Brake Lever Jerky

[Andy Clap]

Over the last 2 weeks / 400 miles my front brake lever has gone from being smooth with little travel to very jerky/creaky with (it seems) a lot more travel.  At low speeds it's making the braking very on-off, hard to be smooth.


What do you reckon? 

[Fazerider]

Have you tried lubricating the pivot?

[Andy Clap]

Have you tried lubricating the pivot?

Ha, just read that very thing on the web.  No, haven't tried anything yet, will do tomorrow morning.  Thanks.


Any more ideas just in case?....

[dazza]

Sticky pistons, try squeezing the lever hard while stationary a few times, can free it up. If not whip em off and get cleaning.

[darrsi]

Start simple, by removing the bolt in the lever and give it all a thorough clean, then grease it up.


If still no improvement, either the gold coloured bush could be worn in the lever (new lever needed), or the brakes could possibly need bleeding.


You can bleed the brakes on the quick by tying the lever firmly back overnight, with a cable tie or whatever you have, and any air bubbles will rise over night.
I tend to just loosen the reservoir cap when i do this but make sure you don't forget to tighten it back up before riding. I don't know if it's even necessary, it's just something i've always done?
Leave something on your seat to remind you though.

If that fails, then as Dazza says, it could be sticky pistons, or it could even be an expanding brake line if they're not braided?

[Dead Eye]

If its jerky I'd also look at the condition of the discs, how old are they in terms of mileage?

[darrsi]

Do you brake heavily?
When was the brake fluid last changed?

[Andy Clap]

So, brake lever removed, pivot cleaned and greased, reassembled... PROBLEM GONE!!



Many thanks all.


The apparent increased travel is confusing, must have imagined it.

To answer a few questions anyway... 
No, I'm not heavy on the brakes at all, I use too much engine braking if anything. 
Brake fluid - not changed in the 15 months I've had it, who knows before that!
Think the discs are original and have done 16k miles, look okay.
Not braided hoses.


Just need to get around to sorting the rear brake now, probably a rebuild 

[darrsi]

So, brake lever removed, pivot cleaned and greased, reassembled... PROBLEM GONE!!



Many thanks all.


The apparent increased travel is confusing, must have imagined it.

To answer a few questions anyway... 
No, I'm not heavy on the brakes at all, I use too much engine braking if anything. 
Brake fluid - not changed in the 15 months I've had it, who knows before that!
Think the discs are original and have done 16k miles, look okay.
Not braided hoses.


Just need to get around to sorting the rear brake now, probably a rebuild 

Same again, as it's the rear caliper it's much easier to play with, so i'd start by unbolting it, take the pads out, then push the pistons out around 3 to 4mm max then give them a good scrub with brake cleaner and a toothbrush.
Smear red rubber grease on all of the exposed parts of the pistons when all clean then push them back in.
Give the pad pins a good clean with wire wool and lightly smear copper grease on them before reassembling it all.
 
Also, spray either WD40 or brake cleaner on the pivot of the rear brake lever and you'll see a load of shit come out of the joint area, i personally then use 3 in 1 Oil to lube it again. This can make a big difference to the sensitivity of foot braking, and i do this at least once a month as it takes seconds to do.
 
Unless you've got rust around the seal area of the pistons this can be an reasonably quick and effective fix, and if done 2 or 3 times a year can keep everything working nicely.