Bleeding Brakes S1

[thesurfbus]

Any tips I haven't already read about for bleeding S1 brakes? Using an Easybleed and tried rotating front calipers and pushing pistons in/out and there is still air in the system, have already wasted £25 of Castrol Super Dot4.

[robin]

I find that having somebody bounce on the pedal while the bleed nipple is locked to pump up the pressure in the system helps dislodge stubborn air bubbles. So you lock off the bleed nipple, they pump up the pedal until it is as hard as they can get it, then while they are still standing on the pedal you open and shut the bleed nipple. Repeat. Also if you've fitted new rear pads and the calipers are refitted you should also operate the handbrake repeatedly to crank the rear pistons up to normal position - otherwise the pedal will feel spongy.

Cheers,
Robin

[2F45T4U]

As above. Also, get a half decent pedal and drive round for a couple days before giving it another squirt.

[Mikie711]

Jack the front up so the car isn't level. Had a bugger of a time after rebuilding the brakes on my S1 and this worked to help get the air out of where ever it was hiding.

[thesurfbus]

Cool thanks, I had my 9 year old son helping me, and he admitted after to just pressing any random pedal

My Ace mechanic is coming round tonight, so hopefully will get it sorted.

Doug

[woody]

My least favorite job ever on the S1 is bleeding the brakes when there's air in the system. I used the shug-sooker(tm) the last time which seemed to be effective. It's a device for sucking oil from the sump via the dipstick tube, but I added a smaller rubber end to mate to the caliper nipples.

[mckeann]

I have a vacuum pump for doing the brakes on my motorbike. Was only £35 on eBay, worked a treat on an empty system.

[thesurfbus]

Success, it would appear I had actually fully bled the system, however I was using blocks of softwood in the calipers instead of the pads and discs, and it would appear the wood was compressing so much that the pedal was going to the floor.
Just the tracking to set, and BUB will be back on the road

[robin]

LOL wood in not good brake pad shocker ... glad it's all worked out!

[alicrozier]

Mr Gourlay had a pressure bleeder we used on the Orange Honda S1. I still have a brake fluid stain on my garage ceiling (despite multiple paint overs). Inadvertant blow off...fnarr!

Also if using an easy bleed (uses tyre pressure as an accummulator), after you've remembered to deflate the tyre so as not to overpressurise the brake system, be sure not to sook brake fluid back into your wheel.

Or maybe not damnfunny if you're a tyre fitter...