View Full Version : Fluid leak after new brake lines.
Hello All, hope someone'll be able to offer me some advice.
Decided yesterday, that I was going to step up my bike maintenance skills and tackle the front brake - upgrading the lines to Goodridge stainless steel jobbies.
Everything was going fine until I tried to replace the fluid, when I noticed it was coming right back out at me, on the right hand side calliper.
I've tried tightening and retightening that sides bolts (think might have done so a tad too enthusiastically at one point), but still it leaks. To be clear, it is when I'm pumping the brake lever, that the fluid squirts right back out again.
Pretty sure only the right hand side is affected.
Any word of wisdom would be appreciated. This would be the second day of a 2 hour job and I'm beginning to lose the will to live.
Cheers
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yorkie_chris
27-05-12, 10:45 AM
Have you remembered to put a washer on the banjo bolt?
If not check the banjo itself, I have seen one where there was a tiny hairline, presumably left over from the part being forged which allowed a leak.
Hey thanks, I was struggling and completely frustrated by the close of play yesterday, but I did try replacing the new stainless steel fitting that came with the set, with the original bolt to see whether the issue lay with the new bolt... no joy. And yes, there are two copper washers (I even tried adding back in one of the original washers - less is more, is something I struggle with)... all to no avail.
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yorkie_chris
27-05-12, 01:00 PM
Look carefully where it is escaping, if it is coming from between fitting and washer then I suspect a dodgy fitting.
OK gonna give it another go.
yorkie_chris
27-05-12, 01:14 PM
Don't get p*ssed off and hammer the torque on the bolt and strip the caliper.. that will ruin your day.
Don't get p*ssed off and hammer the torque on the bolt and strip the caliper.. that will ruin your day.
really, really scared that I might've managed to do that already. Off to have a look .. I've procrastinated long enough.
cheers
worst case you'll need a new caliper. Dont worry about it.
Check the banjo fitting, and compare the angle of the fitting to the original banjo. I've seen this going from gsxr to sv callipers, where the fittings were fouling on the lip of the calliper
If God loves a trier, then I'm truly loved ... though without a moveable bike.
Bled the bike dry of fluid - not sure this was a good idea - and then set everything up again.
... and still the bike leaks ... but now in TWO places!!
However I did notice one thing, and though it's of no consequence to me now, it might help someone else who finds themselves here - though I appreciate, I'm a special type of numpty, so this'll probably have been obvious to just about anyone other than me. Anyhoo, the pack came with 3 curved banjoes and 1 straight one. The straight banjo is for the brake fluid reservoir. There should be a curved one right next to the reservoir, methinks, and then the straight one beside that. I, of course, hadn't noticed the difference in banjoes (???) and stuck it on the right calliper ... the one that was leaking initially!!
But none of this explains why both callipers now leak. Nothing more for it, I'm done for, gonna call in the big guns tomorrow.
Thanks for all the help. Think I'll stick to simpler jobs in the future ... frontend swap anybody??
yorkie_chris
27-05-12, 08:13 PM
So long as they weren't fouling anything, as jambo says, it doesn't matter which angle went where. If it was fouling you might have knackered the sealing washers by squishing them on one side.
garynortheast
28-05-12, 07:27 AM
And don't give up on it either. Making mistakes is part of the process of learning.
I gave up on this job and finally had a mechanic look at the mess I'd made. He did have to unpick everything and put it back together but also added 'olives'. My pack didn't come with olives - I'm pretty sure I didn't eat them! oh well, tis done now. Off for my morning's commute ...
Olives ? So the kit involved you having to build the lines, add the banjos and fittings to the hoses etc? If not then no olives required, just copper washers.
You did have two copper washers per connection right? So.... caliper, washer, banjo fitting, washer, bolt.
Yes. I received all the bits and bobs individually packaged and all separate - lines, banjos, bolts and washers, and from this I constructed my lines. Unfortunately, there were no instructions or olives included.
Oh well, I'd be better prepared next time (I've the set for the rear due sometime this week and toying with the idea of trying again!)
yorkie_chris
29-05-12, 11:01 AM
http://www.electrical-picture.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/6/26/stainless-steel-brake-line-kitsoj.jpg
Did the kit look like this?
http://www.electrical-picture.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/6/26/stainless-steel-brake-line-kitsoj.jpg
Did the kit look like this?
