Another brake failure – a cautionary tale - another servoectomy

se7en

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Well the servo/abs was fine whilst it was working…. (2005 1150 GSA SE 16k)
…. and fecking scary when it failed filtering through Cambridge city centre rush hour :eek:

As others have said, “residual braking” is as much use as a chocolate teapot - I had to Fred-Flintstone-my-way to a standstill. Doesn’t take much imagination to think of other scenarios with worse outcomes.

The warning lights had come on mid-ride and came back soon after ignition off/restart, but the servo was still working – right up to the point it didn’t.

Next day start up self-test also failed but the servo was now kicking in occasionally :blast Need the fault codes checked – never used Motoscot before but he’s pretty local and Steve said he’d read them if I dropped by.

Ignition on, self test fine, servo working normally front and rear :nenau Brakes worked perfectly all the way and no fault codes showed on the 911 diagnostic :confused:

System and brakes checked out fine. Asked Steve to change the brake fluid anyway - part way through bleeding it the servo went haywire. Nothing, front only, rear only, stayed on, nothing. Microswitches, fluids, battery voltage etc all ok. We concluded it was a terminal mental breakdown (the servo/abs, not mine).

Although Steve hunted down a low mileage servo/abs unit off an 850 it wasn’t “recognised” by my ECU (850/1150 use the same servo/abs but it turns out the factory “burn” the unit’s electronics so it only works in one or the other….).

So, megabucks for a new servo/abs unit or a servoectomy? No contest.

Now got a straightforward reliable braking system with just as much power but heaps more feel. And no electronic nanny that shuts itself down when it feels like it. Shame about the abs though.

Thanks to Steve (Motoscot) and Laura for being incredibly helpful. Great price too. Top people :clap
 
my brake failure was on the Stevilio mountain pass in 2009 :eek
luckily as the end :(
happy that my now GSA is non abs / servo.
 
On the Stelvio - jeez I don't envy you that one.

Bet you had a few things to say about the designer of 'residual braking':eh
 
On the Stelvio - jeez I don't envy you that one.

Bet you had a few things to say about the designer of 'residual braking':eh

arse was twitching :D :eek
 
Mine has just gone (yesterday) on the M3. Hopefully in with Steptoe next week for either repair or removal !

I changed the servo a year ago when it last died and it appears to have had the same failure. :(
 
Mine has just gone (yesterday) on the M3. Hopefully in with Steptoe next week for either repair or removal !

I changed the servo a year ago when it last died and it appears to have had the same failure. :(

2 servo failures in 12 months :eek - how will you feel about another servo?

When Motoscot told me the ex-850 unit wouldn't work I was actually relieved. I was happier collecting the bike after the servoectomy than I would have been had the 850 unit worked.

It's all down to trust. The way the servo/abs failed meant I would no longer trust the system. It's a personal choice.

Me? I'm happy going back to basics :likeit
 
My 2002 1150 RT just went in for an MOT. It passed the braking test with the ignition/servo's off.

With the ignition on there was much more braking and the rollers spat the bike out of the machine :D

Seems like with enough squeezing residual braking will get the bike stopped.

I was trying to remember back to the figures my non-servo GS posted on the same test and I think they were comparable to the RT's residual braking.

Regards

Rob C
 
My 2002 1150 RT just went in for an MOT. It passed the braking test with the ignition/servo's off.

With the ignition on there was much more braking and the rollers spat the bike out of the machine :D

Seems like with enough squeezing residual braking will get the bike stopped.

I was trying to remember back to the figures my non-servo GS posted on the same test and I think they were comparable to the RT's residual braking.

Regards

Rob C

Hope your Servo never packs in, whilst on the road.......................your viewpoint may be recalibrated:blast
 
Servoectomy

not only r1150 having problems
performed operation on a 1200gs to get rid of servo yesterday :rob
 
2 servo failures in 12 months :eek - how will you feel about another servo?

Depends what Neil says. If it is a connector or something trivial then I will get it fixed (I am a member of the late braking brigade :eek:). If it is terminal then it is coming out completely.

I don't like ABS, I am used to locking the rear wheel (when off road) and I really don't like all these electrical safety aids, If I was buying new I wouldn't even consider, let alone specify half the stuff on the option list.
 
Depends what Neil says. If it is a connector or something trivial then I will get it fixed (I am a member of the late braking brigade :eek:). If it is terminal then it is coming out completely.

I don't like ABS, I am used to locking the rear wheel (when off road) and I really don't like all these electrical safety aids, If I was buying new I wouldn't even consider, let alone specify half the stuff on the option list.

Just don't like the idea of a bad electrical connector robbing me of 95% of my braking force :nenau

Oh, post servoectomy you'll have absolutely no problems locking your rear wheel :D
 
Hmm, Bike has been sat for 4 days, and now the brakes appear to be working again. Still going in to steppers tomorrow for a biopsy - maybe it is a dodgy connector after all ?

Lets see what the GS911 says.
 
Hmm, Bike has been sat for 4 days, and now the brakes appear to be working again. Still going in to steppers tomorrow for a biopsy - maybe it is a dodgy connector after all ?

Lets see what the GS911 says.

Very similar pattern to mine - I wondered if it was low brake fluid levels in the servo/abs unit that might have 'recovered' sufficiently after a few days lack of use but mine were full.

I'd be interested to know whether any fault codes show up given I had zilch.

Hope you find it's just a simple issue.
 
Neil read the codes :

Dodgy ABS Sensor (but cleared)
Dodgy indicator bulb (cleared)
and 'Low Pressure in rear circuit' (keeps coming back). Servo doesn't run with the rear pedal pressed

Basically, the Servo is coming out. Dropped it off today and see the outcome tomorrow.
 
awful pitty they could never fix this issue

least its gone now and no further worries and headaches
 


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