[Rog1206]

Just got done with an attemt to bleed the brakes on my 02' VFR ABS and now the rear pedal will barely hold pressure. I followed the Honda service manual word for word and already did this twice with no improvement. Since I'm all out of brake fluid, I'll try to fix it tomorrow.

Here's what I did and I should mention that I used a Mityvac air compressor powered vacuum pump:

1.Removed resevoir cover on right handle bar, sucked up all the old gunky stuff out, and refill with fresh fluid

2.Cracked open Left side front upper nipple and sucked all the old fluid out while filing the resevoir with new fluid.

3.Cracked open Left side front upper nipple (only one on this side and no center nipple) and sucked all the old fluid out while filing the resevoir with new fluid.

4. Reinstalled front resevior cap.

5. Removed rear resevior cap,sucked up old fluid and replaced with new, and removed front left caliper.

6. Placed front left caliper on a wooden block so center nipple is facing upwards.

7. Cracked open servo PCV next to battery and sucked the old stuff out while filling up the rear resevoir.

8. Remove rear wheel, rear caliper, and placed rear caliper on top of rotor so center nipple is facing upward.

9. Cracked open rear caliper center nipple and sucked out the old stuff while filling up rear resevoir.

10. Cracked open rear PCV on right side of bike and sucked out old fluid while filling up rear resevoir.

11. Placed rear caliper on rotor so outer nipple is now facing upward and sucked the old stuff out of there.

12. Reinstalled rear caliper.

13. Crack open the front left caliper center nipple (while facing upwards in step 6) and sucked up old fluid while filling rear resevoir.

14. reinstalled front left caliper,rear resevoir cap, and rear wheel.

After all this, I rear pedal has to be pumped for it to grab. The front lever will not stop the rear wheel like it should. So what am I doing wrong guys?

Thanks,

-Roger

[Red Rider]

You most likely still have air in the system...try bleeding it again. If the '02 VFR is like my '98 VFR800, the bike has to be rolled forward to activate the LBS for the rear.

[Rog1206]

I tried rolling the bike forward about 10 feet and the LBS still doesn't work. I'm just trying to figure out how to get the air out.

[Red Rider]

I used SpeedBleeders on my bike and it made bleeding (without a Mity-Vac) a helluva lot easier.

[gt702]

Scrap the Mityvac for getting the air out. It works OK for moving fluid through, but not so good getting the air out.

Be sure to follow the Honda procedure it helps, also do a search on this site. I think Baketech posted a thorough procedure sometime back.

Work from the longest runs to the shortest. Also bleed at the mastercylinder banjo bolt (be careful to not drip fluid) either directly or by putting in banjo bleeders.

I found the one man bleeders found at the auto parts store for a couple bucks work good. It is a little bottle with clear tube (the magnet will hold the bottle up, or you can make your own). Be sure to have a section of hose going up so that you build a column of fluid over the bleeder which will keep air from getting drawn in. Crack the bleeder and pump until the bubles are gone, then tighten up the fitting before pulling the hose. Make sure you don't empty the mastercylinder reservoir or you get to start all over again.

Good luck.

[Rog1206]

After following the directions from the Honda service manual again last night, we still couldn't get the air out. We ended up pumping the rear pedal to bleed:

The front left caliper lower nipple
Servo PCV
Rear Caliper center nipple
Rear caliper outer nipple
Rear PCV

I saw a lot air coming out through the clear tubing and after the last bleed, the rear pedal started to hold pressure!