SuzukiSavage.com - Why do the brakes on my 2005 S40 suck?

The_Newstrums

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Why do the brakes on my 2005 S40 suck?
02/19/06 at 19:09:28

I just purchased my 2005 S40 with under 400 miles on it. I've been riding over ten years, and this is my sixth bike. I really like everything else about this bike, except for the barely adequate braking. It almost never backfires and handles very nicely. Can someone please tell me what the reason for the poor braking is, and how I can go about improving it ??? I need better brakes!

Thanks for your time,

Sarah

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Max_Morley

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Re: Why do the brakes on my 2005 S40 suck?
Reply #1 - 02/19/06 at 20:18:03

Possibily the brakes were never bedded in when new, in which case you could sand the disc brake pads and then do 20-30 medimum stops with time for the brakes to cool off between stops. We used to do cars about a mile and then use the brakes down to almost a stop then back up to speed to cool things off. Also I put a stainless steel wrapped brake hose on my 96 and I feel it made a positive difference in the linear feel of the front brake action. Max

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Max at Thumper Acres. '96 Savage bagger, '03 Savage w/Cozy sidecar for wifeni.

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babbalou

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Re: Why do the brakes on my 2005 S40 suck?
Reply #2 - 02/19/06 at 20:51:23

My brake pads were nearly gone at 2,000 miles & I switched to SBS 581HF brake pads. I noticed a little more power in the front brake. I put on a braided stainless steel brake line & that helped some too. Since it's a single disc/single piston design it could use some help. After this I'd bleed the brake line & get out any bubbles. My rear brake seems OK.

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Had an S40 Jul '04-Jan '07

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AussieSavage

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Re: Why do the brakes on my 2005 S40 suck?
Reply #3 - 02/19/06 at 21:13:49

Hi Sarah,

I have ridden alot of bikes in my time and also feel the Savage has a very average braking system, compared to some of the sports bikes and cruisers around.

But then again the Savage uses the old rear wheel brake drum system, so you would expect that.

I use heavier front disc linings, rather than the softer compound linings. Just seems to pull the bike up a bit quicker.

Sure you can modify the brakes on the Savage, but you will only get a slight improvement.They will never be perfect.
Bit like changing the spark plug and having to remove the tank

) The seating that gives you a sore AAA after an hours ride

Thats what makes it a Savage, a great little bike with faults that you live with and learn to enjoy

Cheers from
Aussie Savage

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The Newstrums

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Re: Why do the brakes on my 2005 S40 suck?
Reply #4 - 02/19/06 at 21:15:27

I figured that putting ceramics on would help. I looked up the application at Dennis Kirk and saw that the newer S40's don't yet show pad application (only the rears and those were Kevlar). Am I wrong in thinking that the brakes are the same as all the other year Savages? I'm thinking of just upgrading (just start off fresh) with ceramics front and rear and the EBC rotor.

Whadya think?

Ethan

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babbalou Serious Thumper Offline Posts: 814 Lewisville, Texas Gender:	Re: Why do the brakes on my 2005 S40 suck? Reply #5 - 02/20/06 at 00:26:48 Any brake parts for the Savage are the same as the S40. I've never upgraded rotors so I'm not sure what gains can be had there.
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klx650sm2002

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Re: Why do the brakes on my 2005 S40 suck?
Reply #6 - 02/20/06 at 04:01:55

E.B.C. front disc + pads give 17% more friction than std.

On KLX I went from a 12.7mm to an 11mm master cylinder, this gives 33% more line pressure for the same lever pressure. The draw back is 33% more lever travel.

Stainless braided brake lines are an all round good thing, less lever travel better feel.

Clive W Cheesy

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Savage_Rob

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Re: Why do the brakes on my 2005 S40 suck?
Reply #7 - 02/20/06 at 05:58:37

The single disc up front and the drum in back would be minimal braking for a heavier bike but are pretty decent for the Savage/S40. Changing the pads on mine did make a noticeable difference and I plan to put on the braided stainless hose later this year. I'll probably replace the rotor at some point but mine's fine now so those funds can go elsewhere... like gas for riding!

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Reelthing

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Re: Why do the brakes on my 2005 S40 suck?
Reply #8 - 02/20/06 at 06:43:59

The '95 has the ebc rotor installed (even have the holes pointed in the correct direction!).

The rotor business here

http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?board=RubberSideDown;action=display;n...

It does work better than the oem rotor that was on the '95 but it was near the bottom of service spec - the down side is it's a low carbon steel - not stainless - so while this gives it more bite it also will flash rust fairly quick around the saltw@ter air - the rotor is one piece -so what I did after a few hundred miles was brush on hi temp stainless pigment paint on all the non-contact areas.

I have a stainless brake line in the box to install - and this seems like a good day to do that. I expect the brake line to do more than the rotor as the rubber line was install 11/94 and has >20k miles on it.

How much better that almost New Stock I can't say.

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Reelthing Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Fish or ride that is the question Posts: 5397 Houston,Tx Gender:	Re: Why do the brakes on my 2005 S40 suck? Reply #9 - 02/20/06 at 16:11:43 D@mn bleeding the front brake from scratch is a pain in the arse - 2 hours and at least 2 brews.... well I might lost count of both - it was a holiday! .... later and it now has a stainless line, low mileage master cylinder and caliper - seems to work
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Savage_Rob Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Mechanically Inclined Amateur Posts: 6972 Texas (Dallas area) Gender:	Re: Why do the brakes on my 2005 S40 suck? Reply #10 - 02/21/06 at 07:31:22 I decided I'd try the Mityvac Brake Bleeding Kit. It got a pretty decent write-up in Motorcycle Classics recently.
Back to top	1998\|MAC muffler\|ceramic coated header\|K&N air filter\|Amal Mk2 carb\|Odyssey battery\|iridium plug\|NC windshield\|Dunlop 491s\|Superbrace\|EBC brake rotor\|12.5" Progressive shocks\|Kuryakyn ISO grips IP Logged

Reelthing

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Re: Why do the brakes on my 2005 S40 suck?
Reply #11 - 02/21/06 at 08:35:45

I used a 2 oz syringe the walgreens sold me for .50 and some tube'n - seems to pull a good vac to get it all started - if I was just swaping fluid it's not a difficult task but man starting from scratch was a different deal - that looks like it has a check valve that might make such things easier - what's that sack of stuff run you?

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Savage_Rob

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Re: Why do the brakes on my 2005 S40 suck?
Reply #12 - 02/21/06 at 08:43:20

Well, I have the $2 version from Harbor Freight and they have several others too - as well as the Mityvac above. This looked much easier to use and likely to be less mess. I thought I'd try it. Gotta be careful with brake fluid. That stuff'll strip paint off darn near anything. The link in the above post is the best price I saw at $31.50 for the full kit.

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Steve530 Senior Member 2005 No Login Offline Posts: 452 Knoxville, TN Gender:	Re: Why do the brakes on my 2005 S40 suck? Reply #13 - 02/21/06 at 09:03:03 I have a Mity-Vac brake bleeding kit that I've used for cars. My kit came with a vacuum gauge installed. It's been used for several thing in the past. I think it would work well for this application, but I've not used it for the Savage.
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MacAttack Ex Member	Re: Why do the brakes on my 2005 S40 suck? Reply #14 - 05/24/06 at 13:07:52 Poor braking: What is poor about it? That's important for two reasons: 1. we have a new '06, and the brakes are fine - I can lock up the front wheel; 2. is the lever spongy? Excess force required? Vibration? Squeal? I'll take a crack at it, if you could be a bit more specific. thanks, Mac
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