front brake pumping

[swazi_matt]

I have noticed that my front brake tends to be soft sometimes (full lock is near my fingers on the bars) other times it is stiff quite soon on.

reminds me of my old SIII landrover brakes that i had to pump to get them to be properly effective, anyone have advise on what needs to be looked at ... just a bleeding of brake fluid maybe?

[pscook]

It depends on when it is soft. If it is soft after a steep downhill, it is probably air in the fluid. If it's soft after sitting for a while, then same as above. If it is inconsistent after/during riding, and there is an associated pulse in the lever, then you have a warped rotor. The warped rotor allows the caliper to move side to side, thereby spreading the pads apart and you have to pump it up to get the pads close to the rotor again.

Take the caliper off, push the pistons all of the way in, and flush/bleed the system. Then go for a ride and see if there is any change.

[swazi_matt]

thanks there is no pulse so possibly air in the system

[twowheels]

Bleed it, bleed it, bleed it!

[bchatt]

Originally Posted by swazi_matt

I have noticed that my front brake tends to be soft sometimes (full lock is near my fingers on the bars) other times it is stiff quite soon on.

reminds me of my old SIII landrover brakes that i had to pump to get them to be properly effective, anyone have advise on what needs to be looked at ... just a bleeding of brake fluid maybe?

I still have a series 3 landrover - it hasn't got any brakes either!

[Jakobi]

Reverse bleed it!! Push it in from the caliper for best results

[gasmonkey]

Yeah the landrovers were lousy,Thankfully toyota sent them off into oblivian.