RE: [ST] Near miss Friday - Brake question

["Ken Mitchell" <kp.mitchell@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

First, let's differentiate between a truly "mushy" brake that needs to have
air bled out, from a brake that simply has WAY too much free travel at the
lever before the pads contact the rotor disks. The latter is the far more
common affliction.

The cause is usually the build-up of brake dust around the pistons and their
seals. When you apply the brake the pistons advance, but then retract
because it's stuck to the seal that springs back, because its stiff rubber
held by a tough abrasive material.

My recommended fix is to remove the calipers, still connected, one at a
time. Remove the pads and advance one pistons one at a time by restraining
the other 3. (I can hold them with one hand.) Clean one, push it back in as
you allow another to advance. You only need to go far enough to see the
sticky ring and remove it.

CAREFULLY clean the ring of brake dust that hardens up at the seal. I use
CRC Brake Kleen, but there's some discussion of that solvent interacting
with the rubber seals. I have done this procedure 4 times now without any
noticeable degradation of the seals. 

Once all pistons on both calipers are done, pump the brake a few times and
you will find near ZERO free travel. Nice! The brakes are now back to "new
bike" performance.

Not a fix endorsed by Triumph, but it works for ME!

Ken M.
'00 RS


- -----Original Message-----
From: collett_mc
Subject: [ST] Near miss Friday - Brake question

<snip>
    My brake question is this - I've got that problem with the Sprint mushy
front brakes.  You know what I'm talking about - no amount of bleeding seems
to solve it.  The lever firms up with use but then flabs out if you don't
use it for awhile (i.e. cruising down the road like we were).  I used to
deal with it, but now I have had it.  Many questions run through my mind...
what if he had kept coming?  I really didn't have full on brakes even though
I was yanking on the lever.  We could have been pancakes.  I know this topic
has floated around (master cylinder replace, etc. etc.) but has there been a
general consensus?


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