My return to BMW is in the form of a 2004 R1150RT that has been stood for 5 years but which I will return to its former glory, by hook or by crook. My intention is to replace all fluids as a start but the ABS brakes look a tad complicated, can I do a fluid change on the brakes as a diy job or is it a dealer job. I am confident in my mechanical skills but when the Haynes manual is saying that the ABS is too complicated for them to devote a chapter to then alarm bells start to ring
CHRIS
Brake bleeding
Moderator: Moderators
-
- Club Member 13
- Posts: 59
- Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2018 8:44 pm
- Country of Residence: united kingdom
- Location: Doncaster [phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/vendor/twig/twig/lib/Twig/Extension/Core.php on line 1266: count(): Parameter must be an array or an object that implements Countable
Brake bleeding
you can`t have any fun in a straight line
R1150RT
MOTO GUZZI MONZA (project)
R1150RT
MOTO GUZZI MONZA (project)
-
- Forum User
- Posts: 1661
- Joined: Thu Oct 18, 2007 3:12 pm
- Country of Residence: UK
- Location: Near Daventry, UK [phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/vendor/twig/twig/lib/Twig/Extension/Core.php on line 1266: count(): Parameter must be an array or an object that implements Countable
Re: Brake bleeding
Have a read of the following:
http://users.rcn.com/dehager/service/service_abs3.pdf
It also pays to have a GS-911 diagnostic tool. This has a function to test whether you have bled all the air out of the system.
Mike
http://users.rcn.com/dehager/service/service_abs3.pdf
It also pays to have a GS-911 diagnostic tool. This has a function to test whether you have bled all the air out of the system.
Mike
-
- Club Member 13
- Posts: 59
- Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2018 8:44 pm
- Country of Residence: united kingdom
- Location: Doncaster [phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/vendor/twig/twig/lib/Twig/Extension/Core.php on line 1266: count(): Parameter must be an array or an object that implements Countable
Re: Brake bleeding
Thanks for the link Mike it looks to be quite involved but after reading it a few times it makes more sense and is not as daunting as I first thought, also the instructions are really clear
I have found the wire to the front ABS sensor has been rubbing on the wheel so does anyone know the routing of this wire as it just doesn`t look right, mine is tie wrapped to the brake pipe and is then the spare wire is bundled up besides its connector under the right side of the tank
CHRIS
I have found the wire to the front ABS sensor has been rubbing on the wheel so does anyone know the routing of this wire as it just doesn`t look right, mine is tie wrapped to the brake pipe and is then the spare wire is bundled up besides its connector under the right side of the tank
CHRIS
you can`t have any fun in a straight line
R1150RT
MOTO GUZZI MONZA (project)
R1150RT
MOTO GUZZI MONZA (project)
- bazzzer
- Forum User
- Posts: 126
- Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2008 10:33 pm
- Location: Newbury, Berks [phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/vendor/twig/twig/lib/Twig/Extension/Core.php on line 1266: count(): Parameter must be an array or an object that implements Countable
Re: Brake bleeding
Its actually quite easy once you've done it once, just a lot of connecting / disconnecting at the ABS pump to
bleed the three nipples. Suggest getting the special funnel for the ABS to wheel circuits, with this takes about 15 seconds to bleed them ! If you are near you could always borrow mine.
bleed the three nipples. Suggest getting the special funnel for the ABS to wheel circuits, with this takes about 15 seconds to bleed them ! If you are near you could always borrow mine.
Bazzzer
Confirmed R1150RT fan
(except removing the fairing and the fekin clutch !!
)!
Confirmed R1150RT fan




-
- Club Member 13
- Posts: 59
- Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2018 8:44 pm
- Country of Residence: united kingdom
- Location: Doncaster [phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/vendor/twig/twig/lib/Twig/Extension/Core.php on line 1266: count(): Parameter must be an array or an object that implements Countable
Re: Brake bleeding
Thanks for the offer Bazzer but I`m in Yorkshire so not exactly next door, however I wish to change the fluid in the entire system and the link that Mike provided looks to be written as an idiots guide so I`m ideally suited for that.
