Break Fluid Change

[37071]

We have a 02 R1150 with ABS. How tricky is it to change the break fluid?

[jduke]

I think this link will help: http://www.i-bmw.com/showthread.php?t=4385

[Red100RT]

We have a 02 R1150 with ABS. How tricky is it to change the break fluid?

It's a flat bitch!

[Dave_Faria]

This is one write up on the fluid change. It is missing the part for changing the fluid in the front control circuits. There are several write ups if you do a search. Read them all. The part retails for, I think, $2.3K if you make a mistake. I take my time and also change the clutch fluid while doing the brakes. i own an RT and removing the body work, doing the fluid change, putting the body work on takes me about 6 hours with breaks. if i did the job for a living maybe 1/2 the time. The only thing I would add is when you remove the electrical connector cover the plug on the ABS unit. In that plug is a hole which would allow fluid to enter the ABS electronics if spilled.

http://advwisdom.hogranch.com/Wisdom/service_abs3.pdf

[jurgen]

It's a flat bitch!

Agreed. However, the shop will charge you a bitch of a price, too. And, given that this job is so complex, you will never know whether Johnny Quickwrench did it right. There's no telling if he did or not.

BTW it's only difficult the first time. Then you get the idea and it becomes easy.

[jfremder]

Agreed. However, the shop will charge you a bitch of a price, too. And, given that this job is so complex, you will never know whether Johnny Quickwrench did it right. There's no telling if he did or not.

BTW it's only difficult the first time. Then you get the idea and it becomes easy.

It's not that hard. Common sense and a good set of instructions and your good to go. Use the $4-600 you saved on tires.

[Dave_Faria]

A few years ago I let the dealer do the 1st brake flush at 12k miles. The wheel circuits were the only thing done. They didn't know that I had a copy of the BMW procedure. The BMW procedure calls for pushing the pistons back into the calipers to expel the old fluid. I was told it was unnecessary. They didn't use a funnel and poured straight from the bottle. It was a mess. I was there with a squirt bottle and a rag cleaning up brake fluid. Less than an hour later I paid a $240 labor and materials charge. I washed down the frame with their water hose before I left. I had also removed the skin from my RT fortunately before going to the dealer. This dealer has since moved to a new location and probably does not have the same technicians. This is why I do my own work.

[osbornk]

It's not that hard. Common sense and a good set of instructions and your good to go. Use the $4-600 you saved on tires.

It's not hard but it takes a few hours. I got a vacuum pump to pull the fluid through and it made it much easier.

[Red100RT]

Agreed. However, the shop will charge you a bitch of a price, too. And, given that this job is so complex, you will never know whether Johnny Quickwrench did it right. There's no telling if he did or not.

BTW it's only difficult the first time. Then you get the idea and it becomes easy.

Hi neighbor, I agree that you are ahead of the game by doing it yourself for sure and if you have the servo system with the funnel it is not bad. If you're going to keep the ABS system (I didn't) then doing it yourself is the best way no doubt.

Not to change the subject but all I want for XMAS is a new R1200R with the overhead cam engine and NO ABS!

Clear as a bell in the northern Pend Oreille this AM:clap

[OfficerImpersonator]

I have to do this at least once a year, and with four fluid circuits - and three of them located under the tank - I let my wrench to the job for me.

Turns out that as the pads wear down, the pistons need to travel further to engage the rotors, and so the fluid fills an ever-increasing void. Eventually, the fluid will fill enough of a void to set off a "low fluid" warning light, which theoretically also disengages the ABS system.

Including the labor to pull the crash bars and the skins, a brake fluid flush costs me just under $200.

[JimVonBaden1]

We have a 02 R1150 with ABS. How tricky is it to change the break fluid?


Since when is an 02 R1150R equipped with servo-ABS????

You have a breaze bike to change the fluids on. Takes maybe half an hour if you don't remove the calipers and bleed the teaspoon of fluid out of your ABS unit.

Looks basically like the 07 and later Hexheads: http://www.jimvonbaden.com/R1200_2007+_Brake_Bleed.html

Done with the calipers off the rotors, and pulling the tank to bleed a tiny bit of fluid (not necessary IMHO) from the ABS unit bleeder, you might take 2 hours if you are slow. No need for extra tools, though you may need a bleeder valve to replace the missing one on one of the front calipers.

Jim :brow

PS Even with the Servo-ABS I can do it in less than 2 hours. It really is not that hard. I have taught dozens how to do it.