Having trouble bleeding rear caliper - GSXR wheel swap

[markmartin]

Hi All,

I can't get any pressure to build as I try to bleed/install the rear caliper.  I'm in the process of a GSXR rear wheel install, so I've got the GSXR rear caliper and a new SS line hooked to my FJ master, installed on the bike and ready to bleed.   I seemed to have pressure when I started, but may have let the reservoir get too low on fluid and now it just won't build pressure no matter how much I pump the brake pedal.

From the begining, this is what I've done so far with the GSXR calipers.  Removed and cleaned the bleed screws to ensure they were not blocked.  Bled the calipers before mounting them to the bike using the GSXR master that came with the calipers.  Ran a bunch of fluid through the calipers until clear fluid was coming out the bleed screws and they see to be working well enough.  Mounted the caliper on the FJ, new SS brake hose and hooked that up to the FJ master adn GSXR caliper.  Started to get pressure and started bleeding the outside piston and then lost pressure.  Havn't made any progress since! 


I'm suspicious of the master because since I filled it up after I had almost drained the resovior when I started bleeding, it doesn't show the fluid all along the outside of the reservoir like it did before.  It seems to me like the bladder at the bottom of the master is preventing fluid from getting to the bottom.     Picture below.  I don't know if this makes sense because I don't know how it's supposed to work.  The only experience I have bleeding brakes everything has gone OK, so I don't know what to do when it doesn't.

BTW, The GSXR are opposed piston calipers and I'm bleeding the outside bleeder screw/piston first, then the inside piston, if that matters.

Thanks.

[fudgejerkin1188]

The bladder should sit on top of any brake fluid to stop air/fluid getting into the system, normal  brake fluid is hygroscopic. As the fluid level drop its designed to expand down into the reservoir keeping the fluid separate from the air which is being drawn in as the fluid level drops. Take the master cylinder top off the reservoir, remove the rubber bladder, top the reservoir up with brake fluid then bleed the system. Rest the cap on the top of the master cylinder to stop fluid being splashed out whilst you bleed the system. Once you have bled the system replace the rubber bladder on top of the fluid then put the reservoir cap back on. 

[craigo]

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/accessories/Tools-Garage-and-Equipment/Brake-Bleeder/_/N-26qw?filterByKeyWord=brake+bleeder&fromString=search

I used this. It was a piece of cake.

Hope you get it resolved.

CraigO

[markmartin]

Beautiful.  Fudgejerkin1188, that worked perfectly.  Thank you! Man, 15 minutes from time posted to time resolved.  Gotta love the FJ Forum.

CraigO, thanks for the link, and also for the great wheel swap write up.  You were getting cudo's from me yesterday when I slipped the GSXR brake stay onto my new 90mm long SS footpeg bolt.  It fits like it was designed by Suzuki to go there.  Nice find!!  That's definitely the Easy Button.

Gotta go clean up,

Later,

Mark

[craigo]

You are most welcome. Glad I could help.  
As seen in my write up, thank all that posted before me too.


CraigO

PS, pics, we need pics of the finished product. Pics, man, give us pics....  

[markmartin]

PS, pics, we need pics of the finished product. Pics, man, give us pics....  

glad you asked-- will do!