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05 zx6r front brake upgrade

5239 Views 23 Replies 11 Participants Last post by  Ebster1085
hey guys i have searched and searched again but haven't found a direct answer about my front brakes. the brakes suck. they are there one second and gone the next and at the track i cant afford to not have a brake. i put EBC sintered pads and steel braided lines on it. rebuild the master twice now and fully disassembled the calipers and soaked them in a super sonic high temp parts washer and sandblasted my rotors. you name it i tried it and still no real brake grab :rant . what have you guys done? i hear about the 07 mc working but i need opinions. i want to make sure my brake switch will still work on my bike any help out there??? thanks guys!!
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I went with R6 brakes and a Brembo master cylinder.
I went with R6 brakes and a Brembo master cylinder.
i was trying to stay away from switching my calipers out but if thats what i have to do to get best performance than thats what i have to do. did you try switching to the 07 before you switched?
No. I had a buddy with some r6 brakes for cheap so I just went ahead and did the swap.
I got my brakes to about 80-90% of what my 2001 J model zx6r brakes used to be (knock off galfer wave rotors, HEL ss lines, EBC hh pads).

It took me a lot to get the 06 to that point.

ebc HH pads
Coremoto SS lines
brand new 2013 zx10 MC
scrubbed caliper pistons
multiple bleedings (holding caliper upside down as high as possible, tapping it)

I'd say replacing the master is a very good idea. Depending on how much riding I will do this year, I will invest in some 09-12 calipers.

You could use any ninja model master since they got the same handlebar dia., I'd go for the newest I could afford.

Should I still be unhappy I will replace the rotors.
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I got my brakes to about 80-90% of what my 2001 J model zx6r brakes used to be (knock off galfer wave rotors, HEL ss lines, EBC hh pads).

It took me a lot to get the 06 to that point.

ebc HH pads
Coremoto SS lines
brand new 2013 zx10 MC
scrubbed caliper pistons
multiple bleedings (holding caliper upside down as high as possible, tapping it)

I'd say replacing the master is a very good idea. Depending on how much riding I will do this year, I will invest in some 09-12 calipers.

You could use any ninja model master since they got the same handlebar dia., I'd go for the newest I could afford.

Should I still be unhappy I will replace the rotors.
Really? I am confused to be honest...:O

I mean....go through the break lines from top to bottom there should be no reason why your not at 100%
1) Rebuild MC
2) Replace break lines (SS)
3) EBC HH Pads
4) Rebuild pistons in Caliper
5) If you need to go that far new rotors? I never had to...
6) Fresh Break fluid and bleed em

What am I missing? I mean...if your not at 100% after that somethings up....just saying
Really? I am confused to be honest...:O

I mean....go through the break lines from top to bottom there should be no reason why your not at 100%
1) Rebuild MC
2) Replace break lines (SS)
3) EBC HH Pads
4) Rebuild pistons in Caliper
5) If you need to go that far new rotors? I never had to...
6) Fresh Break fluid and bleed em

What am I missing? I mean...if your not at 100% after that somethings up....just saying
i thought the same thing. i manual bleed them and sucked the fluid through and went from the bottom up. i looked into the master when i rebuilt it and didnt see any pitting but thats also with my eyes. i have done brakes an my other bikes and never had a problem. i think im going to throw a zx10 master on it. i just want to make sure the banjo bolt is the same size.
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i thought the same thing. i manual bleed them and sucked the fluid through and went from the bottom up. i looked into the master when i rebuilt it and didnt see any pitting but thats also with my eyes. i have done brakes an my other bikes and never had a problem. i think im going to throw a zx10 master on it. i just want to make sure the banjo bolt is the same size.
I'm not too sure it is...you may have to change the lines...and calipers...and rotors...it never ends lol.

But who knows...I never tried:O
I'm not too sure it is...you may have to change the lines...and calipers...and rotors...it never ends lol.

But who knows...I never tried:O
well if it works out ill let ya know. anyone out there try the zx10 mc???
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My 06 brakes started going shitty after hammering a bit so thought f'#k it, she s now got Brembo 19x20 master, Hel lines, rbf600 brake fluid, zzr1400 nissin calipers, Ebc sintered pads , zx636 2014 front discs, on her.... and she Stops now!!!!:bigthumb::bigthumb:
well if it works out ill let ya know. anyone out there try the zx10 mc???
At least for the 11-14 zx10 I can say the banjo bolt is the exact same dia. I never thought of that when we put on my fiancée's zx10 MC.

I haven't fully rebuilt my calipers, just pumped the pistons out individually and scrubbed them with a toothbrush and WD40.
Reason why I'm so picky about having strong lever pull with great stopping power is due to my now fucked up right hand after I cracked the thumb close to the wrist from a shitty low speed wipeout.

The tendons got a permanent damage and everytime I spread my hand (don't have the big hands like you guys) to grab the brake it shoots pain and ruins my focus. Just an unreliable feeling paired with hesitance.
07 MC and 07 calipers made a huge difference. Stainless lines of course as well but it made a world of difference in my bike.
i have r1 06 monoblocks on my j2 and i love them there a good caliper,allot of people also like the nissins from the 08 but not tried them myself so cant comment
It sounds to me like there is still a problem with the master cylinder. A buddy of mine tried rebuilding his too and it just never worked right. I'd try upgrading the master.
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buy a rebuild kit from kaw for your master, or update to the black nissin master from the 07+ zx6r. your switches will still work BUT, you will need a brake lever from that year master too. updating the calipers is icing on the cake but, not required for great braking power. I have a thread on here going over part numbers and rebuilding the 05-06 masters. they do work well, if you rebuild them correctly. Ski
thanks guys they all sound like a great deal. im going to go up to the zx10 mc and see what happens to that. i would replace my calipers but thats silly money. that will be my next step if the master doesnt work out for me. anyone have a zx10 mc for sale? lol or the 07 mc?
don't get hung up on the "zx10 master", depending on the year, it is the same on the 6r. make sure you get the brake lever too... the bronze master from the 05-06 takes a different lever, than the black master on the 07+.

Ski
well I have been out of the state and haven't had time to get any parts. though I have been thinking about switching out my entire brake setup and putting on 07 calipers with an 07 master. now my question is does anyone know if the 05 brake lines will work on the 07 parts? I don't feel like buying all new brake lines. any help would be great guys!!!!
or I have been looking at the 2009-11 calipers. need some help guys
I think the advice you're getting is good - rebuild if you're up for it, if not buy some new parts that are hopefully better (if buying used).

Me and Ebster have done the following in the last year:

1) Brembo RCS master
2) 09-12 calipers
3) Already had stainless lines and Galfer rotors

I haven't tested on the track yet (in late April) but they seem very good in limited testing around my neighborhood.

Reusing brake lines should be fine - i think you'll have a little extra line as the attachment point on the Nissin's are higher, meaning closer to the M/C. If you go with the Brembo you need a new banjo bolt as the thread in the M/C is finer than on the stock units....

hope that helps
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