Eventually it did, but I had to assemble it first!! So the two lines came in two separate packets; the four banjos each came in their own separate packets and there were even separate packets for all the bolts (3). All presented in a large outer box.
I guessed the vendor went around the shop picking up the various bits that an sv650N 99-02 would require, and threw them into the box ... minus the olives (guess he ate those!)
yorkie_chris
29-05-12, 06:20 PM
That's proper kit form that then.
Might be a bit chewy!
Wasn't a Venhill kit was it?
No, it was a Goodridge set.
muzikill
30-05-12, 06:56 AM
Im pretty sure goodridge dont do these sort of diy kits.
Could this be why it all came in individual parts? From the invoice:
560593 s/b Buildaline Hose 700mm clear
568774 Buildaline dbl b/bolt 10x1.00mm
566948 Buildaline 10x1mm 2pk sgl bolt
560594 s/b Buildaline Hose 725mm clear
560634 Buildaline Banjo 20deg 3/8in ss (x3)
560633 Buildaline Banjo Straight 3/8in ss
Is it possible that the kit wasn't intended for a DIY install? If so, then I won't feel too bad about the weekend's fiasco and I can leave the installation of the rear set(still hasn't arrived and ordered at the same time) for my mechanic with a completely clear conscience.
But should anyone of a more able bent be thinking about doing this upgrade, please add to that list olives - I've no idea how many, what size or where, but they are quite important... apparently.
Sid Squid
30-05-12, 07:59 AM
I know you've given a list but just to clarify:
If all the parts came in separate boxes then it's very probably a Goodridge 'Build A Line' kit, and if so then no olives are needed, the banjos seal into the relevant line ends, which are pre made and crimped, with no extra parts
I sincerely doubt that it's plain Aeroquip stuff as there would be leaks at every join if it were assembled without the olives, and indeed without them the hose would pull out of the banjos with next to no effort.
Something is odd about this tale.
Are the nuts that seal the line to the fitting part of the hose assembly and swivelling on the end, like this?
http://i.ebayimg.com/10/%21B1OM2,gEWk%7E$%28KGrHqIOKk%21E%29OcTqjdZBMdnnJW ciQ%7E%7E_35.JPG
Or separate and in the box with the banjo like this?
http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQvTW1heIkP5ak0ozkKCtN5VX4XSQ8xF Wnx_OzwS3OIQc35UP8CLQ
If the former then it's a 'Build A Line', and no olives are needed.
Yes, it looked like the first set up, and I'm pretty sure that it is the Buildaline set. It is highly probable that my skills at bike maintenance are that lacking that it became necessary to add the olive to stop leaks I had created.
... You just can't buy my level of 'special'
yorkie_chris
30-05-12, 09:41 PM
You can't make them leak TBH unless you completely knacker something.
Sid Squid
31-05-12, 06:37 AM
It is highly probable that my skills at bike maintenance are that lacking that it became necessary to add the olive to stop leaks I had created.
Now I'm very confused - if you have the 'Build A Line' parts there really isn't anywhere for olives to go, they will physically not fit into any of the parts of the system.
:smt017
muzikill
31-05-12, 07:22 AM
I didnt realise goodridge did buildaline products. Tbh for the extra dosh buying a pre-fabbed version i wouldnt attempt it myself.
I'm going to get back to my mechanic and ask him specifically what damage I'd done and what was needed to rectify it.
@muzikill I really didn't know of the various options. All I knew is that my brakes didn't fill me with confidence and most suggested upgrading to stainless steel lines, and I thought: how hard could it be? Ironically, the mechanic that rescued my bike from my mess, also installed new pads. Possibly that was all that was needed!
there's a lesson in here somewhere. I'm a big fan of learning how to do this stuff yourself, but front brakes are pretty important. Not something you want to experiment with to find out you got it wrong when you need them most.
If anyone out there wants to do the same, get some assistance. At the very least talk the task through on here and make sure you fully understand what's required to do it safely.
there's a lesson in here somewhere. I'm a big fan of learning how to do this stuff yourself, but front brakes are pretty important. Not something you want to experiment with to find out you got it wrong when you need them most.
If anyone out there wants to do the same, get some assistance. At the very least talk the task through on here and make sure you fully understand what's required to do it safely.
Couldn't agree more... That's why I have my mechanic on speed dial - I try... he rectifies. The relationship's almost symbiotic
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