Seen a few of the threads mentioning that even though it has ABS system my 2009 can have the brakes bled like a regular bike, but as I have not bled myself before I was hoping for a simple to follow guide on bleeding the brakes...is there one around? Failed to find it if so. Thanks
Looking for a guide for brake bleeding...
- Thread starter Lemon
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OK so nothing specific to my year of GS, just unscrew the bleed nipple with a hose attached and refill? Have looked at vids on youtube and some pump the brake and some dont seem to...
some pump the brake and lock the nipple then repeat the action, is anything specific recommended for the GS? I'll be doing just the front probably, does it matter which side is bled first?
Forgive the questions, I like to know exactly whats what before I start. Thanks
In general terms you are going to start from the furthest point then work your way back - if unable to achieve a firm pedal then you could resort to the other way round.
Pump and lock is always the way.
On servoed models you just keep ignition on and hold on the lever and it continues to pump.............. (hazards here are running out of fluid, and running out of electricity)
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absolutely perfect thanks a lot!
Cover your paintwork with something like an old towel first, some master reservoirs can jet fluid out if you're not careful.
Get a vacuum pump and SUCK the brake fluid through!
It's much better at removing air.
It's much better at removing air.
I always go with the following and works fine with one person.
1) Remove brake fluid reservoir caps, then remove most of the old fluid out of reservoirs, don’t take it all out always leave a little to avoid introducing air. I use a turkey bastor for this or a syringe.
2) Fill reservoir with new fluid
3) Connect clear tube/hose onto bleed nipple and into a clear tub. Punch hole into a jam jar lid.
4) This isn’t a must but you can remove calipers and push pistons back in I use little wedges from b&q. I’ve done it without doing this, simply left calipers attached to bike it’s much easier especially on your own.
5) Crack bleed nipple ring spanner, then retighten partially.
6) Put rags around any paintwork especially plastic bodywork
7) Pull the brake lever a few times to build pressure, be careful and pull slowly as it has a tendency to jump out of reservoirs
8) Slacken bleed nipple a quarter turn whilst you hold pressure on the brake lever.
9) Important one…. Once lever close to handlebar DONT let go close the bleed nipple before letting go of lever. Once nipple closed release lever slowly to avoid fluid spurting out.
10) Repeat 7-9 steps until new fluid is seen flowing into jam jar. Make sure also no bubbles/air.
11) Keep an eye on reservoir during process to be sure you don’t run it dry.
12) Test few times on drive to see all is good and your happy with the lever feel.
Repeat, same on rear brake..
Tighten everything up and top off reservoir to correct level. Put all back together..
I’ve never had an issue over many years doing this way. Done it on 2003 to 2012 bikes always been fine.
1) Remove brake fluid reservoir caps, then remove most of the old fluid out of reservoirs, don’t take it all out always leave a little to avoid introducing air. I use a turkey bastor for this or a syringe.
2) Fill reservoir with new fluid
3) Connect clear tube/hose onto bleed nipple and into a clear tub. Punch hole into a jam jar lid.
4) This isn’t a must but you can remove calipers and push pistons back in I use little wedges from b&q. I’ve done it without doing this, simply left calipers attached to bike it’s much easier especially on your own.
5) Crack bleed nipple ring spanner, then retighten partially.
6) Put rags around any paintwork especially plastic bodywork
7) Pull the brake lever a few times to build pressure, be careful and pull slowly as it has a tendency to jump out of reservoirs
8) Slacken bleed nipple a quarter turn whilst you hold pressure on the brake lever.
9) Important one…. Once lever close to handlebar DONT let go close the bleed nipple before letting go of lever. Once nipple closed release lever slowly to avoid fluid spurting out.
10) Repeat 7-9 steps until new fluid is seen flowing into jam jar. Make sure also no bubbles/air.
11) Keep an eye on reservoir during process to be sure you don’t run it dry.
12) Test few times on drive to see all is good and your happy with the lever feel.
Repeat, same on rear brake..
Tighten everything up and top off reservoir to correct level. Put all back together..
I’ve never had an issue over many years doing this way. Done it on 2003 to 2012 bikes always been fine.
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Thanks all, the front was super easy and all done.... the rear bleed nipple cover is being very stubborn... it's just stretching out but not popping off...i presume i just tug hard at it until it comes off? (now then, now then)
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To stop brake fluid jetting out of the master cylinder reservoir I usually put the rubber cover that lives under the lid back on top of the reservoir after I top up with fresh fluid this normally is enough to stop fluid from escaping. But best to cover every bit of exposed paintwork on the bike in the vicinity just in case.
I use those too! Tiling or laminate flooring wedges.
If you get two and place them `top to toe` you can squeeze them together (once the pads are removed) and the serrated surface acts as a kind of ratchet and keeps the pistons retracted while you bleed the lines etc.
If you`re doing a brake fluid change rather than just a bleed it`s deffo worth pushing the pistons back in to expel all the old fluid otherwise the new, fresh fluid will only go down the lines and straight out the bleed nipple leaving the old fluid still in the caliper body.
and have a bucket of water handy , so when you have finished , you can douse the bike down ....just to be sure. ( it kills the effect BF has. )
Replaced my fluid last week, blocked the callipers removed old fluid from master cylinder.
New fluid bled through, cycle abs with GS911 ,bleed cycle bleed twice just to be sure.
New fluid bled through, cycle abs with GS911 ,bleed cycle bleed twice just to be sure.
MWH
Registered user
I do mine the same way as Mistcat, i think cycling the abs pushes some old fluid out of the abs system so the second bleed helps remove that.
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