Brake fluid change, 2005 1150 GSA

[BigBugger]

Hello. Please go gentle with me, I’m new here and to my 2005 1150 GSA (Servo/ABS) as well, but am fairly competent for most home maintenance.

Now this probably been covered lots of times but if you would bear with me and hopefully point me to the correct place.
I have done various searches through the forum for the above.
I have found various threads with comments by Steptoe and others about bleeding the servo units first then the brake callipers (I also found mention someplace that there are 8 bleed nipples/points in the system?). I have also found the link to the document from the American site but have also read comments that it has been over complicate?

Could I ask you regulars to point me to a thread/link/etc on this site that gives a clear and easy to follow method to allow me to change my brake and clutch fluid?

Thanks in advance

 

[nunesaf]

Hello. Please go gentle with me, I’m new here and to my 2005 1150 GSA (Servo/ABS) as well, but am fairly competent for most home maintenance.

Now this probably been covered lots of times but if you would bear with me and hopefully point me to the correct place.
I have done various searches through the forum for the above.
I have found various threads with comments by Steptoe and others about bleeding the servo units first then the brake callipers (I also found mention someplace that there are 8 bleed nipples/points in the system?). I have also found the link to the document from the American site but have also read comments that it has been over complicate?

Could I ask you regulars to point me to a thread/link/etc on this site that gives a clear and easy to follow method to allow me to change my brake and clutch fluid?

Thanks in advance

Hi and welcome to this fantastic community

My personal experience hasn't been particularly happy as I have today a spongy feeling on my front brakes - I presume I have air traiped into the ABS unit (though I don't have servo).

I imagine that you can bleed the system normally but that will probably leave some old oil into the ABS modulator (my theory... unproven though ).

If you really want to do things nice and perfectly, perhaps you should go all through the steps as advised in the ADVRIDER forum I suppose you are referring to.

In my case, I don't know if a pump will be helpful, though I was told the best ever tool and procedure to safely change the brake oil is to use those old oilers and change the oil from the near side caliper.

Hope this helps and don't hesitate to put your doubts here - that's why we are here

 

[mermoto]

Hi Bigbugger, send me a pm with your email address and I will send you a .pdf file with clear details how to do this brake service. Don't attempt it without reading this document first. Its not difficult but there is a specific order for this job. Best give yourself a good couple of hours and take your time. Best bit is using the servos to bleed the system instead of having to pump the levers, man they are quick.

Mermoto

 

[nunesaf]

Hi Bigbugger, send me a pm with your email address and I will send you a .pdf file with clear details how to do this brake service. Don't attempt it without reading this document first. Its not difficult but there is a specific order for this job. Best give yourself a good couple of hours and take your time. Best bit is using the servos to bleed the system instead of having to pump the levers, man they are quick.

Mermoto

Is this the pdf you are referring to?

http://advwisdom.hogranch.com/Wisdom/service_abs3.pdf

Cheers

 

[BigBugger]

Is this the pdf you are referring to?

http://advwisdom.hogranch.com/Wisdom/service_abs3.pdf

Cheers

Thanks Mermoto, I have pm'd you an email address. All help gratefully received!

Thanks Nunesaf,
I found that one yesterday, but from search results I read one of Steptoe's comments about it being overcomplicated and containing unnecessary steps etc. I was hoping there might be something already on this forum showing a "simplified" method.
Another point, from what I have read so far I wasn't expecting there to be bleed nipples on my callipers, for there to be a grub screw where I had to fit them, but mine have nipples already. Did that change at some point in production or is it likely they been fitted by a dealer at a previous service?

 

[RickG]

Did that change at some point in production or is it likely they been fitted by a dealer at a previous service?

The factory started refitting normal bleed nipples at some point.

If you read the advrider pdf you should be able to figure out which bits you can short-cut (I didn't bother with the blocks to push the caliper pistons right back) and which bits you can't. The hardest bit is making the connection for the reservior to feed brake fluid into the ABS unit.

I'm not meaning to sound a smart-arse but this is a job you don't want to mess up a) because if you get a load of air in the system you'll have to bleed it all out again and b) working brakes are quite handy.

