argentum40 Posted September 18, 2011 Share Posted September 18, 2011 Ok the front and rear brakes do work okish but not as well as they should... When the lever is pulled the pads have a 'hard' feel to them.. Would you change the pads all round ( still plenty of meat on em) or replace the fluid all round or maybe both?..Can pads go 'off' if the bike has been standing for some time?... thanks lads Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hammer5 Posted September 18, 2011 Share Posted September 18, 2011 Might need bedding in and the rust/contamination removing if they haven't been used for a while and giving them a bleed and clean new fluid won't harm BB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mealexme Posted September 18, 2011 Share Posted September 18, 2011 can you try and give a better explanation of "hard"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
argentum40 Posted September 18, 2011 Author Share Posted September 18, 2011 better explanation of hard??... lol.... ok only other way to explain it would be that it feels like the pads are down to metal but they are not... theres very little squeezability in the lever... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mealexme Posted September 18, 2011 Share Posted September 18, 2011 better explanation of hard??... lol.... ok only other way to explain it would be that it feels like the pads are down to metal but they are not... theres very little squeezability in the lever...Ah, well as BB3lions said, try removing the rust/contamination. You can do this by using the brakes over and over again or by using fine sand paper and lighly sanding it off the pads (but make sure no sand/glass from the sand paper is still on the pads before fitting them again)The pads shouldn't need replacing though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin the Bear Posted September 18, 2011 Share Posted September 18, 2011 Brakes should feel hard. Any "squeezyness" in the pedal/lever means there's a fault, either air in the lines or the lines are perished and expanding under pressure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tango Posted September 18, 2011 Share Posted September 18, 2011 The material on the pads can "glaze" ie they develop a hard shiny surface....which although the brake levers feel right they are not as efficient in stopping you. Just like tyres, pads can deteriorate with age. I'd be inclined to replace them if you have any doubts about them.......brakes are pretty important on a bike as I'm sure you know. If you go down the route of replacing the pads it may be a good opportunity to replace the brake fluid too and also do some maintenance on the calipers as well. None of these jobs are difficult....but will make a big difference to your brake performance...Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
argentum40 Posted September 18, 2011 Author Share Posted September 18, 2011 Colin yeah i know but these are hard with not alot of stoppin power... i think i will just replace them and at least i know they are new... If i can get the bleed nipples slackened i will replace the fluid as well... What pads would you recommend as the choice is huge out there... I have read somewhere HH sintered pads are best i think... what would you lads use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu Posted September 18, 2011 Share Posted September 18, 2011 get a set of carbone lorraine sbk3 in there you cant go far wrong also if it still has rubber hoses think about replacing them as the perish with age and expand when pressure is applied i would get some braided lines and chage fluid which you will have to do if you replace lines anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megawatt Posted September 18, 2011 Share Posted September 18, 2011 What Stu said. Carbone Lorraines are excellent pads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
argentum40 Posted September 18, 2011 Author Share Posted September 18, 2011 funnily the rear has a braided line already but the fronts are still rubber... will check out the cost of braided lones for the front... thanks for the input lads Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bogof Posted September 18, 2011 Share Posted September 18, 2011 better explanation of hard??... lol.... ok only other way to explain it would be that it feels like the pads are down to metal but they are not... theres very little squeezability in the lever... That's as it should be! If they are soft and squidgy you have air in the system (or the brake lines are bulging) and the brakes won't work as effectively. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonabonospen Posted September 18, 2011 Share Posted September 18, 2011 Got Carbone Lorraine pads on my ZZR1400 and they are good stuff.If the bike is the 1990 CBR600F in your signature and it has rubber lines on then I would suggest you change them as they are probably the originals. Although this in theory would not create a hard feeling in the brakes but would in fact make them spongy as the lines would be expanding under pressure from you pulling the lever.If concerned about the brakes then probably best to renew the fluid as well if you dont know when it was last replaced. The fluid does not cost a lot but the bleeding of the brakes can sometimes be time consuming and a pain in the ass sometimes, so be prepared for that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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