Bleeding the brakes and clutch on an 1150GS

[Max]

The time has come to replace the brake and clutch fluid on my bike.

Can somebody please advise me as to how I go about this and in particular, how do I tackle the off-side (i.e. right hand side as you're riding) front caliper and it's grub screw arrangement.....the BMW service CD is not very helpful!!!!

The same grub screw arrangement appears to be present on the clutch system.

For information, my bike does not have ABS

 

[City Slicker]

Bleeding brakes/clutch

BMW dealers usually remove the vacuum bleeder (filler adaptor)that used to be fitted as standard on the GS. When mine returned from service the whole bleeder had been removed and replaced with a standard nipple which I am informed is much easier to use if you don't have the BMW bleeding tools.

So, first decision will be whether to do the same and remove the filler adaptor. Probably easier to do this and get it over with.

 

[City Slicker]

Obtain two bleed nipples from BMW or elsewhere - don't forget to get the dust cap for one of them as this will replace the filler adaptor on the front brake. The other one you will have to use on the clutch filler adaptor when doing the clutch. Remove the grub screw, replace it with the bleed nipple, screw in completely then unscrw 1/2 turn and you're ready to bleed.

If you feel like spashing out, get one or two of these:

from http://www.speedbleeder.com/

The rest of the instructions in the GS Manual are pretty clear as far as procedures go. LMK if anything I've said is not clear.

 

[Mick Fagan]

Max, my 98 1100 has been fitted with the speed bleed nipples as in the picture.

When I bought the speedbleeder nipples I bought enough for the front and back brake calipers. It was only after changing the front nipples and then turning to the back that I realised that the rear nipple on the 1100 is a smaller nipple to go with the smaller caliper unit. I had to wait another 2 weeks to get the correct rear nipple.

I'm not sure about the 1150 but I would suspect that it's the same.

I couldn't speak highly enough about the speedbleeder nipples. It takes me about 15 minutes from go to whoa to change the brake fluid, front and back.

I have ABS and I haven't bled the nipples on the ABS unit under the tank. I eventually push enough fluid through to reasonably clean/flush the entire system. I can push a 500ml bottle of brake fluid in no time and one can really see the colour change of the fluid as the new stuff starts coming out.

Mick.

 

[Max]

Thanks Mick & City Slicker.
Just one final question.
Do I remove the whole filler adapter assembly and fit the bleed nipple directly into the caliper (so that right hand front caliper becomes identical to the left hand side) or do I fit the bleed nipple as shown in the diagram?

Max
E17, London

 

[City Slicker]

Do I remove the whole filler adapter assembly and fit the bleed nipple directly into the caliper (so that right hand front caliper becomes identical to the left hand side) or do I fit the bleed nipple as shown in the diagram?

Remove the whole filler adaptor so left and right match. Because I didn't do this directly, and I remember reading somewhere about putting the caliper in a vice to remove it, it may be worth checking the removal procedure with an expert - if anybody else out there has done this please post, failing which give your local BMW a call and ask them.