Okay, decided to go for it today when the brake pads came in. (Gafler TR-206543, sinterned race pads FD156)
My bike has ABS. There is a special procedure for bleeding ABS brakes that involves using the bike's computer and a handheld diagnostic/programmer.
This involved some risk, for if I couldn't do an install and standard bleed, the bike would be out of commission as I'd have to go to the shop.
The engineer in me felt I could do this w/out upsetting the ABS system.
I cleaned up the 2004 Hayabusa calipers as well as I could, since today's brake cleaner doesn't seem to cut much. I installed the new pads, then went to the bike
I removed the left caliper with the single brake line. I then mounted the new caliper and filled it with fluid through the open hole. I quickly removed and transfered the brake line and banjo bolt to the new caliper. At that point, I tried my old "pump it till you drop" method, but after a few minutes of little success, pulled out the $6 bleeder kit:
I got from the autoshop. This is basically just a bottle with a tube
I filled the bottle some w/Dot 4 fluid, put the tube on the bleeder screw and loosened it. Pumped some fluid through, refilling the resiervour as needed. Closed off the bleed screw and the lever was semi-solid feeling.
Okay, at this point I decided to do the other side before I continued bleeding. I repeated the same process on the right side, with the double lines on the banjo. I bleed it the same
With a semi-firm lever, I took it for a ride and did a break-in procedure with the pads. They took a bit, but broke in well and increased in power.
Toward the end of the ride, I tested the ABS and it was working.
So far, so good, but still had air in the lines, as evidenced by the lever going about 1/2 way to the handle bar, and it "pumping up" if I stroked it a few times.
Back to the "shop" and a quick bleed on both sides. Felt good, took it for another ride. Nice firm lever, good braking.
So far, I think I notice a good difference in the calipers. They seem more powerful than the stockers. Time will tell if they have the same stiction issue with the seals and pistons.
FYI - I reused the stock washers, no issues
