Spongy Brakes

[Pat Kelly]

There should be no difference in braking performance between 2 vs. 3 hoses.
2 hoses might be easier to bleed the system.

[DiverRay]

I kept the balance tube on Daily Ride when I went to stainless. I can do a "stoppy", as I did one just after the conversion.
The stainless hoses are the way to go. They also cut a lot of the "old rubber" that gets into the system.
P.S. I did convert to DOT 5 brake fluid when I did the conversion.
Ray

[GNEPIG]

.. what are the benefits of changing to dot5, and will your rubber cylinder guts be affected?

[mro]

higher boiling point, won't mix w/water
when water in system should go to lowest point

convert to dot five after flushing system (ok)
Converting back not recommended. Very hard to get it all out of system and will create "globs/gunk"


mro

[xschop]

surface area

believe it or not, the 3 line set-up from factory would be better than 2.think about it, if you use two lines from the master cylinder there would be more surface area inside the lines, meaning less pressure to the caliper,due to more line expansion.this is definitely true with the old rubber lines, however if you go stainless, I'm sure the 2-line setup from the m.c. wouldn't be noticeable....chop

[ratbyk]

Pascal's Law

Pressure applied to a liquid in a closed system is equal and undomonishing in all directions.
It won't matter how many lines or their length. The same amount of fluid would have to take place no matter how many lines or their length. The amount of fluid shift is determined by how much is required to move the pistons in the calipers. This would remain constant no matter the arrangement of connecting lines.
Ratbyk

[mro]

Hi ratbyk

line expansion: Rubber >, stainless <




mro

[xschop]

????

that's only true if there is no line expansion...that's the problem here. if you were to put 20 ft of the rubber line to each caliper, you would die at the first busy intersection....

[ratbyk]

Stainless Lines

Chop, I have been promoting SS braided lines since the start of this thread. I know that old rubber lines do not cut it! I have put stainless on my XS11, FT500 Ascot and my ZX11 Ninja. If I was not a believer I would not have spent all that $. In fact I use stainless both front and rear on all my bikes.
Ratbyk

[xschop]

no argue

not arguing ss lines, i also have them on my s-10 with vette motor,removed ABS for stoppage. I just believe you should'nt use old rubber lines in a 2-line configuration is all...thanks...chop

[DiverRay]

mro, You forgot the one imortant point. DOT 5 will NOT take the paint off!!
Ray

[Shuriken]

So - I will look around a bit more, and maybe someone can find me a kit for cheaper, but the spiegler system looks like a good choice for me because it should be bolt -n- go. Perhaps they already know the specs of the XS11? If not, maybe I'll look elsewhere. It is probably the priciest place...

Ben

[ratbyk]

Braided Stainless Hoses

Spiegler was the source for the hoses on my XS11. No problems other than the usual bleeding hassles. (not Spieglers fault)
Since than I have had Randy make up the hoses for all my other bikes. Again no problems with Randy's hoses either.
Ratbyk

[Dennyz]

Hi guys,

if your brakes are spongy, they have air in them. Air compresses, brake fluid does not. The sponginess is the air compressing.

I have had the best results with my MightyVac. I have never been able to get them right with the "Hold down the lever, open the bleeder" method. I think there are places in the brake system where a bubble of air can get caught, but let fluid by when bleeding.

Sucking the fluid from the bleeder pulls out all the old fluid and air nicely. Just have to make sure to keep the MC topped off.

MightVacs are pretty inexpensive and work on all brake systems (at least all the ones I have).

That is my $.02

[Shuriken]

Ratbyk, how did you order? Did they have a system ready-made for the XS or did you have to bust out the tape measure and give them measurements?

Ben