Z-30 spongy front brakes?

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jordan_ciaramitaro
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Z-30 spongy front brakes?

I have been working on a customers z-30 it only has 20 miles on it. The front brakes are very spongy, the rear brakes seem to be ok just the front can anyone help me fix this?

Scotty
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Re: Z-30 spongy front brakes?

I have a Z-20 and my brakes have been fine from the factory. But generally, spongy brakes means air in the brake line. There is valve with a cap on at it at the brake caliper that can be used to bleed out the air.

I have never done this on a motorcycle, but done it on cars. Put a clear tube on the bleeder valve and run it into a container. Gently squeeze the brake handle and slowly open the valve. You may or may not see some bubbles coming out through the tube. Do not release the pressure on the brake until you close the valve. You may need to squeeze, open, and close the valve several times before you get all the air out. As long as the fluid is clean, you can save the fluid in the container and put it back into the brake fluid resevoir.

You will need to replenish the brake resevoir on the handle bars with fluid. That will may require removing the cowling covering on the front of the bike.

Again, since I haven't actually done this yet on my Z-20, someone feel free to jump in with more specifics.

Scott...

jordan_ciaramitaro
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Re: Z-30 spongy front brakes?

I did bleed the brakes, I have only done this on cars as well but it seems to be the same process. I'm going to bleed the brake system again today and check a few other things.

sgmdudley
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Re: Z-30 spongy front brakes?

I just replaced the front caliper on my Zapino. I had a clear tube going into a
plastic container connected to the bleed valve on the caliper and just poured
new fluid in the reservoir and let it gravity flow down. Brakes work great. I
did pump the brake lever a lot, and as the fluid level dropped I kept adding
more fluid. One of my goals was to flush out the Chinese brake fluid and replace
with a good brand of Dot 3.

Robert Dudley
E-Scoot Tech

jordan_ciaramitaro
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Re: Z-30 spongy front brakes?

I'm still having issues with this. I have replaced the entire brake assembly and bled the brakes for almost an hour with the specified dot4 brake fluid. I am a A.S.E. certified technician so I feel confident that I'm doing it correctly. I just don't know what else to do this has me stumped.

FrankenstienEV
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Re: Z-30 spongy front brakes?

Try looking at the disc when you squeeze the brake handle. If you notice the disc flex a little when you squeeze and release your caliper may not be exactly parallel with the disc. Try loostening the bolts that hold the caliper to the fork two full turns then squeeze the front brake lever again several times. If it's good and solid now, wait ten seconds and try it again but just one squeeze. If it's still rock solid that's your problem. The spacers beytween the caliper and the forks may be different thicknesses. Measure them with a dial caliper or micrometer. You may need to grind a little off one of the spacers to make them the same thickness or if you have a lathe that would be better because flatnes counts!! I had the same problem with my rear brakes on my Z-20 and I ended up making new spacers on my lathe and the brake is as solid as a rock now. Don't forget to retighten your caliper bolts!! The Ohm Depot

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