tasslehawf
New member
I haven't made the wood block spacers. Will I damage my brakes if I just bleed them mounted on the discs?
-
Welcome, Guest! We hope you enjoy the excellent technical knowledge, event information and discussions that the BMW MOA forum provides. Some forum content will be hidden from you if you remain logged out. If you want to view all content, please click the 'Log in' button above and enter your BMW MOA username and password. If you are not an MOA member, why not take the time to join the club, so you can enjoy posting on the forum, the BMW Owners News magazine, and all of the discounts and benefits the BMW MOA offers?
-
Beginning April 1st, and running through April 30th, there is a new 2024 BMW MOA Election discussion area within The Club section of the forum. Within this forum area is also a sticky post that provides the ground rules for participating in the Election forum area. Also, the candidates statements are provided. Please read before joining the conversation, because the rules are very specific to maintain civility.
The Election forum is here: Election Forum
Do I need to remove the brakes and pads to bleed my whizzy brakes?
- Thread starter tasslehawf
- Start date
alancoles
Dress for fall & avoid it
No, everything will be fine leaving the rotors and pads in place when you bleed the fluid.
AntonLargiader
Active member
Why mess with them at all if you're not ready to do the work?
BobbyB26
New member
I think the theory behind removing the calipers is that you can back the cylinders all the way up and push all the fluid out......that way when you flush, you get all the old out. That said, I didn't do that when I did mine...left em in place and went for it. To me, the little bit that was left in the cylinder wasn't worth it....others may say otherwise...
BTW- You do know that it isn't a "run of the mill" job to bleed "whizzey" brakes! Takes some special tools and bleeding in the correct order is PDI (pretty durn important). I used the JVB tutorial and it went along smoothly. Also, you will need to remove the tank....sounds like a bigger deal than it really is, but is helpful if the tank is on the MT side....easier to lift off, set down.... All the fuel lines, elect and vent hoses have quick disconnects and/or plugs, so goes quicker than you'd think.
BTW- You do know that it isn't a "run of the mill" job to bleed "whizzey" brakes! Takes some special tools and bleeding in the correct order is PDI (pretty durn important). I used the JVB tutorial and it went along smoothly. Also, you will need to remove the tank....sounds like a bigger deal than it really is, but is helpful if the tank is on the MT side....easier to lift off, set down.... All the fuel lines, elect and vent hoses have quick disconnects and/or plugs, so goes quicker than you'd think.
Jeff488
Aspiring Profligate
I feel pretty much as you do about getting the last drop out. Clear fluid seemed good enough.
Yep, I know about whizzy brakes. Done it a number of times. Not astrophysics, but tedious.
Happily, now neither I nor anyone I know has a bike with them.
AntonLargiader
Active member
FWIW, in a shop the calipers don't come off. The pads come out and then the spreading and blocking is done from the top. It isn't just the servo-assisted brakes, either; this applies to nearly everything after the classic ABS2 caliper. Push the pads fully back to reduce the retained fluid and then flush. ALL brakes should have the pistons pushed back for bleeding, but for older ones especially you have to take the caliper off for that.
alegerlotz
Member
I did mine last week since I had to have the tank off for an alternator replacement. I was planning to do them at the next service anyway...
I replaced the pads and the brake fluid at the same time. Personally, if I weren't have been doing the pads, I would have left the calipers on the bike. The extra amount of old fluid you'll get by backing off those pads is small and as you're bleeding the calipers most if not all of the old fluid is going to get sucked out anyway.
I replaced the pads and the brake fluid at the same time. Personally, if I weren't have been doing the pads, I would have left the calipers on the bike. The extra amount of old fluid you'll get by backing off those pads is small and as you're bleeding the calipers most if not all of the old fluid is going to get sucked out anyway.
