Brake Bleeding, what do you use ? ABS or stand-alone ?

[weeksy]

Just wondering what people use, tips, tricks and techniques for bleeding their brakes ?

Does anyone do ABS systems yet at home and if so, using what method ?

[KungFooBob]

imho you need the correct dealer tool to open the valves in the ABS valve block to do it properly, however... I'd bleed it the best I can, then take it out for a spin and get the ABS to kick in, which should clear any air from the pump back into the rest of the system.

[v8-powered]

I've never used any fancy kit on either my old VFR or Deauville, just bled as usual and tested after...

[Taff]

The bloke that services my tiger uses a hand vacuum pump thingy, I asked him about needing the software to run the pump and he said it was not necesary for a routine fluid change / bleed.

I didn't think to ask him about refilling an empty system

[maccecht]

I just use a vacuum pump on my ABS systems. On the explorer you needed the software but only to purge the pump not for doing a basic fluid change.

[Skub]

One of these. It wasn't anywhere close to this price when I bought mine.

[Scuffmark]

Some bikes with abs are just bled in the normal way so its best to check first.

I use a mityvac for brake bleeding , had it for years and its one of them tools that I wouldn't be without.

[David]

We are having mega trouble with the Honda CRv ...it lit up the abs light then the traction light. This indicates a sensor within the pump...so its off to a specialist after three attempts to buy s/h parts. There must be many variations as none came near fitting. So I sent it off to Cornwall, and it came back £200 later, and it showed the same fault plus zero voltage on the ECU. o it went back. The only place the nice man could get an ECU board from was Poland.

Guess what happened next (nothing...wait a fortnight).
However....using a simple one hand bleed kit, I haven't had any problem bleeding them.

[Luddite]

Just wondering what people use, tips, tricks and techniques for bleeding their brakes ?

Does anyone do ABS systems yet at home and if so, using what method ?

One of these. It wasn't anywhere close to this price when I bought mine.

+1 for the Mityvac. Note that you may need to first wrap PTFE tape (or smear with thick grease) around the thread of the bleed nipple. Otherwise the Mityvac may draw air in via the threads; it will still work but not as efficiently and you'll see a constant stream of bubbles in the tube, so you won't know when the system's been purged.

Some bikes with abs are just bled in the normal way so its best to check first.

Agreed - check the workshop manual. On my Ducati, it just advises pushing back the brake pistons "Before bleeding a brake pump, move back the caliper pistons...to drain in the pump the air collected near the ABS control unit."

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Never done an ABS system, I have got one of those bleeder pump things but I find it easier to use a bit of pipe and a Coke bottle, though I never want to do an FZ750 rear brake again, it was a barstard to get all the air out of.

[Druid]

Like Le_Fromage_Grande I have a Mityvac but prefer to use a bit of pipe and a wine bottle.

I have changed the rear calipers and fluid on an ABS system on a Merc Vito by pumping the brake until new fluid came through, starting with the caliper furthest from the m/c.

Pushing the pistons all the way in is something I learned many years ago, it reduces the volume of the system and makes it easier to bleed. If I have to change brake hoses I pump the pistons almost all the way out, swap the hoses and then push the pistons back in. This forces the fluid in the calipers up the hoses and into the m/c, pushing the air out of the hoses. Frequently there is no need to bleed the system afterwards.

[Trogladyte]

I've never tried doing ABS, but I have bled a lot of brakes on the boy's various race bikes, as well as my road bikes. I have tried various "labour saving" bits and pieces like inline one way valves, that allegedly let fluid and air out, but don't let air back in. I've never really got on with any of them, and my preference is to use a bit of clear tube and a jam jar.

[Skub]

The likes of a Mityvac is great if the system is empty. It gets the boring part over faster,but I always finish off with a tube and a jam jar to get a good tight lever.

[TBR_Matt]

For race bikes and thumb brakes which are an absolute nightmare to get bled properly we use a composites vacuum pump, can pick them up for about £80 and you get a vacuum vessel as well, connect the pump to the vessel, and a tube from the vessel to the reservoir connection...

Master cylinder seals are uni directional, and so pulling a vacuum inside the brake system pulls air across the outer master cylinder seal, so even using a mightyvac or other vacuum system, its a good idea to put a bit of grease around the rubber seal, and around the bleed nipple to get a really good seal and fluid draw... we attach fluid at the caliper end and pull it up through the reservoir connection

We'll also put the fluid under vacuum first to boil off any air bubbles, get some fluid in a syringe and then put your finger over the end and pull on the syringe and you'll be surprised how much air is in there in the form of microbubbles, which become big bubbles when they get hot! As long as you're very careful pouring the fluid there shouldn't be much air in there, but if you use a syringe it always agitates the fluid and creates loads of invisible bubbles

[Zimbo]

So I'm currently trying to bleed the brakes on an old Guzzi V50, which has linked brakes - the foot brake operates the rear brake and one front calliper, the handlebar brake operates the other front calliper. It's proving difficult to bleed the foot operated brake, any tips?

[David]

Make sure you have the caliper nipples at the top.

[Trogladyte]

So I'm currently trying to bleed the brakes on an old Guzzi V50, which has linked brakes - the foot brake operates the rear brake and one front calliper, the handlebar brake operates the other front calliper. It's proving difficult to bleed the foot operated brake, any tips?

I had linked brakes like that on my T3 and Le Man's. I also remember it being a pain. But I think I relied on doing the front first, then the rear, then finding the front was spongy, and thus round the merry go round. Is that what's happening to you?

Some of the Guzzi sites are good. Find one where someone has a copy of Guzziology.

[Numnut]

I've always used a tube and a jar. I decided to take a punt on a brake bleeding kit on ebay - it's coming from China and has a vacuum pump and some tubes. It was less that a tenner so it'll probably disintegrate when I get it out the box, but might be really good...