If you are up for the job you should be able to pick your way through the avdrider pdf and understand what can be short-cut and what can't. As it stands it's a well written and straightforward guide that should prevent anyone badly cocking up. The key is the understanding and not the receipe.

There are suggestions that this method does leave some old fluid behind in parts of the ABS unit unless the anti-lock solenoid valves are opened which can only be done with the BuMW computer.

 

[mermoto]

Hi Bigbugger, PM sent.

I also had bleed nipples fitted as you would normally expect. I think they had the grub screws for certain markets, probably to put you off from doing it yourself

mermoto

 

[nunesaf]

There are suggestions that this method does leave some old fluid behind in parts of the ABS unit unless the anti-lock solenoid valves are opened which can only be done with the BuMW computer.

I read somewhere in the f800 forum that you can bleed the system, go out for a spin and force the ABS to work for a couple of times (if you have the courage ) and by doing so, the old oil will mix with the new one... dispersing things substantially. Then, you can bleed it again (have the joy of doing it again ) and if you want to be really anal about it... go for another spin and force the ABS to trigger again and etc .

Has any of you ever tried using a vacumm pump and put new oil from the caliper?

Cheers

 

[Steptoe]

The factory started refitting normal bleed nipples at some point.

.

I also had bleed nipples fitted as you would normally expect. I think they had the grub screws for certain markets, probably to put you off from doing it yourself

mermoto

The "grub screw" you both refer to was only fitted to some 1100GS. Never to the 1150 models. It was so you could backfill the brake fluid from the caliper instead of the more usual way of topping up the reservoir and bleeding from the caliper.

. The hardest bit is making the connection for the reservior to feed brake fluid into the ABS unit.

i just pour brake fluid in from a lipped beaker - I pour it in at the same speed as the fluid is pumped out - how hard is that I must be doing something wrong. i must try and make it more complicated.

 

[Steptoe]

Has any of you ever tried using a vacumm pump and put new oil from the caliper?

Cheers

You don't want to be doing that with a servo unit

 

[RickG]

how hard is that I must be doing something wrong. i must try and make it more complicated.

Indeed you must, on both counts, otherwise mortals would be in danger of taking work off highly qualified BuMW engineers

 

[nunesaf]

The "grub screw" you both refer to was only fitted to some 1100GS. Never to the 1150 models. It was so you could backfill the brake fluid from the caliper instead of the more usual way of topping up the reservoir and bleeding from the caliper.

Finally Steptoe is not right (I was beginning to suspect you were not human )!

I have a 1150 with that stupid grub screw...

 

[Steptoe]

[

Finally Steptoe is not right (I was beginning to suspect you were not human )!

I have a 1150 with that stupid grub screw...

Ahh yes - the early 1150 with the brembo calipers. But never fitted to servo bikes

 

[SOOTY]

Filling servo

i just pour brake fluid in from a lipped beaker - I pour it in at the same speed as the fluid is pumped out - how hard is that I must be doing something wrong. i must try and make it more complicated.[/QUOTE]

Thats the way i do it,piece of cake.

 

[mermoto]

I can't even pour a cup of tea without spilling some and don't like spilling brake fluid on to my baby, even when I have lots of carefully placed rags I will still end up dripping some where I don't want it to go

Mermoto

 

[BigBugger]

Fluid Change

I'd like to thank everyone that has replied for taking the time to do so.

I have had a good read of the .pdf from advwisdom and mermoto and will follow that, taking my time and missing out any bits that look like overkill.
Between that and the tips from this thread hopefully all will go well.......

Cheers!

 

[tagesk]

I imagine that you can bleed the system normally but that will probably leave some old oil into the ABS modulator (my theory... unproven though ).

You might want to have at least one data-point to support your theory: Check out this post.

[TaSK]

 

[nunesaf]

You might want to have at least one data-point to support your theory: Check out this post.

[TaSK]

Done that too... didn't make any difference. Haynes manual does point to this problem and advises to take to a BMW specialist.