low rear brake pedal

[raYzerman]

If you have an '07 or earlier, I'd flush that again fully after activating the pump, sure twice or... until you're sure you cleared out all old fluid that came out of the ABS block.... but once done and repeated annually....... I don't believe we've heard of ABS pump blockages after '07, system was revised. After cycling the ABS pump, not sure I'd do anything on a Gen3/4.

Speedbleeders makes life much easier and quicker.

[rbentnail]

I've also thought about the ABS pump block. After I flush the brake system, I exercise the ABS pump. That presumably exchanges old/dirty ABS block fluid with the clean fluid in the lines adjacent to it. Should I then Re-flush the brake system to remove that diluted fluid? Or is it diluted enough that in 2 years, it will get cycled out?

I suppose with enough coffee, I could lather myself up proper with this.... LOL

I'm a 2-ABS-Cycler. I cycle the ABS then replace the brake fluids, noting at each bleeder about how many pumps to get fresh fluid. Then I cycle the ABS again. Then I replace the clutch fluid. That's right, CLUTCH fluid. Then I use up the rest of the bottle bleeding the brakes again, using minimum pump count from earlier. IMHO the second brake bleed really makes no difference other than feeling good and not having a partial bottle of fluid I'm probably just going to throw away anyhow.

[FJRoss]

Other than 2007 and earlier, I don't recall ABS failures in any FJRs. And very few (if any) early GenII. I do recall quite a number from '04 and '05. I certainly had no issues on my '07 in the 295,000 km I owned it.

Flushing the brake and clutch circuits is a satisfying and easy service to perform - even without Speedbleeders. I'm not saying don't do it, but every couple of years is probably more than enough unless you live in a very humid environment or ride in the rain a LOT. Or maybe you do it more often as a "feel good" exercise. (Maybe like those who change their oil every 2000 miles...) Not a good comparison because DOT4 is way cheaper than a gallon of synthetic oil. How often do you replace the brake fluid in your car?

I conciously exercise the ABS on a semi-regular basis and make a point to do so before and after changing fluid- actuating in a sandy parking lot or with the jumper. Fluid coming out of the brake circuits still looks good and I feel no need to do it twice. It's not like the fluid in the ABS pump has been stagnant since the last fluid exchange. The clutch fluid, on the other hand, is noticeably darker- I assume because you are moving a greater volume of fluid with each pump and probably more frequently. It gets flushed thoroughly.

On the bike, Speedbleeders may be helpful for some but I doubt they would save me more than 10 minutes every two years. Different on a vehicle where you can't reach to manipulate the bleeder screw and operate the brake/clutch at the same time. Speedbleeders are not immune to problems with sucking in air - traditional method is my personal preference. (Never needed a vacuum bleed either but I recognize that technique is useful under certain circumstances. i.e. getting tid of a stubborn bubble after major air infiltration or replacing components.) YMMV

[wheatonFJR]

I exercised the ABS on my bike heading home. It works.