FX
06-04-2004, 09:43 PM
My front brake line was old and dry. It gave up during the front end build and all the movement. This line is for a bike with stock pull back handlebars. They are higher and the line is loner then the bike needs now with 883 drag bars. As a result some custom bending was in order. I hooked up the top banjo joint and started the bend. After I had what I needed the line was 180* out from where it should be pointing to go under the triple tree. So I straightened the stock bend and made a new one. Originally with the line I removed I bent the line with all 3 fastening points fastened. Now I see why it failed. Bending it twists it quite a bit. The new one having been bent one stage at a time has no twist stress on the metal to rubber joints and should last longer then 5 years.
After replacing the line it seemed to take forever to bleed the brake line. I used quite a bit of brake fluid, but even though it's messy, the DOT 5 is paint safe.
After replacing the line it seemed to take forever to bleed the brake line. I used quite a bit of brake fluid, but even though it's messy, the DOT 5 is paint safe.