CHRIS
CHRIS
you can`t have any fun in a straight line
R1150RT
MOTO GUZZI MONZA (project)
R1150RT
MOTO GUZZI MONZA (project)
- sykospain
- Forum User
- Posts: 130
- Joined: Sat Apr 15, 2017 12:42 pm
- Country of Residence: Spain
- Location: ALAN on the South Eastern Med coast of Spain
- Contact:
Re: Brake bleeding
The esteemed Mr. Hager's exhaustive how-to from many years ago is a first-class guide to the complicated job of servicing ABS-equipped bikes' brakes.
I'd take issue with only one aspect of it though, and that concerns caliper pistons cleaning.
These calipers sit in the direct blast of dirt and weather as you ride along, and as the pads wear, slightly more of each piston surface emerges from its seal, thus becoming cruddied-up to various degrees.
I think it's very important NOT to push any of the pistons back into the caliper body past their seal, in order to extract the pads or do anything else, until the whole circular surface of each piston has been restored to factory brightness and shine with a car-finisher's ScotchBrite rubbing cloth. Many BMW / Brembo caliper pistons are chrome-plated and should be nice'n'shiny. Pushing cruddied-up pistons back into the caliper body before cleaning their outer surface can compromise the fluid seal.
As seen elsewhere on the excellent 'ADVRider' forum, the cleaning procedure detailed by member 'cyclerob' is the best way to achieve these pistons' clean brightness.
Using soapy water and a stiff toothbrush to clean up all the nooks and crannies of the caliper casting is the way to go, and where the section of each piston circumference right in the corner by the caliper casting is inaccessible, using the recommended piston removal pliers to turn the piston to reveal the hidden mucky bit is the ideal. This set of pliers grasps the inside diameter of the piston NOT THE OUTSIDE, thus avoiding marks on the sealant-to-metal surface. Remember, the piston is in the shape of a small coffee cup.
Also, a smear of rubber / nitrile seal-friendly oil on the cleaned-up surface and working the pistons in-and-out several times under fluid pressure will restore superbly silky hand and foot lever operation.
Manual as opposed to powered vacuum bleeding often doesn't shift the mucky DOT4 hidden inside the caliper body, so many enthusiastic caliper cleaners with plenty of time on their hands disconnect the caliper from its fluid line and push out all the pistons completely, one-by-one, with the help of a compressed-air line, to polish them up properly and to discard any remnants of crappy fluid hiding inside the caliper body. This of course requires a complete new flush and bleed.
Only saying....
AL in s.e. Spain
I'd take issue with only one aspect of it though, and that concerns caliper pistons cleaning.
These calipers sit in the direct blast of dirt and weather as you ride along, and as the pads wear, slightly more of each piston surface emerges from its seal, thus becoming cruddied-up to various degrees.
I think it's very important NOT to push any of the pistons back into the caliper body past their seal, in order to extract the pads or do anything else, until the whole circular surface of each piston has been restored to factory brightness and shine with a car-finisher's ScotchBrite rubbing cloth. Many BMW / Brembo caliper pistons are chrome-plated and should be nice'n'shiny. Pushing cruddied-up pistons back into the caliper body before cleaning their outer surface can compromise the fluid seal.
As seen elsewhere on the excellent 'ADVRider' forum, the cleaning procedure detailed by member 'cyclerob' is the best way to achieve these pistons' clean brightness.
Using soapy water and a stiff toothbrush to clean up all the nooks and crannies of the caliper casting is the way to go, and where the section of each piston circumference right in the corner by the caliper casting is inaccessible, using the recommended piston removal pliers to turn the piston to reveal the hidden mucky bit is the ideal. This set of pliers grasps the inside diameter of the piston NOT THE OUTSIDE, thus avoiding marks on the sealant-to-metal surface. Remember, the piston is in the shape of a small coffee cup.
