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Brake Systems Flush or Complete Rebuild?
- GPZ1100_Rider
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I have a 1981 GPZ with around 16,500 miles on it that I purchased recently and have begun to get it in good running condition.
The brakes (both ends) on my bike look good, brake pad thicknesses are within spec, the hoses look fine, the brakes' action seem to function fine, there are no leaks evident, and with the wheels off of the ground, they spin freely.
Since I am going over a lot of things: electrical, engine, and chassis, I'll be going into the brake systems at one point. Based upon your experiences and knowledge, should I do a complete rebuild of the brake systems, or just flush out all of the old brake fluid and replenish with new DOT3 fluid?
If flushing out the brakes systems is in order, is it okay to use isopropyl alcohol instead of new brake fluid? According to the factory service manual, this type of alcohol (and ethyl alcohol) can be used to clean the brake system components. I read on another site, that one guy does this. However, is it a problem to have any residual amount of alcohol within the system when backfilling with new DOT3 brake fluid?
It's a thirty year old bike, but based upon what I'm seeing on it, I don't see the need for complete rebuilds of the master cylinders and calipers, and hose
replacement. However, I can be swayed upon your comments and advice. I know how important brakes are. Who doesn't?
Thanks in advance for your feedback and advice.
Marty
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- donthekawguy
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Rathdrum Idaho
1971 Kawasaki g3ss
1972 Yamaha R5 350
1965 Suzuki Hillbilly
1964 Yamaha 125
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- 650ed
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1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)
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- Motor Head
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- FIX UP YOUR BIKE RIGHT AND CHEAP
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1982 KZ1000LTD K2 Vance & Hines 4-1 ACCEL COILS Added Vetter fairing & Bags. FOX Racing rear Shocks, Braced Swing-arm, Fork Brace, Progressive Fork Springs RT Gold Emulators, APE Valve Springs, 1166 Big Bore kit, RS34's, GPZ cams.
1980 KZ550LTD C1 Stock SOLD Miss it
1979 MAZDA RX7 in the works, 13B...
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- otakar
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74 Z1-A stock
76 KZ-900 Totaly stock vice MAC pipe
77 KZ-1000A stock
78 Z1-R 100%MINT 500 original Mi.
78 Z1-R Yoshi 1103 kit stage 1 cams Yoshi pipe. Etc
79 KZ-1300 (1400)
80 KZ-1300
81 Scratch built GPz1150R
82 KZ1000
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- 650ed
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The factory Service Manual would have had the recommendation to replace the brake system rubber components several times by this age. They are also pretty cheap for the rubbers seals, the pistons are a bit more. But really this would be a big safety issue, and with the other work you have in mind, a "piece of mind when you clamp down hard."
OK, you gotta help me out here. I have 3 Kawasaki factory service manuals. They describe intervals for checking and changing brake fluid, checking brake pad wear, and adjusting brakes. They also tell how to rebuild each component of the brake system. However, I cannot find any recommendation to replace any of the rubber components or to rebuild anything unless damage is found or the system is not working properly. Please tell me what chapter you found this in as I have never seen this "recommendation.". Thanks, Ed
1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)
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- Motor Head
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- FIX UP YOUR BIKE RIGHT AND CHEAP
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Every 2 years for the brake rubbers and 4 for the hoses. That's the FSM interval.
If you got a way to take it from the PDF and put it in the post tell me and I'll edit.
1982 KZ1000LTD K2 Vance & Hines 4-1 ACCEL COILS Added Vetter fairing & Bags. FOX Racing rear Shocks, Braced Swing-arm, Fork Brace, Progressive Fork Springs RT Gold Emulators, APE Valve Springs, 1166 Big Bore kit, RS34's, GPZ cams.
1980 KZ550LTD C1 Stock SOLD Miss it
1979 MAZDA RX7 in the works, 13B...
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- 650ed
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Open the PDF file
On the toolbar - click on "Edit"
On dropdown that appears - click on "Copy file to clipboard"
Open microsoft Word
On a new blank document click on "Edit"
On dropdown click on "Paste" (this should paste PDF in Word document)
Save the Word document
On KZR reply or new thread (at bottom) next to"Select file to attach" browse until you find the Word document then select it. That will put a link to the document in the reply.
I hope this made sense. Thanks, Ed
1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)
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- Motor Head
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Attachment Table.doc not found
Well thats not what I was hoping for, that's the table, copied to clipboard, moved to Word and attached.
I also down loaded a "Screen Capture Tool" but it doesn't seem to be saving the area.
Patton the man, but I don't see him online at the moment.
1982 KZ1000LTD K2 Vance & Hines 4-1 ACCEL COILS Added Vetter fairing & Bags. FOX Racing rear Shocks, Braced Swing-arm, Fork Brace, Progressive Fork Springs RT Gold Emulators, APE Valve Springs, 1166 Big Bore kit, RS34's, GPZ cams.
1980 KZ550LTD C1 Stock SOLD Miss it
1979 MAZDA RX7 in the works, 13B...
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- Patton
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The chart below is from Motor Head's post.
Good Fortune!
[Click on image to enlarge view.]
1973 Z1
KZ900 LTD
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- Motor Head
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- FIX UP YOUR BIKE RIGHT AND CHEAP
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When you get a moment PM me with the way to do that right, Thanks.
1982 KZ1000LTD K2 Vance & Hines 4-1 ACCEL COILS Added Vetter fairing & Bags. FOX Racing rear Shocks, Braced Swing-arm, Fork Brace, Progressive Fork Springs RT Gold Emulators, APE Valve Springs, 1166 Big Bore kit, RS34's, GPZ cams.
1980 KZ550LTD C1 Stock SOLD Miss it
1979 MAZDA RX7 in the works, 13B...
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