Brakes not feeling right after pad change

[jovie]

I've recently replaced my front pads with Brembo RC's.
I've done this before loads of times on bikes and cars and this one was pretty straightforward, however the brakes now feel slightly spongy even though there was a lot of fluid in the MC when i replaced the pads so air could not have got in, in fact I had to syringe out some fluid to return the level to max.
I've only ridden it about twenty miles since but i'm sure the brakes aren't as sharp as before.
Should I just bleed them anyway or is there something else gone wrong?

[sbs]

Originally Posted by jovie

I've recently replaced my front pads with Brembo RC's.
I've done this before loads of times on bikes and cars and this one was pretty straightforward, however the brakes now feel slightly spongy even though there was a lot of fluid in the MC when i replaced the pads so air could not have got in, in fact I had to syringe out some fluid to return the level to max.
I've only ridden it about twenty miles since but i'm sure the brakes aren't as sharp as before.
Should I just bleed them anyway or is there something else gone wrong?

Some types of pads need a specific break-in. Try this:

Find a deserted piece of road (or a track) and get the bike up to 70 mph; use medium pressure to brake the bike down to 25 mph or so.. repeat 5 times in a row, fairly quickly to get heat in the rotors.. after a few more seconds, get the bike up to 90 mph and try braking moderately hard.. See if that helps

Another issue, could be with the rotors .. they will have a wear pattern in them from the previous pads and it can take a while for new pads to wear to match your old rotors.

[Stang10189]

also make sure you have the right pads for are bike they take a specific thickness of the back plate if i remember correctly

[Mike-]

What sbs said...
Don't need to go that fast if you can't do it safely...just do a coupla more stops at a lower speed..but do them quickly to keep the heat in the pads.

Mike

[jovie]

Thanks I will try that.
They are the correct pads specifically for the S1RR

[Jackson]

There are some things you should be doing during a pad change.

I like to remove my rotor and run it on the bed of my drill press with a rotor hone cleaning the blade, this removes all the other pad deposition and leaves you with a blade that will bed in the pads a little better.

When the pads are off clean up the pistons so there is no residue on them, you shouldn't rely on the seals to wipe the pistons.

When you've installed the calipers I like to just snug up the caliper bolts and then turn the wheel and apply the brakes I do this a couple times,arguably it seems to give a slightly better alignment of the calipers. Its quick and free.

When everything is reassembled it's a great time to pour some new fluid into the resevoir and bleed it all through. I have a weakness for Castrol SRF.