How to Fit Braided Brake hoses.

[Stew]

Fitting Braided hoses.

First thing are to do are make your decisions. Do you need braided hoses? Well most people fit them because they make you stop quicker. Some people fit them because they have been advised that their original rubber hoses have deteriorated and are out of shape. Other people fit them ‘coz they look good’. Next thing you have to choose is the brand and colour you are going to use. I chose Goodridge braided hoses in tarty red shrink wrap (thank you Busters-accessories). I also went with stainless steel fittings although they are available in other offerings such as anodised aluminium or chromed. (warning- mixing alloy and steel fittings can cause corrosion). If your original banjo bolts are in good condition you can still use these however you MUST use brand new copper crush washers (should really come with the brake line kit).
https://mysite.freeserve.com/crotchrockets3/brakes/brake1.JPG

1. First thing to do when fitting new lines is to make sure you protect your paintwork wherever you think there may be a risk off dripping any brake fluid as most people will know it is quite nasty and strips paint quite well.
2. Bleed original brake lines. I did mine by connecting a clear plastic hose to the calliper nipple and undoing the nipple.
https://mysite.freeserve.com/crotchrockets3/brakes/brake2.JPG
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/stewbrakes/brake2_zps89e8f30e.jpg
https://mysite.freeserve.com/crotchrockets3/brakes/brake3.JPG
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/stewbrakes/brake3_zps67a48cef.jpg
When they have finished draining tighten the nipple up again, disconnect the hoses from the calipers and stuff some rag into the banjo to stop it dripping everywhere
https://mysite.freeserve.com/crotchrockets3/brakes/brake4.JPG.
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/stewbrakes/brake4_zpsdac932e1.jpg
Some people may syringe the fluid out from the master cylinder then just undo the caliper banjo bolt and catch any remaining fluid (make a note of how the banjos look at this point, there should be one that is slightly bent). Don’t know if it makes any difference but I was advised to do the left hand caliper first (thanks Robby) as it is furthest away from the master cylinder and if you are doing it with the bike on its sidestand then this is the lowest caliper.
3. Undo all little clips holding the hoses in place. Undo the banjo bolt from the master cylinder (you still have your rag there?) and remove the original hoses making sure you don’t drip brake fluid everywhere.
https://mysite.freeserve.com/crotchrockets3/brakes/brake5.JPG
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/stewbrakes/brake5_zps53013b08.jpg
4. Loosely put your banjo bolts on to your braided hoses and put the hoses into place (longest hose goes to left caliper). Now attach the banjos to the banjo bolts in the calipers. Put a copper crush washer on each side of the banjo and thread bolt into caliper.
https://mysite.freeserve.com/crotchrockets3/brakes/brake6.JPG
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/stewbrakes/brake6_zps2f802bc6.jpg
5. Now attach the other end of the hoses to the double banjo bolt into the master brake cylinder. Now check that the hoses run into all their appropriate fasteners and nothing snags (new banjos don’t hit clocks or fairing do they?)
https://mysite.freeserve.com/crotchrockets3/brakes/brake7.JPG
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/stewbrakes/brake7_zpsd1f30db3.jpg
If everything is ok then tighten up all banjo fastenings to the hose, to the calipers, and to the master cylinder.
6. Now the boring bit. Fill the master cylinder up with fresh brake fluid, Dot4 is common for road bikes, (you still got that rag?). Starting with the left caliper attach your clear hose to the bleed nipple and undo half a turn, a small amount of fluid should come through. Now tighten up again, squeeze the brake lever in. Undo the nipple half a turn, you should see fluid come through the clear pipe and the lever pressure will drop
https://mysite.freeserve.com/crotchrockets3/brakes/brake8.JPG
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/stewbrakes/brake8_zpsdbdf4fd8.jpg
Tighten nipple again, release lever. Repeat this sequence of lever in, nipple open, nipple close, lever out, until the brake fluid coming through the clear tube is free of air bubbles. Now do the same on the right hand caliper. *remember to keep topping the master cylinder if it needs it!
7. Your hoses should now be full of nice fresh fluid. Make sure you have the correct amount of fluid in your master cylinder and put the top back on it.
8. Pump the lever hard and check all connections for leaks. Check your steering and suspension travel and make sure nothing snags. Everything okay? Jobs a good ‘un.
https://mysite.freeserve.com/crotchrockets3/brakes/brake10.JPG
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/stewbrakes/brake10_zpsf6335690.jpg
Take the bike for a little test run, being cautious with your new sharp front brakes.



Little Cheat.
This is a little something that makes the initial part of bleeding the hoses a bit easier. Ideally you connect a syringe to the clear pipe which is connected to the caliper nipple and create a vacuum to pull the fluid through the new hoses. However I didn’t have a spare syringe lying about, so I made a simple device to create the vacuum using a squeezy ketchup bottle with an extra hole in it. Connect clear hose to ‘normal’ hole in the cap. Squeeze bottle. Cover ‘newly made’ hole with your thumb. Let the bottle return to normal shape and this should create a vacuum. It may not be a massive vacuum that it causes but it is certainly enough to draw the brake fluid through. So now the sequence becomes, create vacuum, undo caliper nipple, watch the fluid come though the clear pipe, tighten nipple. I used this method at the beginning of the bleeding process but finished off the job in the more standard way using the brake lever.
https://mysite.freeserve.com/crotchrockets3/brakes/brake9.JPG
https://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f216/stinkwheel/stewbrakes/brake9_zpsef9714ab.jpg
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"Unlike public school you don't need to have your arse up and your head down to go a long way...."

