Puddle of brake fluid under left front caliper

[BF]

Bike has been sitting for a few days....straight up in the WheelDock chock. 

Got back from B'ham and walked in the garage and saw a puddle of brake fluid on the floor. 

Is this just a seal replacement issue?  Seems to be coming directly from the caliper. 

[salty1]

I guess it could be a seal. Is the banjo bolt tight?  Is the bleeder snug also? I know you'll tear it down to determine the exact  problem.

[BF]

I guess it could be a seal. Is the banjo bolt tight?  Is the bleeder snug also? I know you'll tear it down determine the exact  problem.

I haven't done a thorough check yet, but just shining a light on it, it looks dry around the banjo bolt and the bleeder.  Seems to just be wet on the bottom and hitting the floor. 

[ptgb]

Check the fork seals as well as that is more common then a caliper leaking.

[Tailgate Tommy]

Check the fork seals as well as that is more common then a caliper leaking.

+1 Mine did that. Made a small spot on the floor right behind the caliper.

[Ricky-D]

You can look at the MC reservoir and determine what's up!

***

[BF]

Check the fork seals as well as that is more common then a caliper leaking.

Oooooh.  Hadn't thought of that...thanks.  I'll check it out. 

[BF]

Yep......fork seals.  Leaking pretty sporty too. 

It's gonna have to wait  untill I recover from surgery though.  Might be a few months.   

[indybobm]

I had a slight leak on my right fork. I tried Seal Mate for the first time. I removed the rock guard to make it easier to go around completely. I still had a little trouble getting it to go all the way around. I did have oil coming out when I was using it. The leak is FIXED!. I doubt if you have suffered a massive seal failure, probably just a piece of dirt under the seal. Piece of cake.

[Bugslayer]

+1  Seal Mate

[gordonv]

Film trick. Inexpensive if you have some old film sitting around.

[salty1]

Film trick. Inexpensive if you have some old film sitting around.

So if one is able to clear the seal so the leak stops, how do you go about restoring the proper fluid level?

[pancho]

Film trick. Inexpensive if you have some old film sitting around.

So if one is able to clear the seal so the leak stops, how do you go about restoring the proper fluid level?

It seems that the total amount lost on a typical leak is not significant to proper operation, even though fluid requirements in the tubes are pretty strict.   +/- .08 US fl.oz!!     that doesn't seem to give much wiggle room, but I have never seen a post about problems after a leak..??

[BF]

Film trick. Inexpensive if you have some old film sitting around.

So if one is able to clear the seal so the leak stops, how do you go about restoring the proper fluid level?

I was wondering the same thing. 

btw.....what is the film trick?  I think I've read about it before, but someone brief me.

[Jess from VA]

I've had intermittent fork leaks for a couple years (always stopped with film or seal mate).  One side is worse than the other, but even the worse side probably only amounts to less than 1.5 ounces (guessing, but total oil loss is minimal, just mists the timing cover and pods, never to the brakes).  The good side only gets the slider wet.  None ever on the ground. The forks on that bike are not quite as stiff as my other bike, but it handles and rides just fine.

35mm film buckles, I had to go thru a number of old negatives, and it never did as good a job as the sealmate.  There is even a better product available now that gives you a better grip.  If you get the seal mate, get two, I have abused mine using it twice.

Each time I clean, the leak is stopped.  Which means I do not have a chunk out of a fork seal, which would leak no matter how much you clean.  If you have a chunk or tear in a seal, you'll still leak after cleaning.  But it beats the crap out of tearing them off and a full rebuild.  I have all the parts out in the shed for that eventuality.

Just yank the fork protectors (rock guards), and follow the video.  Some yank the whole fender, I don't know why.

Seal Mate the Tool that Fixes Leaking Fork Seals	powered by Aeva

http://www.amazon.com/Motion-Pro-Seal-Mate-Cleaner/dp/B0039LDF4A

Here is the better one (I haven't used it, but as oil leaks during cleaning, it is hard to grip the little plastic seal mate to keep working it around the slider)
http://www.riskracing.com/pages/Seal_Doctor_Page.html#.U4x5lnajIW0

Some have cut up a plastic soda bottle to make their own.

[BF]

Thanks for the tip Jess.  I ordered one of these....

Risk Racing Seal Doctor - Fix leaky fork seals in second...	powered by Aeva

[Jess from VA]

Wow, the Blond model looks like a good buy. 

..... a sensitive and complicated suspension system that requires special tools. 
Out of the mouth of babes.   

PS, watch the Sealmate video too.... I think the bouncing of the forks at the end of the clean is a good idea.  I had to get on the bike to bounce it very hard.  If after a number of bounces and wipes, it's still leaking, clean it again.   

[Tailgate Tommy]

Thanks for the tip Jess.  I ordered one of these....

Risk Racing Seal Doctor - Fix leaky fork seals in second...

+1. This one worked easy and well for me. YMMV

[BF]

Wow, the Blond model looks like a good buy.  

..... a sensitive and complicated suspension system that requires special tools.  
Out of the mouth of babes.  

PS, watch the Sealmate video too.... I think the bouncing of the forks at the end of the clean is a good idea.  I had to get on the bike to bounce it very hard.  If after a number of bounces and wipes, it's still leaking, clean it again.  

I did indeed watch that video and think it's a good idea also.  Plan to incorporate that idea with the Seal Doc.  

The blond does seem like a bargin.  I asked for priority shipping.