possibly fatal technical issue (brake fluid)

[grommit]

From the Manual...



Hydraulic brake service


• After disassembling the brake master cylinders and calipers, always change the fluid. Regularly check the brake fluid

levels and fill the reservoirs as required.

• Every two years replace the internal components of the brake master cylinders and calipers, and change the brake fluid.

• Replace the brake hoses every four years and if cracked or damaged.

[lonesoldier84]

ok, it was a complete false alarm.

i used to see brake fluid in there because the level was such that i could see the air bubble in the little round window. but last time i took the bike in last week or so they topped up the brake fluid level so you cant tell if there's brake fluid in there or not.

i opened it to check and its full of the amber fluid. lol. well in the meantime i learned a LOT about how to monitor brakes in this thread so it was all worth it anyway.

i hadnt opened the reservoir beforehand because i didnt want to mess something up as per one of the earliest replies to this thread telling me not to open it. but when someone else told me to open it i did. and ya its full.

thanks anyway tho all! still learned a lot!

[CanadianFZ6]

Originally Posted by lonesoldier84

ok, it was a complete false alarm.

i used to see brake fluid in there because the level was such that i could see the air bubble in the little round window. but last time i took the bike in last week or so they topped up the brake fluid level so you cant tell if there's brake fluid in there or not.

i opened it to check and its full of the amber fluid. lol. well in the meantime i learned a LOT about how to monitor brakes in this thread so it was all worth it anyway.

i hadnt opened the reservoir beforehand because i didnt want to mess something up as per one of the earliest replies to this thread telling me not to open it. but when someone else told me to open it i did. and ya its full.

thanks anyway tho all! still learned a lot!

Of course you can open it... how else are you going to add fluid as routine maintenance. I do it all the time... on my bikes, trucks and cars. Just don't let anything fall into the fluid or squeeze the brake lever too hard when its open...

[lonesoldier84]

Originally Posted by CanadianFZ6

Of course you can open it... how else are you going to add fluid as routine maintenance. I do it all the time... on my bikes, trucks and cars. Just don't let anything fall into the fluid or squeeze the brake lever too hard when its open...

ya that was my logic i was just gonna open it. then someone responded to this thread saying dont open unless ur qualified. i didnt think i was so i didnt. then another person replied saying just open it (im pretty sure that was you oh voice of my conscience, canadianfz6) so i opened it.

haha this has to take the record for simplest issue that ever became so needlessly complicated. ah well i learned a truckload about maintaining braking systems and that knowledge will prove invaluable no doubt. so no effort here was wasted effort...

[wrightme43]

Nope no wasted effort at all. We all get to learn alot here. I have learned tons from tthe people here. Its also nice to have so many friends.

[2-stroke]

If you rear brake is still sub-par you still want to change your fluid. It is easy.

[Avalon786]

Same here, i opened it up this morning. I couldnt see anything through the window but my brakes worked fine. I was confused...I didnt know if opening up the reservoir would let air into the lines or mess something up So i just went ahead and did it to quiet the voices in my head and it was all fine, lol. I still think we should at least be able to see some liquid through that window otherwise whats its point lol...Better safe than sorry right! Even tho i think if i was out of brake fluid i'd notice pretty fast lol

[phxtravis]

Originally Posted by sportrider

6-23 of the owners manual states DOT 4. do not use DOT 3 or you could have break failure. these fluids don't mix!!!

DOT3 and DOT4 DO mix, actually DOT's 3,4 and 5.1(different than 5) all mix. DOT5 does not mix with any other fluid, since it is silicone based, and when mixed it creates a very corrosive mixtrue that will it all the rubber in your system. I flushed and put 5.1 in my system, has a higher boiling point which is close or better than 5... I believe the only advantage to 5 is the fact that it will not eat paint.

[DefyInertia]

Originally Posted by DefyInertia

if your front brakes work well, I wouldn't go opening the system up because it sure seems like you're not "qualified" to do so....that's not to say you won't be soon enough.

looks like soon enough came pretty fast via this thread. pulling the top off the MC is like thumbing the starter...anyone can do it but it gets more complicated after that....and there is a lot on the line.

Originally Posted by grommit

From the Manual...



Hydraulic brake service


• After disassembling the brake master cylinders and calipers, always change the fluid. Regularly check the brake fluid

levels and fill the reservoirs as required.

• Every two years replace the internal components of the brake master cylinders and calipers, and change the brake fluid.

• Replace the brake hoses every four years and if cracked or damaged.

What year is this manual and what page did you get this from. In the 2004 manual you will find the Warning on page 4-18 and you will note it says nothing about replacing fluid unless the system is disassembled meaning internal parts not simply changing pads.