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On a few rides recently I've noticed what looks like two smears of fluid from the reservoir cap bolts on the left hand (rear brake) lever of my LX disc brakes. It's nothing much but does seem to reappear every now and then. Now it could be a bit of sweat or wipe of the nose coming off my hand but it always appears on the left hand lever. When I set the brakes up I did open the reservoir as I needed to push a piston in, I then refilled the reservoir and refitted everything, I've had none of these smears on the righthand unit which has never been opened. Looking closely at the bolts and washers on the lefthand reservoir cap they do look a bit glisteny.
The thing is the bolts screw into metal bulges in the reservoir walls and, even if fluid were leaking out, there's no way I can see that fluid could seep out along the bolts, it would come out between the reservoir and reservoir cap, which it isn't. Also the brake performs perfectly and bites at the same point as the front one, if oil were leaking out presumably air would be getting in and braking would be compromised.
Topping up the reservoir and re-fitting the diaphram certainly caused a bit of overflow which probably got onto the bolt and possible into the bolt wells themselves, but that was a fair few months ago, could this still be working its way out during riding?
It's probably nothing and, as I've said, the brake is working fine, but then again it is a brake and pretty essentail so I thought it'd be best to ask?
Probably just excess fluid from the top-up, possibly a leaking diaphragm. If the diaphragm is leaking it won't affect the braking until the fluid level is low enough to suck air into the system.
Hopefully just leftover fluid then, even if the diaphram was leaky I'd still expect the fluid to seep out between the reservoir and the cap rather than along out through the bolt heads/washers as the bolts are set back somewhat from the chamber.
If it is a leaky diaphram where can I get a spare? I couldn't find one on Ultimate Pursuits but they must be reasonable easy to find.
Second-hand from a damaged lever's probably your only option, Shimano don't sell spares i'm afraid.
Thanks,
it'd odd that they don't sell the diaphrams as spares when you can buy new reservoir caps, bled nipple caps etc.
Hopefully it is just some left of oil from the top up so I'll keep my fingers crossed and perhaps keep an eye out on ebay for a 2nd hand unit.
Thank you again.
The diaphram comes with the cap and screws. LX part numbers are 8T1 9801 right hand or 8T1 9802 left hand. Retail is £2.49 each.
[url= http://techdocs.shimano.com/media/techdocs/content/cycle/EV/bikecomponents/BL/EV-BL-M585-2410_v1_m56577569830608737.pdf ]See part 1 on diagram here[/url]
Well b***er me, I've alway's been told stuff like that wasn't available.Wonder what else you can get that's not available?(shuffles off to check Madison's site)
If you want spares for Shimano then go to google and stick in the part number of the component eg BL-M585 and the letters EV. This will usually find an exploded view with part numbers which you can stick into Ultimate Pursuits by a little manipulation. For example Y-8T1 98010 becomes 8T1 9801 (need the space in there for it to work).
I hope this helps!
Thanks for that Mr P. just before reading your post I got an email back from Maidison stating, as you say, that the diaphrams come with the lid and giving parts numbers as (8T1 9801) - SPARE BLM585 lid RH and (8T1 9802) - SPARE BLM585 lid LH. I've got the exploded diagram of the M585 levers of the Shimano website but was searching using the part number for the diaphram itself rather than the lid. I need to order via the LBS.
I'm hoping I haven't got a leak but £2.50 seems extremely reasonable considering the usual ridiculously high prices for spares.
Madison would say the same as me, I am omnipotent!