888 Brake lines

Brilloman

Hello,

This is my first post here so please be gentle with me. 😉 I have a 1994 888 LTD that I purchased new. The bike doesn't get ridden but I try to keep the maintenance up on it. I am replacing the front master cylinder because the last time I had it serviced the master cylinder came apart and the Tech could not fix it. Well now the front brake lines are blocked somewhere and I need to replace them. I see many different types of brake lines on eBay but I don't know the good ones from the cheap ones. I was hoping that someone could point me in the right direction as to which aftermarket lines are good quality and which ones I should avoid?

griff851

Can I just ask what has lead to idea the brake lines are blocked? Have you had them off and checked or is because the calipers won't move or bleed? Just curious as bleeding can get a bit frustrating or callipers may need a clean, rather than a blocked brake line.

Brilloman

griff851 wroteCan I just ask what has lead to idea the brake lines are blocked? Have you had them off and checked or is because the calipers won't move or bleed? Just curious as bleeding can get a bit frustrating or callipers may need a clean, rather than a blocked brake line.

Good question. My friend who is a 40 year tech (not Ducati) was putting the master cylinder on for me and told me that the brake lines were blocked. I will ask him what made him think that but I am assuming that he was unable to get fluid down to the caliper.

Brilloman

He said that he got one caliper to bleed but when he couldn't get the other one to bleed he pulled the banjo and no fluid came out.

griff851

Before splashing cash on new lines, it might pay to clean the lines and splitter block and calipers. If there is gunge in 1 line it’s contaminated and brakes are handy things for stopping. There’s a possibility the gunge will be everywhere except the new master cylinder. Has your mate got a compressor and dusting pistol, a G or sash clamp, a bit of 2-3 mm steel plate, acetone (do not use on rubber), vasolene detergent and some rags? If so buy some 3/8 -10mm copper washers.
Remove front brakes lines, splitter block (if it has one), and calipers. Watch for shims on calipers removal and note.
Remove lines if not already done.
Pull pads.
Remove bleed screw.
Put metal plate over one side of pistons.
Fit clamp on plate with rag or small wood/plastic bit to stop marking the calipers casting.
Refit bleed nipple or use your finger during fun bit. (Better regulation of pressure with finger)
Load rags (note rags) between pistons coming out and clamp/plate.
Stick dusting pistol in inlet port.
Fun bit:
Two options. Leave piston and calipers rags on or off.
Off, safety glasses and human breathing ports filter. Rag or respirator.
On, safety glasses and smoke hanging out your gob if desired.
Apply dusting pistol to caliper and give it some air or go hard.
Warning: keep you god damn fingers out of there.
Going hard with option “Off” and forgetting face filter, can result in total amazement and a funny look on your face as your prize piston goes zinging across the room with a loud pop almost bang and a cloud of vaporised brake fluid/water/rust/gunge you get to inhale because your gob is wide open in amazement. This is best done with 2 people to maximise the effect. Do not waste this moment, chances are you will never have it again.
If you were smoking at the time, it is advisable to stub it out and go again. Which of coarse will assist you no end as you search for the piston to see if by some miracle it’s not damaged. Also look for obvious signs of damage on the wife’s car if it’s present. ( don’t forget it’s paint work if it is). This factor adds to the amazement bit to th N’th degree.
Option “On” is the preferred method.
Once one piston is out after regulating with your finger. Clean,grease seals and piston and refit. They gently rock in initially, then you pull it in with clamp.
Lock piston fully in or somewhere near, with a bit of wood.
Cover with rags and blow out the other. Clean, grease and refit.
Partial refittment will allow you to blow out both piston now they are functional and seriously clean caliper wells.
Repeat on remaining.
When piston is out. Clean caliper with detergent and water, rag and tooth brush, scouring pad if it’s nasty. Rinse Be gentle around seals, then blow dry.
Blow out lines. Its here, if 100 psi with a bit of flexing doesn’t move the blockage, you need new lines or be skilled in the use of a piece of wire if your desperate or have recently down grade your attitude to life. Feel free to clean and blow out lines.
Assemble, not forgetting the new shiny washers. Fill and bleed.
Then experience the joy of actually being able to pull up like new brakes. Check for leaks after test ride.

Brilloman

Whoa....sounds like you have done this a few times! So, in short you are saying that if there was grunge and moisture contamination in the master cylinder that it's probably in the calipers too and they should be disassembled and cleaned? That makes sense....

