Front brake diagnosis...

[mad]

...on my ZX14. I know many of us have ZX14 front ends on our ZRXs so thought I'd ask a question. My ZX14 front brakes have pretty much failed. I pulled the front lines to clean the front calipers etc. because the last time out riding the pads were rubbing excessively / not retracting enough and actually blued the front rotors slightly from heat. In any case, I pulled the calipers, lines and all, pulled the pads and cleaned out the crud from around the pistons then reassembled. Nothing seemed amiss. I for the life of me can not get good brake pressure back into the system. I've used my mighty vac to bleed as usual for multiple bleeds of the entire front system. I've bled from both calipers as well as the master (3 points total) several times and the lever remains fairly ineffective. Full squeeze to the grip with barely any feel or braking action at all. I'm a bit puzzled. Could it be trapped air SOMEWHERE in the system? I hope so. Could the master be "bad", though I wouldn't know the symptoms. I have absolutely no fluid leaks that I can find. The big whale would stoppie before and now I won't ride it until it can just stop. Thoughts or techniques fully appreciated ladies and gents.

[Hance]

Sounds like the master cyl was gummed up and not releasing all the pressure thus pistons couldn't retract off the rotor. If that was the case then the master needs some serious cleaning... the hole is tiny, and yes a gummed up hole will effect the bleeding procedure.

[skandix]

Sounds like the master cyl was gummed up and not releasing all the pressure thus pistons couldn't retract off the rotor. If that was the case then the master needs some serious cleaning... the hole is tiny, and yes a gummed up hole will effect the bleeding procedure.

+1, the ZX14 brakes have been the easiest ever to bleed and refill. I just filled the master, with the right caliper bleed valve opened, pumped several times-filled, moved to the left, opend the bleed valve, pumped 2x times as i filled the master. done! Never so easy. I did notice that my inner left pad was not retracing all the way. It was not causing any heating issue with the rotor, just annoying. So I cleaned the piston and used quite brake glue. made the pad stick to the piston. No more issues.

Check your Master.

[hydrashoks]

master

master

where's the brakes that i've been after

master

master

you promised only lies

[Hance]

Sounds like the master cyl was gummed up and not releasing all the pressure thus pistons couldn't retract off the rotor. If that was the case then the master needs some serious cleaning... the hole is tiny, and yes a gummed up hole will effect the bleeding procedure.

I just re-read this...

[hydrashoks]

I just re-read this...

[mad]

Thanks! Will continue that direction. So if I do it correctly, I won't end up with a gummy hole?