cylinder, added a bit of DOT4 to bring level up, then started pumping the lever. There was a trivial bit of flow out of the SB, then NOTHING! No matter how much I pumped, no flow, not even any feeling of resistance in the lever.
I'm not much of a wrench, just enjoy taking care of my own. So I'm asking y'all: What am I missing here? Could the system be blocked somehow/somewhere?
I'm not much of a wrench, just enjoy taking care of my own. So I'm asking y'all: What am I missing here? Could the system be blocked somehow/somewhere?
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,780
Likes: 69
From: Al Bu Ker Key, New Mexico
PBart,
This is a maintenance job that I have always wanted to do myself but have been hesitant to mess with for fear of screwing something up. Exactly what are the steps of installing a speed bleeder and what advantage does it provide? Dealers charge you a bundle for this simple job so I would like to know how easy it really is to do myself.
thanks!
This is a maintenance job that I have always wanted to do myself but have been hesitant to mess with for fear of screwing something up. Exactly what are the steps of installing a speed bleeder and what advantage does it provide? Dealers charge you a bundle for this simple job so I would like to know how easy it really is to do myself.
thanks!
Thread Starter
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,906
Likes: 145
From: SE Louisiana
1. Clean the area around the old bleeder screw.
2. Remove old bleeder screw and discard.
3. Screw in the Speed Bleeder until it seats.
4. Attach a piece of drain tubing, and unscrew Speed Bleeder 1/4-1/2 turn.
5. Slowly pump brake pedal/lever about 4-5 times.
6. After bubble-free fluid comes out of Speed Bleeder, close it down until it seats.
Main advantage I guess is it lets you bleed brakes easily and without requiring two people.
Last edited by PPBART; May 9, 2013 at 05:38 AM.
Thread Starter
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,906
Likes: 145
From: SE Louisiana
[quote=chopNdrop;11268948]Sounds like the speed bleeder is either malfunctioning or clogged...[quote]
Hmm... but why would there be no feeling of resistance at the lever?
Hmm... but why would there be no feeling of resistance at the lever?
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Tourer
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 312
Likes: 11
From: Winston Salem, NC
If you get air in the system, you will have a very mushy feeling. I bought a mighty-vac from Harbor Freight and it worked well before I bought speed bleeders.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,255
Likes: 112
From: Florida
I decided to flush the brakes on my recently-purchased '07 Deluxe. They both seemed to perform fine, but I didn't know if the original owner had ever changed the fluid, plus I wanted to install Speed Bleeders. Work on rear went smoothly, installed SB, pumped most of a bottle of DOT4 thru, closed it up. HOWEVER, on the front brake, I installed the SB, backed it off the prescribed amount, opened the master cylinder, added a bit of DOT4 to bring level up, then started pumping the lever. There was a trivial bit of flow out of the SB, then NOTHING! No matter how much I pumped, no flow, not even any feeling of resistance in the lever.
I'm not much of a wrench, just enjoy taking care of my own. So I'm asking y'all: What am I missing here? Could the system be blocked somehow/somewhere?
I'm not much of a wrench, just enjoy taking care of my own. So I'm asking y'all: What am I missing here? Could the system be blocked somehow/somewhere?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,255
Likes: 112
From: Florida
One more thing. When you're all done it wouldn't hurt to squeeze the brake lever and wrap a bungee cord around the lever and grip and leave there over night. Somehow this brings all the air bubbles to the surface in the MC and firms up a mushy lever......really it does work.