1. Fill reservoir – leave cap off until finished bleeding.
  2. Remove one inner left front top bleed screw and loosen one rear bleeder (this will get fluid flowing slowly) – keep your eye on reservoir level, do NOT let it empty itself.
  3. Close rear bleeder and let left front caliper continue to bleed until no more bubbles appear in the inner hole. Put screw back in and make it snug.
  4. Remove other top screw in left front caliper. When all air bubbles are gone, insert screw and make it snug (it is very helpful to turn wheel to the right and left).
  5. Check the reservoir level.
  6. With both front caliper screws snug, open only ONE rear bleeder and wait until all air bubbles are gone. Then close that bleeder. Open the second rear bleeder and repeat until no air is present.
  7. With all bleeders tight, slowly pump pedal until no more air appears in reservoir.
  8. Unhook both quick disconnects (front and rear) using hand pressure and check pedal travel. Pedal travel should be 1/4 inch. If it is more, you need to loosen banjo bolt (in master cylinder) and let fluid gravity bleed out of the top banjo washer OR with new banjo bleed bolt, remove screw until there is no more air. Check again, it should have only 1/4 inch of pedal travel.
  9. Now connect the left front brake only and re-check both top bleed screws for air bubble.
  10. With left front caliper hooked up to disconnect, you should have 5/8 pedal travel. If not, see the trouble shooting page.
  11. Unhook front caliper disconnect and move to rear caliper. Connect the rear caliper disconnect then check pedal travel. Pedal travel should be 7/8 inch. If not, see the trouble shooting page.

Troubleshooting

 

  • If you cannot get left front to 5/8 pedal travel, remove pads and push pedal slowly until pistons come out of bores 1/8 inch on each side. Next, push pistons back in (do not loosen any bleed screws). After both pistons are pushed back, load the pads. Now re-bleed both top screws. You should see some air bubbles. (Note: in a hydraulic system, pistons never move at equal times, only under pressure)

 

  • Paper towels and cold water are all you need to clean brake fluid.

 

  • Inboard, if you cannot get pedal travel to 7/8 inch with only the rear disconnect connected, push all four pistons out a 1/4 inch then push back in with bleeders closed. Then re-bleed both bleeders and check pedal travel.

 

  • Goal = pedal travel with hand pressure (holding tape measure at foot peg to motor plate)

2023 Spike Midget Brake Measurements

Using hand pressure, measuring from brake pedal peg to motor plate 3/4 Brembo master cylinder, Smith Ti brake calipers No master cylinder stiffener rod
Process Pedal travel with Light hand pressure measuring from foot peg to motor plate Brake Quick Disconnects
Step 1
1/4″
Both disconnects unplugged, checking car line kit and master cylinder
Step 2
3/4″ – 7/8″
Front disconnect Connected, rear disconnect unplugged, checking front caliper. (Must have step one completed first meeting the measurement)
Step 3
3/4″ – 7/8″
Rear disconnect Connected, front disconnect unplugged) (Must have step one completed first meeting the measurement)
Step 4
1-1/8″ – 1-1/4″
Both disconnects are Connected. (Must have step one completed first meeting the measurement)

With master cylinder stiffing rod (you must weld a rod at rear of master cylinder from the body to the frame to prevent and stiffen the Spike bracket from flexing.) Well worth the trouble.

Process Pedal travel with Light hand pressure measuring from foot peg to motor plate Brake Quick Disconnects
Step 1
1/4″
Both disconnects unplugged, checking car line kit and master cylinder
Step 2
5/8″
Front disconnect Connected, rear disconnect unplugged, checking front caliper. (Must have step one completed first meeting the measurement)
Step 3
5/8″
Rear disconnect Connected, front disconnect unplugged) (Must have step one completed first meeting the measurement)
Step 4
1″
Both disconnects are Connected. (Must have step one completed first meeting the measurement)