Braided steel lines.

So I finally orded braided steel lines from xj4ever ( great kit , great upgrade) took me most of the day, pulled calipers and found....drum roll both froze. I always noticed when I hit front brakes it stopped ok but brakes felt like they were dragging .Used my grease gun and pumped full of grease piston came right out. After I got the grease out , the seals were shot and the bore was slightly corroded. The pistons were ok though. Cleaned up bore and reassembled , and installed lines . Used my one man bleeder , even with it this was a bear but I finally got brake. I have not rode yet but pushed it accross garage hit brake it stopped great and no more dragging. The lines were original 5/ 81 so it was over due for changing

 

I replaced my original lines with the braided stainless from chacal as well. The difference is really noticeable and awesome, I can stop quickly enough to bring my back wheel off the ground if I wanted to (in fact I have, when a dog ran out in front of me. Soo glad I'd done my brake system!)

My caliper and master cylinder seals and everything were in sad shape as well, corroded and completely shot. I was really amazed how bad the caliper was. I knew it was original and would need replaced, but the bike was really low miles so I didn't expect the extent of the damage! Luckily my piston was still ok.

Anyway I have some great advice I was given for bleeding brakes! And this works for cars and trucks, too. We had to replace lines on a vehicle with ABS recently, and this was the only way to bleed past the distribution block without having the scan tool to cycle it.

We bought a bag of cattle medicine syringes from the local farm store, and hose that fits over the bleeder screw. You then attach the syringe full of brake fluid to the hose attached to your open bleeder screw, and inject the fluid until the level is right in the master cylinder. There's no air in the system, no mess, only takes one person. Will never bleed brakes any other way again.

 

When you do need the ABS system to cycle (reverse bleeding does not get all the air out of an ABS valve if the ABS unit has cycled while air was already in the system) just find a gravel road. So long as you have enough braking to stop safely you can trip the ABS by making panic stops from 20- 30 MPH. Do that a few times and all the reaminging air will have been evacuated from the ABS valve body. Follow up by bleeding normally.

As far as the XJ goes: if you happen to have a 750 (Seca in particiular), reverse bleding still won't always get all the air out. Enter: the vibratory sander. Use it to shake the air bubbles out, from bottom to top.

 

We ALMOST tried the gravel road method. Sounds like the most fun way to cycle the ABS for sure lol! We lived off a major highway at the time, about 3 miles from a gravel road. Decided not to risk it. Luckily, the reverse bleeding worked beautifully in this application, as well as for my xj650.

What's different about the 750's?

 

Well put cluster and headlight back in ( to get access to master cylinder) got good brakes, but think I still may have air in anti dive .it dives a little more than before. Of course calipers were not functioning quite right before I put new lines on.. I' m not feeling well right now it's chilly out rode around block 2 times ...football time..or nap time...give up for the day.

 

I mentioned it because I had to do just that two weekends ago. I had straight stops every time, that imporoved after I re-bled the system.

 

One thing I forgot to mention the P.O. must have put pads in both were missing shim . Just more things that bother me. I found out something to I bought 2 brake rotors off eBay they are off a Maxim they are smaller than the Seca...so now I have 2 nice tree ornaments any one interested? Live and learn.

 

Jet - your inbox is full, was gonna start a conversation . . . .
Do you know if the rotor(s) fit a 650 Maxim?
I only need one, my current one is in spec, but has a couple scratches that are too deep to clean up.

I'm cautious as you didn't get them from Len
But assume you wouldn't be buying some cheapo stuff . . .

 

Pictures of lines and my rotors I can't use .

 

There certainly is a right and a left - but my 81 XJ650 Maxim only has a left side rotor . . . . wondering about compatibility/ fit . . . . .