Front Brake Master Issue?

[Slick]

ISSUE: Front brake lever is knottchy/creaks


The lever is not smooth when I first pull it in. If you listen carefully you can hear it creaking as you compress the brake lever more. This is a problem because I can not stop easy with the front brake, its either not enough break or too much. This is just one of many little things that I need to fix on my bike. I dont know if there is a fix for this, do I just have to get a new one, maybe someone can enlighten me....

[weymouth399]

Try lubing the pivot point on the lever, if it's parked out in the weather it washed any lube it had.
Now that I say that I need to lube mine too, left her out the outher night and of course it rained.
Now my clutch lever is dry, brake is probably too.

Bob W

[Slick]

ISSUE: Front brake lever is knottchy/creaks


The lever is not smooth when I first pull it in. If you listen carefully you can hear it creaking as you compress the brake lever more. This is a problem because I can not stop easy with the front brake, its either not enough break or too much. This is just one of many little things that I need to fix on my bike. I dont know if there is a fix for this, do I just have to get a new one, maybe someone can enlighten me....

Ha ha..I said "not enough break"...its still early

[chapindad]

Check the bolt that is used for the pivot.  The OEM bolt is bigger is diameter at the stop then it is at the threads.  This keeps the bolt from pinching the handle when screwed into place.  If you do not have the OEM then you can find a small spacer that will do the same trick.  I found one at True Value Hardware.  Just make sure the bolt it not creating the extra friction. 

BTW, you should not have to pull in the handle much to lock up the front wheels.  If you have to pull to the grips then you have air in the lines and need to fix that also.

[SlowOldGuy]

A few things to check.

Look for any burr or notch where the lever contacts the master cylinder piston.  If the contact surface is messed up, the brakes will feel weird.

Have you recently replaced the fork seals or are they leaking?  Fork oil can contaminate the brake caliper piston seals and cause the symptoms you are describing.  Initial lever pull doesn't generate much braking force.  Squeeze harder and suddenly you're getting too much.  Really hard to modulate the brakes when this happens.

DavidR.