Spungy brake pedal

[rlwfarrier]

I am working on a 2002 GL 1800 with a spungy brake pedal. I have changed the brake fluid and bled the brakes. 99% sure that there is no air in the system. You must pump the brake pedal one time and then you have a firm brake pedal. The bike will safely stop, but I know that this is not right. I have a theory about what is wrong, but before I say what I think the problem might be I would appreciate some feed back from someone else who might have had this problem and what you did to fix it.

Thanks in advance for you input.

[oilboy1162]

18 YEAR OLD SPONGY BRAKE LINES?

[keithg64]

Did you bleed the brakes in the correct sequence? Being that this is a linked braked system there is a procedure to follow.

Front Brake Reservoir

1: Front Right Caliper Upper Bleeder Valve 8mm
2: Front Left Caliper Middle/lower Bleeder Valve 10mm


Rear Reservoir (under right side engine cover)

1: Front Left Caliper Upper Bleeder Valve 8mm
2: Front Right Caliper Lower Bleeder Valve 10mm
3: Rear Caliper Lower Bleeder Valve 8mm
4: Anti-Dive: bleeder valve on top 10mm
5: Rear Caliper Upper Bleeder Valve 10mm

[rlwfarrier]

I did not follow that specific sequence. I will go back and do it again in that order. Thanks for the help. I will report back when I have time to do that.

Have a great weekend.

[WingAdmin]

You can often diagnose problems by what the pedal/lever is doing:

No brakes, cannot pump up brakes: air in brake lines and/or empty reservoir
Spongy brakes with too much travel (or requires pumping up to obtain sufficient pressure): air in brake lines or swelling hoses
Firm brakes with too much travel (or requires pumping up to obtain sufficient pressure): Stuck piston or excessive rotor runout
Brakes operate, but may require pumping to obtain sufficient pressure, and pedal sinks slowly after pressure applied: brake fluid leak or worn seal in master cylinder
Brakes firm and seem to work normally, but little or no braking actually occurs: oil or brake fluid contamination on rotor and/or pads

[GoldWingrGreg]

I am working on a 2002 GL 1800 with a spungy brake pedal.

Is this a trike ???

[rlwfarrier]

Not a trike.
Thanks

[GoldWingrGreg]

What bleed method are you using ... manual, vacuum, or pushing with a bladder ???

[rlwfarrier]

A big thanks to keithg64 in providing the correct sequence to bleed the brakes. I went through that procedure about 3 times and now I have a good pedal.

What I thought I knew, I did NOT know.

Once again thanks to keith64 and to all of you who reached out to me for the solution.

Have a great week.

[autonoob]

This is really a helpful thread thanks for providing the sequence.

[keithg64]

You welcome. I found that last year while doing my brakes. Using speed bleeders helps in changing brake fluid and making sure all the air is out.

[keithg64]

You can find that info here.

http://www.russellperformance.com/mc/speed-bleeders/