HELP - Colossal cock-up servicing ABS

Firebird

Firebird

Registered user
Joined
Apr 19, 2006
Messages
272
Reaction score
0
Location
Brighton
Hi,

Whilst servicing my ABS I stupidly pulled on the front brake lever with the rear caliper and pads removed forgetting it was a linked system.

One of the pistons popped out - fluid everywhere.

Popped the piston back in and continued the service. Bled the control circuit with no apparent bubbles. Wheel circuits are a different story though. Pumping through loads of fluid and getting loads of bubbles from all 3 bleed valves.

If I get more fluid and keep pumping it through will it get the air out or do I now need specialist help (of a mechanical kind!) ?
 
Maybe remove the rear caliper from its mounting bracket and hold it raised with the hose leading upwards into the caliper, with the bleed screw at the highest point, then bleed to remove air. Perhaps a MITYVAC hand vacuum bleeder might be of help?
 
mityvac is no good if it has servo abs, you may need to top up at the abs unit end.
 
Its easy enough when you know how, google it there are some good how to write ups.
You have to push all the calipers all the way in and put blocks of wood in there. This eliminates air trapped in the calipers. Now bleed as per instructions topping up the ABS unit.
If you dont have the instructions PM me and i will mooch around and find them.
 
Thanks patzx12.

I think I probably have the doc you're referring to. Having done some research there's so many people saying that once you've got air in the system you're doomed that I thought the situation might not be recoverable without some form of specialised purging system.
 
The same happens with cars people have problems bleeding the system once a line has been disconnected.
Usually air trapped in the caliper piston.
 
Push the pistons back very slowly otherwise you'll blow the internal seals in the pump
 
skywalker said:
Push the pistons back very slowly otherwise you'll blow the internal seals in the pump
Click to expand...

Or alternatively, open the caliper bleed nipple to vent hydraulic pressure (and air) as you push the pistons back in.
 
The bike is now back together and ABS is working.

I guess there will be a bunch of error codes in the diagnostics memory, but does this really matter? I was under the impression that if the ABS failed its internal diagnostics checks then the Brake Failure light would stay lit and you would not have lost the servo assistance?

When flushing the system through I was loosening the bleed screws back about 1/3 of a turn so as to get a good flow throught them. However, after a while I began to feel that air was being pulled up through the thread if you loosened them this much, making you think there is still air in the system. Thoughts?

So (assuming I've not cocked up) what have I saved myself over a main dealer? £350?
 
Firebird said:
after a while I began to feel that air was being pulled up through the thread if you loosened them this much, making you think there is still air in the system. Thoughts?
Click to expand...

How would air be pulled up through the thread when the fluid is being pushed through and out from the servo unit by the electric pump ? .

Air could be pulled through the thread if the fluid was being sucked out from the nipple.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
You must log in or register to reply here.


Back
Top Bottom