Brake Bleeding Procedure

slant911

Active member
Wondering if there is any special equipment required to bleed the brakes because of the ABS system. I have seen videos on line some say it doesn't matter just do it the old fashioned way and you will be fine. Other videos indicate you have to do an extra step of bleeding the ABS unit. Anyone here done this task and can provide insight?

TIA
 

Pappy13

Active member
I very recently bled my brakes, starting at the furthest (rear) caliper, I realize they have different reservoirs and are basically 2 systems, but they do share the ABS, I used a vacuum brake pump bleeder and removed fluid until I had clean fluid at all calipers; then I pumped and bled as a normal system, being very careful to always have fluid in the reservoir covering the hole leading to the hose. Usually one to two cycles using the pump, bleed method and I had a firm handle with good brakes. In the GS-911 there is a section for the ABS and electronic "toggles" for testing the ABS module, found it when I first got the GS tool and played with it a while, but I wouldn't worry about trying to bleed the ABS valves, clean DOT4 to all calipers is the key. Also, you don't need to buy the brake fluid by the quart, the pint is plenty, once opened you only have about 1 year shelf life (max), it's very hydrophobic (probably miss-spelled, it absorbs water) so limit exposure to air as much as possible.

When I first purchased the vacuum bleeder I went to you tube to pick up pointers, there is a lot of good information there on bleeding motorcycle brakes, ABS and non ABS.
 

Delray

Well-known member
+1 with Pappy. I used a Pittsburgh brand vacuum pump bleeder, started at the rear and it was smooth as silk. Always want to note the bleeding-obvious caveats: Don't let the master cylinder go dry and let air into the system and cover the bike well because a few drops of brake fluid will do a Phantom of the Opera acid-bath job on your beautiful paint job. The service manual is very helpful for all routine maintenance and they're not expensive. Downside: It's only on DVD and only for Windows-based PC's.
 

slant911

Active member
So I ended up just doing the fluid change the old fashioned way. Nothing special. Got good brake feel from front and rear. Decided then to go through the procedure on the motoscan tool running the abs pump and whatnot. Feel was exactly the same after so for future I would just do it the old manual way or as stated above you could use a vacuum or pressurized tool. Just glad the fluid is fresh. It was looking pretty yellow/orangeish.
 
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