[rc211v]

nice write up! will be installing my braided hoses later.

[Shay HTFC]

That's a f**king big bump!, but good stuff. Great guide! I'll be using it in a week or so
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Full Motorbike License - GS500E '95

[Tristan.]

Did mine last week, keep burning my hand on my disk when locking the bike up quick idiot tip, if you take off your front mudguard to protect it from fluid remember to put it back on before you go for a test run, otherwise you'll complete your lap of the block missing the shrink wrap on one side of your hose .

www.mc-sp.co.uk is a great place for hel lines, couldnt ask for a quicker and more personal service (if he hasnt got your bikes hoses on ebay email him through ebay or PM sickpup on here)

[Jockey]

Read this thread about a week ago and thought it was first class, i really thought you`d have had more responses, do keep doing them, you have a great insight into mechanical things. -Jockey.
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Current bike VFR 400 R NC30, others now gone.

[Stew]

Lol, I like how this has re-appeared after such a long time.
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"Unlike public school you don't need to have your arse up and your head down to go a long way...."

[Steve H]

[Tony corner]

Fantastic write up.

Did mine but replaced with dot 5.

Tried not using the bleeding kit at first too, not a good idea.

A good tip is to keep one of the standard lines at the caliper end and cut the tube about an inch from the crimp.

Now when your calipers pistons are stuck or need cleaning, take the caliper off and use the old end you kept on the caliper.

Use an air line or battery air pump with the air bed attachment on it and push it into the brake line, presto piston pops out.

Done this a couple of times with seized pistons, but man do they pop out , so watch your fingers. Oh and a bit of fiddling with clamps you can take the pistons out in turn
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All your motorcycle security all in on place.....
https://www.elitesecuritysupplies.com/
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[icantakeittob...]

All the images are gone

[U_W v2.0]

after 10 years im hardly surprised!
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BCF's biggest cunt list: Cansa, Pits, Rob

[_Iain_]

Nine years later, and your suprised why exactly?

Y U DIG UP ANCIENT THREAD & MAKE USELESS POST?!
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Please be aware that the above post may be full of complete nonsense.
Riding: '07 KTM Duke II, Baotian BT49QT-20 Driving: '88 Volvo 340

[icantakeittob...]

Because it's in the The Workshops guides sticky - https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=33116. It's the 3rd link a the top of the page! Not exactly digging up.

The guides page needs updated if the stuff on it is out of date.

[sqarider]

I cannot see any images
using firefox v8 on Linux Mint 17
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FSZ600/2000 ; XV750/1991

[ripzay]

That'll be because this is an 11 year old thread and the images are no longer hosted!
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Current: 2005 KTM SuperDuke 990
Previous: 1996 Suzuki Bandit 600
Previous: 1994 Suzuki GSX-R 400

[Ste]

Welcome to BCF history.

[sqarider]

bit pointless - unless you know what you are doing - in which case you would not need to read the post.
just wondering .. are the images uploaded to this forum kept over time or did this member use links to images hosted elsewhere? or have we no idea?
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FSZ600/2000 ; XV750/1991

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[sqarider]

do you mean search you tube for videos , search for Stew's videos, or something else
sorry, I'm not IT savvy
if you mean a general search then I probably wouldnt have signed up to BCF if I had the view that youtube is god !
please can you elaborate and bear in mind that we are all on a journey at different competence levels and not everyone is as wonderful as you and as wise and worldly insightful .... some are humble and meak and require (as you did in the "early days") some hand holding.

thank you
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FSZ600/2000 ; XV750/1991

[virus]

Suggest if your 'not IT savvy' to the point that you dont understand what 'look on youtube' means then maybe you should stop poncing around on linux and get a speak and spell...
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own: 81 xs1100g...
owned: 85 rat CG (sold), 91 GS500e (stolen), 84 gsx400f (scrapped), 81 z250 (siezed, siezed, scrapped), 83 cb250rs (sold), 84 gpz750r ratfighter (killed) 84gpz400 (sold), '80 cb650 ratfighter (wrote off) 95gsx6/12f ratfighter (killed) 91 xj900 (sold)
stinkwheel Well I just had my hands up a pigs fanny. Which makes your concerns pale into insignificance.

[sqarider]

what a charming group of gentleman. is this normal behaviour on a help forum - there was no need for that response to a genuine question of request for support - if you do not have constructive remarks then why post and be rude - I am asking for help , you dont have to provide it as I'm sure there are others who will. Gosh I was only asking
and as for linux, it came on the laptop I bought which has been the bane of my life for last 6 months , but helpful chaps on helpful forums have helped me no end on getting to grips with this darn computer which I have to say doesnt get the usual windowze viruses et.al and performs quite well
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FSZ600/2000 ; XV750/1991

[Rowey]

[Ste]

Which reply hasn't been helpful?

[chris-red]

[lihp]

[temeluchus]

Pfft FreeBSD is where it's at.
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Some shite cruiser. Now with guns and FREEDOM!