One ABS light, is that normal? and spongy front brake

[GSrick]

2 things really. First, I had both ABS lights flashing alternately. I did a search and charged the battery , since then just the bottom ABS light flashes, is that correct? I have downloaded the owners manual but I cant see anything that mentions what the lights mean, as in 1 or 2 flashing.

Second, even after bleeding the brakes (no bubbles at all) the front sill feels a bit spongy. I have bled the ABS nipples too, no bubbles but still spongy, is that normal? I've bled brakes before and I can't see what I've missed but there must be something.

 

[oblertone]

Have you ridden the bike ? Spongy brakes aside I think the single light should go out when the bike starts moving.

 

[Ian J Hartley]

Have a read of this.


http://largiader.com/abs/absfault.html

 

[DrFarkoff]

Okay Spongy Brakes despite all the bleeders being clear of air?

Quite often New pads need to bed in to the disc

Did you check the small hole in the Master cylinder is clear? its about the diameter of the tip of a lapel pin its beside the one that is about 2 or 3mm diameter and hard to see

PLUS Leave bike on sidestand overnight with brake pumped up to get good pressure and tie it or cable tie it to the handle bar so its maintaining pressure over night

With pressure comes increased density and Air bubbles will travel upwards and escape to the Master cylinder

If that does not work Get a syringe and a small bit of rubber tube that will fit the brake nipple at the calliper without blowing off the nipple or the syringe Fit a bleeder on the VR Front Bleeder at the ABS Unit and Backflush any air back to that nipple (and into a jam jar or whatever) You would wonder what teutonic twat worked out that brake pipe arrangement!!

If that still hasn;t cleared it? Suck out fluid from the front master cylinder and backflush from VR nipple to the master cylinder that "SHOULD" clear out any last pockets of air

Back brakes "usually" don;t have a problem clearing ?

Single light flashing .. If its flashing it is quite possible the upper 5w bulb has just quit Usually anything else stops the flashing Except a blown bulb or damaged Ground/power wire

 

[DrFarkoff]

If I recall this is an R1100GS ? ABSII

Alternate flash on powering up means there is a stored fault code OR when a battery is replaced you need to reset the system

I think you will have the flat diagnostic plug in a blue holder?

With a charged battery Connect a wire to the centre (of flat 3 wire connector) and ground it out to a good earth or even battery earth

Switch on Ignition and Hold down ABS button for 30 seconds (Lower lamp only should illuminate and no flash whilst you hold in the button)

(You really need to check that top light for power and ground to see if its a fault its flashing or if they sync up after the reset!)

Release ABS button and lower light should sty lit

Turn off ignition

Wait 10 seconds and power up If the fault is cleared the lights flash in sync

If you can;t be arsed with all the messing about to clear and fix ABS light

Just pull the ABS relay (Blue) in the fuse relay box The lower lamp will go out

 

[GSrick]

Thanks guys. They are new pads and lines and I haven't ridden it yet. I'm still awaiting some parts to finish the restoration. I'll try cable tie idea, seems logical.

 

[GSrick]

Have a read of this.


http://largiader.com/abs/absfault.html

Good info there, thanks

 

[donkeydoo]

Took me ages faffing with mine when I put new pads and hoses on, I eventually took off calipers and squeezed the pads and pistons back in with the master cylinder cap off, had the lad holding it. He got a couple of squirts of fluid in the face but the brakes were perfect after that. Must have forced the air out....

 

[Rich C]

Gents

Bear in mind here that I'm certainly not an experienced tech but this is what I found..

Recently changed the hoses on my 96 1100, which, once I got into the job made me realise that the front master cylinder piston was weeping so ended up replacing that as well. Whilst bleeding the system I noticed that there is large flat head screw adjuster on the heel of the brake lever which controls the position of the pin that actuates the piston. I found that adjusting the position of that greatly influenced feel at the lever. I'd already got clear fluid at the nipples (fnarr fnarr) and adjusting this screw gave me a great feel at the lever.

 

[DrFarkoff]

I noticed that there is large flat head screw adjuster on the heel of the brake lever which controls the position of the pin that actuates the piston. I found that adjusting the position of that greatly influenced feel at the lever. I'd already got clear fluid at the nipples (fnarr fnarr) and adjusting this screw gave me a great feel at the lever.

That is Factory set and is not supposed to be adjusted That's why it usually has Red or Green paint marks on it !

If you have clearance set too tight the brakes can be ever so slightly applied with no room for expansion and it could cause them to apply as heat expands the fluid and applies them even more etc etc etc

The knurled disc gives you 4 lever travel adustments

 

[Rich C]

That is Factory set and is not supposed to be adjusted That's why it usually has Red or Green paint marks on it !

If you have clearance set too tight the brakes can be ever so slightly applied with no room for expansion and it could cause them to apply as heat expands the fluid and applies them even more etc etc etc

The knurled disc gives you 4 lever travel adustments

Told you I was a numpty! All seems well so far however.. no paint marks on mine...

 

[Steptoe]

2 things really. First, I had both ABS lights flashing alternately. I did a search and charged the battery , since then just the bottom ABS light flashes, is that correct? I have downloaded the owners manual but I cant see anything that mentions what the lights mean, as in 1 or 2 flashing.

Second, even after bleeding the brakes (no bubbles at all) the front sill feels a bit spongy. I have bled the ABS nipples too, no bubbles but still spongy, is that normal? I've bled brakes before and I can't see what I've missed but there must be something.

What year of bike ?.

 

[DrFarkoff]

What year of bike ?.

96-97 R1100GS Steppers

 

[GSrick]

What year of bike ?.

Yes it's a '96

 

[GSrick]

Ok I'm back on the breaks, MOT on Monday. Fitted new disks and re-bled the brakes and they are fine now , a nice solid feel now. However the pesky ABS lights still flash alternately as soon as I switch on, before I try to start the engine. I have tried the reset set out above but when I press the ABS button for however long t makes no difference and the lights continue to flash. Any further Ideas guys?

 

[Steptoe]

Ok I'm back on the breaks, MOT on Monday. Fitted new disks and re-bled the brakes and they are fine now , a nice solid feel now. However the pesky ABS lights still flash alternately as soon as I switch on, before I try to start the engine. I have tried the reset set out above but when I press the ABS button for however long t makes no difference and the lights continue to flash. Any further Ideas guys?

Sounds like your abs button isn’t working. Fairly common on the 1100 models, check the rear of the button, they’re usually a mouldy green (electrical corrosion) or one of the wires has broken off the back of the switch.

 

[GSrick]

Sounds like your abs button isn’t working. Fairly common on the 1100 models, check the rear of the button, they’re usually a mouldy green (electrical corrosion) or one of the wires has broken off the back of the switch.

I'll take a look , I was thinking about that, cheers

 

[GSrick]

One more question, my ABS switch returns, it doesn't stay in position like a switch, is this correct?

 

[NeilDD]

Yes it's just a push button that sends a signal to the ABS brain

 

[GSrick]

Great thanks