Brake Fluid Replacement
WARNING! A contaminated brake disc or pad reduces stopping power. Discard contaminated pads and clean a contaminated disc with a high-quality brake degreasing agent.
CAUTION: Avoid spilling brake fluid on plastic, rubber, or painted parts. Protect these parts with a rag when servicing the brake system.
Brake Fluid Draining
- Remove reservoir cover with diaphragm.
- Connect bleed hose to bleed valve.
- Loosen bleed valve and pump brake lever or brake pedal until no more fluid flows out of the bleed valve.
Brake Fluid Filling and Bleeding
- Close bleed valves.
- Fill reservoirs with DOT 4 brake fluid.
- Unscrew the bleed valve on the top of the rear master cylinder until brake fluid comes out. Repeat this process for each caliper, unscrewing the bleed valve until the brake fluid comes out and then close it.
- Install the vacuum pump (P/N 529 021 800) to the bleed valve. See the manufacturer's operating instructions.
- Pump the vacuum pump and loosen the bleed valve. Close the bleed valve and refill the reservoir when the fluid level drops. Check the fluid level often to prevent air from being pumped into the system.
- Repeat the procedure until no more air bubbles appear in the bleed hose.
- For the front brake system, switch to LH and RH caliper. Turn the handlebar to the full RH side when bleeding the right caliper and to the LH side for the left caliper. This helps the bleeder to reach air into the caliper. The front and the rear brakes must be bled at the same time.
- If the brake lever or pedal still feels spongy, bleed the system again.
- Repeat the procedures until air bubbles do not appear in the tube and the lever or pedal is stiff.
- Fill reservoirs to the upper level with DOT 4 brake fluid.
- Install diaphragms and covers on reservoirs.
If a vacuum pump is not available, use the following procedure:
- Install a tube to the bleed valve.
- Open the bleeder and fill reservoirs.
- Pump the brake lever or pedal until fluid freely flows out of the tube.
- Close the bleed valve.
- Pump up system pressure with the brake lever or pedal until resistance is felt.
- Squeeze the brake lever or depress the brake pedal, open the bleed valve, and then close it.
- Release the brake lever or pedal slowly.
- Repeat the procedure until no more air bubbles appear in the tube and the lever or pedal is stiff.