Also, a smear of rubber / nitrile seal-friendly oil on the cleaned-up surface and working the pistons in-and-out several times under fluid pressure will restore superbly silky hand and foot lever operation.
Manual as opposed to powered vacuum bleeding often doesn't shift the mucky DOT4 hidden inside the caliper body, so many enthusiastic caliper cleaners with plenty of time on their hands disconnect the caliper from its fluid line and push out all the pistons completely, one-by-one, with the help of a compressed-air line, to polish them up properly and to discard any remnants of crappy fluid hiding inside the caliper body. This of course requires a complete new flush and bleed.
Only saying....
AL in s.e. Spain
This is the list of people I'd trust with my bike.
-
- Club Member 13
- Posts: 59
- Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2018 8:44 pm
- Country of Residence: united kingdom
- Location: Doncaster [phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/vendor/twig/twig/lib/Twig/Extension/Core.php on line 1266: count(): Parameter must be an array or an object that implements Countable
Re: Brake bleeding
Many thanks for that SYKO couldn`t agree more and I do subscribe to the last paragraph with regard to completely stripping each caliper and getting rid of ALL the old fluid although I wouldn`t class myself as having time on my hands rather I like to do it thoroughly and there are only 3 of them.
CHRIS
CHRIS
you can`t have any fun in a straight line
R1150RT
MOTO GUZZI MONZA (project)
R1150RT
MOTO GUZZI MONZA (project)
- sykospain
- Forum User
- Posts: 130
- Joined: Sat Apr 15, 2017 12:42 pm
- Country of Residence: Spain
- Location: ALAN on the South Eastern Med coast of Spain
- Contact:
Re: Brake bleeding
In a conversation on the UKGSer forum, I was glad of a really useful tip from the esteemed member "Steptoe", that's Neil who runs the GS Shop in London SW15, UK, specialising in boxer bike maintenance issues. www.gsshop.biz
It concerns not so much brake caliper cleaning as clutch hydraulics bleeding, but has some relevance here.
He says 'before re-attaching and then bleeding the slave cylinder, push in fully the piston and secure it in that position with a G-clamp to make sure there's no chance of trapped air in the cylinder. Then do the bleed routine."
So I presume that applying this idea to the four-piston brake caliper, pushing in all four thoroughly cleaned pistons and securing them in that position with a dummy wooden pad might similarly expel trapped air inside the caliper which might otherwise evade normal bleeding. Thus obviating the need to detach the brake line from the caliper to check there's no air or old fluid left in there.
Might work....
It concerns not so much brake caliper cleaning as clutch hydraulics bleeding, but has some relevance here.
He says 'before re-attaching and then bleeding the slave cylinder, push in fully the piston and secure it in that position with a G-clamp to make sure there's no chance of trapped air in the cylinder. Then do the bleed routine."
So I presume that applying this idea to the four-piston brake caliper, pushing in all four thoroughly cleaned pistons and securing them in that position with a dummy wooden pad might similarly expel trapped air inside the caliper which might otherwise evade normal bleeding. Thus obviating the need to detach the brake line from the caliper to check there's no air or old fluid left in there.
Might work....
This is the list of people I'd trust with my bike.
-
- Club Member 13
- Posts: 59
- Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2018 8:44 pm
- Country of Residence: united kingdom
- Location: Doncaster [phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/vendor/twig/twig/lib/Twig/Extension/Core.php on line 1266: count(): Parameter must be an array or an object that implements Countable
Re: Brake bleeding
That`s a really useful suggestion would you pass on my gratitude to "Steptoe", it also proves that your never too old to learn.
CHRIS
CHRIS
you can`t have any fun in a straight line
R1150RT
MOTO GUZZI MONZA (project)
R1150RT
MOTO GUZZI MONZA (project)
Return to “Oilhead (R1100/1150/Cruiser) Q&A's”
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 17 guests