Today during our ride through Ghettysburg I noticed my front brake lever kinda tightened up. Normally the brake lever was very easy to pull and quite progressive (one or two fingers to stop). Now I need to use pretty much my whole hand, and the front brake  seems a little abrupt as I come to a slow stop. I was able to look upside-down at one-side (right) of the brake caliber and that pad looked like it had plenty of life left (Pads should wear evenly right? It was on Sidestand and couldn't see the left side). I can see a small air bubble in the top of the front brake reservoir (About 1/4th of the window) when upright, but I think this was always the case... so I suspect this is normal? Anything I can try before I must submit my girl to the dealer? (Hope it's covered under warr.)  I think I've also noticed the front suspension becoming alot softer since she was new. Hope she can wait until winter for the  progress. springs upgrade.

The bubble is the norm in most of our bikes. It should be covered under your warrenty if it's within a year. Oh wait, aren't wearable items NOT covered? I.E.- tires, brakes, bulbs, etc. The suspension, you'll just have to put up with.

 -Anti  

I think the brakes should be covered under warr. except for pads and maintanance type stuff. Anyone have any ideas what the cause of this might be? It seems like the issue is somewhere within the brake lever/MC  assembly.

Is the lever coming all the way to the handle bar? Or is it just moving further than before to get the same effect?  
Does it feel "spongy"?

On your ride, did you use the brake alot and/or hard?

I don't think the pull distance has changed, plenty of clearance between the lever & bar, although it does seem it takes a little more distance than before until the brake just begins to grab. I wouldn't say the brake is spongy, it's gotten much tighter.. the feel of the brake lever is more of a sticky,rusty feel.. it's not much of a problem at speed but when coming to a stop the brake is a bit grabby and less progressive  and caused me to have to quickly dab my foot down a few times.

Well.. I think I solved the problem at least temporarily. I doused the innards of my front brakes with wd40 (Any opening I could find where the brake lever meets the master cylinder assemblY) and once dried sprayed a bunch of Dri Lube into the same area. loosened up the pull effort quite a bit so I'm sure it was the brake lever assembly......


So........ I have no idea what the inside of the brake assembly looks like. Is it possible that there is a sealed bearing or grease thingy that's leaking or maybe it is normal to have to lube/grease  the front brake assembly?

Quote from: jare16Well.. I think I solved the problem at least temporarily. I doused the innards of my front brakes with wd40

EKKK!    When I read this I thought you meant that you sprayed the caliper & rotor with WD40!

Quote
So........ I have no idea what the inside of the brake assembly looks like. Is it possible that there is a sealed bearing or grease thingy that's leaking or maybe it is normal to have to lube/grease  the front brake assembly?

Its pretty simple. The square resiviour sits on top of the piston that the brake lever pushes on. The piston has a set of vavles in it that as you are pushing open and close. Its nominally lubricated by the brake fluid itself, there is nothing really you can do internally, and you are more likely to do more harm than good unsealing it. About all you can really do is smear a bit of grease on the rubber seal where the brake lever pushes on the piston and lube the pivot point too. The factories are notoriously stingy when it comes to greasing fittings and bearings so that may be the whole problem.

Yea slave cylinder sticking... happens when it sits...
Cool.
Srinath.

If it keeps binding, remove the front caliper, pull the pads out, and clean the pistons in the caliper.  To do this get a can of brake cleaner, and a scotch brite pad (not steel wooL) and go to town on each of the pistons until they are pretty and shiny.  I do this everytime i replace the brakes, whether on a car or bike to prevent binding.  

Thanks guys.. took her for a ride today and the front brake has a better feel than when new. If it happens again I think Ill shoot some grease in there next time ( The Wd40 got evrywhere.. made everything nice and shiny though). I am glad it was a simple problem and I was able to easily fix it and didn't have to submit to the dealer and be without the bike for the week.