Spongy front brake

[mister]

I think the problem is a lack of milk in the handlebars 

Michael

A lot of people never understand this theory. It's not just plain old 2% milk that is required, its evaporated milk.

NO! NEVER use powdered milk. We've established that over many indepth discussions here about the ideal handlebar milk. ANYTHING is better than powdered. BUT, of the liquid kind not all milks are equal. Search the forum and you'll find out everything you wanted to know about the correct milk to use. 

No Twisted.... don't fall for it. Avoid powdered.

@Sledge it's alright buddy

Michael

[slipperymongoose]

I'm a Paul's smarter milk man myself only 2% fat.

[slipperymongoose]

When you say "spongy" do you mean that when you squeeze the lever, if you don't squeeze it fast enough, you'll get all the way to the end of its travel with little/no braking?

I could cry.....I really could 

So could I but I could see through the obvious errors on the post.

[Kijona]

When you say "spongy" do you mean that when you squeeze the lever, if you don't squeeze it fast enough, you'll get all the way to the end of its travel with little/no braking?

I could cry.....I really could 

You could cry? Are you trying to criticize me for something? If you are, then please be sure to PM me with any other criticisms you might have of me, or the way that I attempt to help others. Otherwise, let's try actually helping the fellow.

Back to the topic at hand: AussieGS, if you don't mind, post your eventual solution here for others so if they run across a similar issue they'll know what to look for.

[adidasguy]

I wanted to make sure I was understanding his problem correctly. "Spongy" could mean different things to different people.

Especially if your name was Bob and your pants were square.

[Kijona]

I wanted to make sure I was understanding his problem correctly. "Spongy" could mean different things to different people.

Especially if your name was Bob and your pants were square.

You guys need to grow up. All I was trying to do was confirm what he was saying. Let's try to help the guy, okay? Isn't that what this board is about? Or has it become a platform for criticizing others?

[slipperymongoose]

Just to clarify spongy means what it says. It feels like when you squeeze a sponge except firmer.

[Kijona]

Just to clarify spongy means what it says. It feels like when you squeeze a sponge except firmer.

Had a friend say his clutch pedal in his truck felt "spongy". When you pressed it, it went all the way to the floor. Sometimes it's best to make sure that the person is using an accurate analogy.

[slipperymongoose]

Yep in this case it's the same.

[sledge]

When you say "spongy" do you mean that when you squeeze the lever, if you don't squeeze it fast enough, you'll get all the way to the end of its travel with little/no braking?

Ok....so back up what you say.  Crack on at say 40mph, then AS SLOWLY AS POSSIBLE pull the front brake on and lets see if you can get the lever back to the bar WITHOUT going arse over tit.

Desite your very confident claim.........I say you wont manage but hey  ......be sure to get back to us when you have tried it 

[slipperymongoose]

Yes can and have done that after I put my new seals in the front brakes.

[Kijona]

When you say "spongy" do you mean that when you squeeze the lever, if you don't squeeze it fast enough, you'll get all the way to the end of its travel with little/no braking?

Ok....so back up what you say.  Crack on at say 40mph, then AS SLOWLY AS POSSIBLE pull the front brake on and lets see if you can get the lever back to the bar WITHOUT going arse over tit.

Desite your very confident claim.........I say you wont manage but hey  ......be sure to get back to us when you have tried it 

First off, nobody ever said anything about riding it. If it was HAVING that problem, I'd say stay off the damn thing until it's fixed.

Second, have you never had pleasure of trying to ride or drive something with hydraulic brake or clutch problems? A common symptom of hydraulic issues is if you squeeze/press too slowly, you'll reach the end of its mechanical actuation without much or any feedback. The reason being is air or water inside the line. As you squeeze, the space, once taken up by air, is now being removed as it's compressed. I've heard this problem described as "spongy" by many people.

There is another common problem that happens, especially on motorcycles, where the fluid gets kind of old or the cylinder starts going, the brakes will feel "mushy" at times. They still work properly, but sometimes it requires more force to squeeze the handle than normal. They also feel "dry" and unlubricated. This problem, as you can imagine, has ALSO been described as "SPONGY".

But I digress...

If you can find the time to be such a turd...surely you can find the time to post something useful here.

[Kijona]

Yes can and have done that after I put my new seals in the front brakes.

I think you may need to replace the plunger in the master cylinder. If you're positive you don't have any leaks or air in the line, and you're sure that your lines are up to the task, you just need to replace the plunger assembly. It's obviously not doing its job.

[sledge]

Kijona?

Stick around for as long as I have and you will notice that every once in a while someone shows up in here who wants to be the center of attraction, has an answer for everything and at the same time believes everyone else knows nothing. I could give you several names/examples from the past but at this moment I think it fair to say the honour belongs to you 

I am not on a ego trip and nor do I feel I have something to prove but....this place is full of naive newbies who when looking for answers tend to forget about reason and instead listen only to whoever posts the most pics and/or shouts the loudest. I, like many of the other old-timers in here dont feel the need to or have the motivation to comment on a subject that has been covered 100s of times in the past...in fact I would love to see something new and original crop up in here as it very rarely seems to happen these days but if I read something I disagree with, particularly if I think its dangerous or misleading I might choose to say something....Thats the way it is, live with it 

[slipperymongoose]

But sledge how long since there was a spongy brake thread?

[slipperymongoose]

Ok update. Today I installed a stainless braided line with new washers. And there has been an improvement. But not much, the feel is firmer but not where it should be.

Ok quick question with no hose connected to it and with fluid in the reservoir if you 'pump' the master on its plunger should fluid shoot out?

[BaltimoreGS]

Ok quick question with no hose connected to it and with fluid in the reservoir if you 'pump' the master on its plunger should fluid shoot out?

Something should come out, either air or fluid.  Hold a finger over the opening and feel for air being pushed out.

-Jessie

[slipperymongoose]

Did that and nothing. But no matter, I feel so effing stupid right now it's not funny. My neighbor was wrenching a trike across the road and we got to chatting and I told him my problem and he said clamp your line down and pump your brake to tell what's playing up. If you lever goes firm it's the caliper. If its spongy still it's your master. At this point I could have shot myself! So simple. So I did and low n behold my lever firmed up instantly. So I'm off to get another caliper seeing as new seals in the original haven't saved it. And yes I've tried a new bleed nipple too and no improvement. Thanks all for your help.

[mister]

Helps not over until the problem is fixed...

Michael

[twinrat]

are the piston seals on the caliper the factory item.if not get them and install with a small amount of vasolene on piston  and in caliper groves.i once did a cheap job by not using factory o rings  and had same trouble cause they wouldnt seal in caliper groove even though they wernt leaking and wernt getting air into system..my ten cents worth .