Front brake check!

Over the last few days I thought I may have a front brake problem.

I decided on my first good day off to check out the pads and disc for grit dirt etc. Knowing my last bike, (Burgman 400), I allowed a wee while to remove the offending objects.

Not needed.

Mr. Honda has certainly thought about regular maintenance.

Out manual, good read of relevant section and then to garage to collect tools. (Well one 5 mm allen key)

I don a pair of rubber gloves and set to the task in hand. Apply pressure to caliper to push pistons back into place.

Remove rubber cap from head of 5 mil bolt.

Undo and remove the pin.

Out pop 2 brake pads.

Carry out a good visual inspection and upon finding nothing, replace pads, pin and rubber cap. Squeeze both brake levers, (linked brakes), to reseat pistons and job done.

Ten minutes including reading the manual and recovering bike.

I love my Honda. What a dream to work on.

When I first bought mine last year (used bike), I thought my front brake was not very impressive. I looked at it without bothering to read the manual (I also refuse to ever ask for directions ) and found it to be just like a car brake. Turned out that one of the two front brake calipers was sticky. Works a lot better now.

Remember to replace the brake fluid which is hydroscopic (attracts water moisture). The service manual says to replace the brake fluid every 12,000 miles or 2 years.

I replaced the brake fluid with synthetic brake fluid to be able to withstand higher temperatures.

After I replaced the brake fluid, the brakes felt like they were new.

So far, I am still riding on the original (2003) brake fluid. Original owner said he had not replaced it, and could not see any reason why it should be replaced (and he did not mind performing maintenance on his three bikes). I was worried about moisture in the fluid.

Since then, I have not worried about it much. Brakes work fine. I don't think that the resevoirs vent to the atmosphere, so they should not pick up moisture. I will probably have it done during the winter, as well as getting the coolant changed.

buddy19520 wrote:

So far, I am still riding on the original (2003) brake fluid. Original owner said he had not replaced it, and could not see any reason why it should be replaced (and he did not mind performing maintenance on his three bikes). I was worried about moisture in the fluid.

Since then, I have not worried about it much. Brakes work fine. I don't think that the resevoirs vent to the atmosphere, so they should not pick up moisture. I will probably have it done during the winter, as well as getting the coolant changed.

The braking system is not hermetically sealed, so moisture can and does get in from the joints and seals . When you apply brakes, brake fluid can get heated and boil. This had some interesting information and chart http://www.aa1car.com/library/bfluid.htm .

I could even feel/hear the difference when walking or backing up the SWing after switching the brake fluid.