9 replies to this topic

[JG]

I'm sure i've seen this on here before, but since paying paticular attention to the brakes and trying not to leave anything untouched, this has come back to me. The Exige manual states that to bleed the brakes, the ABS has to have its ports opened and closed during bleeding, which is done via the Lotus Scan Tool (or words to that effect) I suppose the other way is to bleed it, go out and activate the ABS, come back and do it again. Though that doesn't sound quite as scientific. And it leads me to the following questions: -Does Vauxhall's scan tool offer the same? -Most of the VX specialists i've spoken to don't have devices that can talk to the ABS so i conclude that they don't bother or that they feel that the method i've eluded to above is good enough? -is it something that really needs to be thought about?

[Lou_m]

I know Craig S had his brake fluid changed before the hoon and had major problems for most of the way with his brakes going off and having almost no pedal. He ended up getting recovered by the AA and taken to a Lotus dealer to get them done properly. Mine goes into the same dealer in a couple of weeks time to get mine done before Tut Towers track day at Knockhill.

[Craig S]

They seems to work now, I managed to get ABS pedal today as it is turned back on but that I can cope with. My fluid was just over a year (14 months) old and had gone off so it was not due to a fluid change that had not cycled the ABS.

[techieboy]

Vauxhall TECH2 will cycle the ABS for the standard 2-channel ABS controller. You need the Lotus Scan Tool to do the VXR/Exige 4-channel controller. I did trigger the ABS on mine by a bit of braking on a gravel surface a couple of years back but haven't bothered again since as I've never introduced any air into the system but running the reservoir dry etc.

[Lou_m]

They seems to work now, I managed to get ABS pedal today as it is turned back on but that I can cope with. My fluid was just over a year (14 months) old and had gone off so it was not due to a fluid change that had not cycled the ABS.

Ah, right. Thought it might have been to do with the bleeding proceedure. Do you know if Murray Motors Connect up the ABS modual while bleeding the brakes?

[Craig S]

Ah, right. Thought it might have been to do with the bleeding proceedure. Do you know if Murray Motors Connect up the ABS modual while bleeding the brakes?

No idea they do paint the rusty bits on your brake disks though

[Lou_m]

Ah, makes getting the brake fluid change even better value for money

[Craig S]

A full clean including tyre sh*t too, they even managed to remove all the soil from the narrow bits in the floor, it was caked after I tipped a 7 foot rubber plant when moving house 2 years ago

[JG]

Vauxhall TECH2 will cycle the ABS for the standard 2-channel ABS controller. You need the Lotus Scan Tool to do the VXR/Exige 4-channel controller.

I did trigger the ABS on mine by a bit of braking on a gravel surface a couple of years back but haven't bothered again since as I've never introduced any air into the system but running the reservoir dry etc.

Yeah, agree with that, i'm always very careful not to empty the reservoir, though during a change of pipes in can all get a bit challenging.
I don't know what the symptoms of air caught in the ABS would be. Its unlikely to be a soft pedal. The only thing i can think ids that it would render less effective braking upon activtion of the ABS.

[The Fat Man]

I did trigger the ABS on mine by a bit of braking on a gravel surface a couple of years back

Having seen a post by you on this at some stage I used the same after getting a hard pedal . The hard pedal never returned and I went on to change cylinder,actuator and hoses since. Still can't get the brakes back to where i think they were though. It has me questioning myself whether the percieved difference is in my head or for real. Looks like I will have to try getting them bled using the tech 2 then as next step.