Front disc pads

[arthurf]

G'day All, my 1987 MZ 250 ETZ has of course gotten a front disc brake. The problem I have is that it has no feel, full off to full on with just a very short pull. Is this the norm, or do I have a problem? The disc pads are TRW, LUC-49-GF, KBA 60988, MCB 19. By the way the outer of the disc cylinder has MZ cast onto it.

Is there a replacement/something I can do to give me a softer brake with a bit of feel?

I have replaced the hydraulic hose - and of course the Dot 3 brake fluid; and bled the brake - but it is no different.
Any (nice) suggestions? Arthur

[DAVID THOMPSON]

my 1995 saxon tour with 500 cc rotax has same brake on front use ebc pads
and force the fluid into the system from the bottom
with a pump
putting the fluid in from the top never seems to get the air out of it
dave

[Blurredman]

Apparently a very common complaint with the ETZ's..

What master cylinder are you using?, What type of brake pads are those that you listed?

[Puffs]

Air is not the problem, and yes, you're right, it says DOT 3 on the cap.

DOT 3 & 4 are chemically similar, but DOT 4 has a slightly higher boiling point, both wet & dry (155°C/230°C vs. 140°C/205°C), and DOT 4 has a lower viscosity as preferred by ABS systems. I've been using DOT 4 because I can't be bothered to buy a can of DOT 3 for just a single front brake, and DOT 4 works fine for me. But I only use 1 finger for braking, as my ABS doesn't seem to work very well, particularly in the wet.

Maybe try roughening the pads with very course sandpaper (grit 40), do this outside without inhaling the dust.

[arthurf]

G'day Blurredman,
The pads are TRW. As for the master cylinder - pushing my knowledge/experience of MZ's too far. Do not know (and I have not yet been able to get a suitable manual). Is there some form of identification on the master cylinder?
Need to speed up my learning curve.
Cheers and a good New Year, Arthur

[Blurredman]

If it is the original round type, I've had a few and they all feel quite 'wooden', and very powerful for their application.




On one of my bikes, I use a Gilera DNA50 brake master cylinder. It's a lot more progressive and 'feely'...

[arthurf]

G'day Blurredman,
As I put in earlier reply pads are TRW, and the wheel cylinders (slave cylinders?) are Grimeca (cast into one of the castings). Also the master cylinder has the numbers 30-24.146 SI91 2 cast in underneath (not sure exactly what this indicates!!!).

Make any sense to you?
Cheers, Arthur