I am concerned that once they are apart that the seals will be old and hard and need to be replaced as well. Are these parts readily available?

wgsvintage

Denatured alcohol is a good safe solvent for all your brake system parts, and you should find all your rebuild kits and replacement parts at OPP Racing.

https://www.oppracing.com/category/2...acement-parts/

Brilloman

wgsvintage wroteDenatured alcohol is a good safe solvent for all your brake system parts, and you should find all your rebuild kits and replacement parts at OPP Racing. https://www.oppracing.com/category/2...acement-parts/

Sweet! Thanks for the link to the Brembo parts!

SP128

Also, if all else fails, Spiegler have great brake lines and will custom assemble to length, angle and even color according to your measurements and preferences. Needed some to fit Brembo RCS radial masters on my 851. Very pleased with the quality and speed of delivery.

https://spieglerusa.com/brakes/brake-lines-accessories-tools/custom-brake-lines.html

Brilloman

Does anyone know how I would identify which model Brembo calipers are on my bike?

wgsvintage

If this is your first time rebuilding master cylinders and calipers, it might be a good idea to recruit a riding buddy with good wrenching experience to walk you thru the job. Take good photos of your calipers and put them up on this forum, or contact OPP Racing tech support with your photos to help get you the correct parts. One tip to help in splitting the calipers is to first break the body bolts loose while they are still mounted to the forks using a good fitting 3/8 drive allen key holder on a ratchet or breaker bar, take up all the play, then give it a good firm quick ccw motion like you mean it, and the bolts should squeek and loosen. Do a search on this forum for brake rebuilding threads.

SP128

Betting someone here will be able to tell you, if you post a picture. Think the OEM calipers were some version of the Brembo P4 40 mm type, but could be wrong when it comes to your 888.

Brilloman

wgsvintage wroteIf this is your first time rebuilding master cylinders and calipers, it might be a good idea to recruit a riding buddy with good wrenching experience to walk you thru the job. Take good photos of your calipers and put them up on this forum, or contact OPP Racing tech support with your photos to help get you the correct parts. One tip to help in splitting the calipers is to first break the body bolts loose while they are still mounted to the forks using a good fitting 3/8 drive allen key holder on a ratchet or breaker bar, take up all the play, then give it a good firm quick ccw motion like you mean it, and the bolts should squeek and loosen. Do a search on this forum for brake rebuilding threads.

Yes, I was not going to attempt to do the caliper rebuild myself. I have done it on older post vintage dirt bikes but this bike is too valuable to me to attempt it and not have it be perfect. I was either going to have my buddy who is Technician currently working on the bike do it or send them out to havethem done. There is a eBay seller "Bestducatiparts" who offers a caliper rebuild service that I am considering if I can ever connect with him.

wgsvintage

Why not call Ducati Atlanta service department? 770-984-9844. I just did to see if they would rebuild saveable calipers and they said yes and would be happy to talk to you.

https://www.bmwma.com/repair-your-mo...th-us--service

Brilloman

wgsvintage wroteWhy not call Ducati Atlanta service department? 770-984-9844. I just did to see if they would rebuild saveable calipers and they said yes and would be happy to talk to you. https://www.bmwma.com/repair-your-mo...th-us--service

I appreciate you calling them for me. I suppose I could give them a try. I am not too familiar with that shop as they are on the other side of the city from me. Although there is something to be said for supporting your local business I am pretty picky about who works on my stuff. My friend who has it now is a 40 year Tech that works at a Yamaha Suzuki KTM Husky shop whom I have known for 30 years. Although he doesn't have much experience with Ducatis at least I have some control/input on the work being done. The negative part is that I have to be the one who sources the parts. It's funny that I ended up ordering OEM front brake lines from Pro-Itaila just because I did business with them 25 years ago and I figured that they may have someone who was familiar with the older Ducs. Ironically I ended up speaking with a young man named Dillion who although he was probably in diapers when my bike was built, did a very good job of looking up the parts and communicating with me. Even to the point of calling me when the parts came in and letting me know that they were shipping them out to me.

Is there any particular shop in the U.S. that specializes in older Ducati parts? All of the online OE parts sellers online look up doesn't go older than 2001!

wgsvintage

Here's a couple places I've used for older parts. Hit or miss.
https://www.gothamcycles.com/index.html
https://www.stein-dinse.biz/index.php?language=en

Brilloman

I apologize for the crappy pics but can anyone identify what model Brembo calipers these are? The bike is a 94 888 LTD.

Claire4dukes

P30/34 Single Pin 40mm Bolt centres per the attached pics

wgsvintage

The rear looks like a P32F Gold (Brembo Part# 20516143)

https://www.oppracing.com/product_di...ld-w-07bb0111/

Brilloman

Claire4dukes wroteP30/34 Single Pin 40mm Bolt centres per the attached pics

Thank you. So it appears as if the pistons are two different sizes.