Originally posted by KSKat
(A) You may have a defective hose or coupling. Can happen with any manufacturered product. Contact Gaffer technical assistance with the symptoms and ask them to replace the lines.
(B) The crush washers for the brake lines need to be replaced. If you did not replace them, this could be part of the issue.
(C) Some Gaffer kits have been known to ship with the incorrect banjo bolts (right bolt diameter, wrong thread-turn ratio). If you had any problems with threading in the replacement banjo bolts by hand, you may have cross-stripped one of the receivers. I was also under the impression that Gaffer did not still make kits for both ends of the 98+ kats (I recall having to take a different firm's rear).
(D) If you are still using the cross-member above the front wheel as part of the brake line routing (i.e. - front brake kit uses three hoses, not two), you need to have the bike on the sidestand while bleeding the left side caliper, and it should be parked on the sidestand overnight when using the rubberband trick. Using the centerstand won't permit a clear uphill path for the air to transit.
(E) Invest in speed bleeders. I sell them cheaper than most anywhere else on the planet. These are one-way bleeder valves which will not permit air to go back into the lines and make bleeding a snap.
(F) When you replaced the pads, did you replace the piston caliper seals and clean the pistons thoroughly? It is not uncommon, especially when reusing existing seals, for the seals to unseat themselves when reassembling the caliper pistons into the body, and if the pistons were caked with debris (brake dust, etc) or if the pistons/piston-receivers were scratched or rusted, for the seal to tear itself up.
(G) The master cylinder seal can go bad, especially if using the wrong brake fluid or skimping too long on changing brake fluids.
Is there any leaking anywhere? Wipe the hoses & underside of the calipers down with a paper towel soaked in windex and then with dry paper towels. Pump up the brakes and then run a clean paper towel over the same areas -- did you find any moisture anywhere?
KNOW THIS: your brake action being soft is because of the air still in the system.
Cheers
=-= The CyberPoet
Comment