GSXR 600 SRAD 98' Brake Upgrade

Originally Posted by Sid Squid

How so? If it's done properly there should be no damage at all, if one is not capable of doing it properly one should not try to.
Brake calipers are very simple assemblies, it should be within most people's abilities to make a suitable job of it.

Many people start into it with no idea at all about how to do any of it properly, the don't consult a maintenance manual, and they ruin things.
Hard as it is to believe, people round off the heads of caliper mount bolts and strip the threads out of the calipers- and that's just from removing and replacing the calipers to change the front tire...
The OP sounds like he's not likely to do it on his own, so he isn't likely to ruin anything, but neither should he run off to a shop and ask them to rebuild his calipers, simply because they are "old".
Especially if his problem is with the brake lever as sounds likely.

Originally Posted by Sid Squid

How so? If it's done properly there should be no damage at all, if one is not capable of doing it properly one should not try to.
Brake calipers are very simple assemblies, it should be within most people's abilities to make a suitable job of it.

My thoughts exactly mate. No damage at to my calipers after i rebuilt them, and im a plumber haha.

Originally Posted by wideguy

Many people start into it with no idea at all about how to do any of it properly, the don't consult a maintenance manual, and they ruin things.
Hard as it is to believe, people round off the heads of caliper mount bolts and strip the threads out of the calipers- and that's just from removing and replacing the calipers to change the front tire...
The OP sounds like he's not likely to do it on his own, so he isn't likely to ruin anything, but neither should he run off to a shop and ask them to rebuild his calipers, simply because they are "old".
Especially if his problem is with the brake lever as sounds likely.

See that alot, common one is people not using a torque wrench to do up caliper bolts and therefore doing them up way too tight and stretching the bolt. Have also seen pistons that have been scored or looking like they have been attacked by a screw driver where they have been removed. Not everyone is mechanically skilled.

Id say inspect the master cylinder first. I would also suspect the pistons in the calipers are not in the best condition, same with the seals. Not many bikes have their calipers cleaned out properly when people change brake pads..

I guess it comes down to whether your a practical person or not. Its not exactly rocket science though is it, is what i was trying to get at haha.

Defo worth looking into a guide of how to do it, before running off anywhere i think. Then make a decision off that.

I only said cos theyre old, as mine were full of crud and crap + seals were knackered.

After reading this the idea of getting a new M/C has gone out the window. I'll just get the brakes fixed (hopefully back to working order)
Bikes in garage tomorrow for heated grips, scottoiler and crash bungs so popped in there today and mentioned the brakes and they said they'd have a look at them,
if it's something little they'll just do it for the sake of me not crashing, if it's anything major they'll ring me.
I dare not doing anything myself because I always think I'd ruin it, don't get my wrong I'd love to be able to do loads of bike related things myself I just don't trust myself. Nor do I have an extensive range of tools/knowledge or space in which to do stuff.

Chris

Perhaps a wise move mate. Better that than making a fluff up.

Originally Posted by CAhmroiss

After reading this the idea of getting a new M/C has gone out the window. I'll just get the brakes fixed (hopefully back to working order)
Bikes in garage tomorrow for heated grips, scottoiler and crash bungs so popped in there today and mentioned the brakes and they said they'd have a look at them,
if it's something little they'll just do it for the sake of me not crashing, if it's anything major they'll ring me.
I dare not doing anything myself because I always think I'd ruin it, don't get my wrong I'd love to be able to do loads of bike related things myself I just don't trust myself. Nor do I have an extensive range of tools/knowledge or space in which to do stuff.

Chris

If you are interested in doing it, and there's lots you can do without too many tools or much room (I did a lot of work outdoors in the past), it can be quite gratifying. I started teaching myself by working on gas powered lawn mowers and various small appliances. Some people take to it naturally, some just can't do it, or never very well. Start with small things that are broken already. Take them apart, put them together, get an idea of what's involved in maintenance work and see if you have any aptitude for it. Then buy special tools if you like it and want to continue.

Hiya, just spotted this thread. I race a 600 srad. I agree with sv650racer, probable main fault is in mc. When I first got my srad brakes were ok one minute then coming to lever next. Rebuilt calipers, fitted hel hoses, putoline 5.1 fluid and SBS race sintered pads. On first outing(trackday at cadwell) felt great then half way through session lever starts coming to bar again! Tried bleeding again, seemed fine. Kept lever pulled in with elastic band between sessions to help get micro bubbles out but was same all day. Few laps fine then scary. Got a kit for mc and when i stripped it there was a tiny ridge down the bore which I wasn't happy about so I got another which was ok and put kit in that. They were really good after that. I've since fitted a reconditioned 750 srad mc, the piston is bigger, they are cheap as chips(thread is also different so get the banjo aswell if you ever do it) which equates to less lever travel. Slight drop in actual stopping power but they are still good enough to lift back wheel with two fingers. Have stuck with SBS pads but they may not last that well commuting so I'd probably get some ebc hh pads(which is what I have in rear but I don't use it!)

Originally Posted by CAhmroiss

After reading this the idea of getting a new M/C has gone out the window. I'll just get the brakes fixed (hopefully back to working order)
Bikes in garage tomorrow for heated grips, scottoiler and crash bungs so popped in there today and mentioned the brakes and they said they'd have a look at them,
if it's something little they'll just do it for the sake of me not crashing, if it's anything major they'll ring me.
I dare not doing anything myself because I always think I'd ruin it, don't get my wrong I'd love to be able to do loads of bike related things myself I just don't trust myself. Nor do I have an extensive range of tools/knowledge or space in which to do stuff.

Chris

What did they find at the garage?

Looks like getting a new M/C is back on the table now then

Garage looked at the brakes and cleaned up the lever and possibly the calipers because they brakes are useable now and don't scare me so think it was a just a case of cleaning the crap out. Garage said they're binding slightly and if I wanted to fix that then get new seals etc