Brake system diagnosis and ABS tester (1 Viewer)

[Malleus]

After years of fooling around with the brakes on my 80s, I've finally decided to do something to fix the problem(s) permanently. To that end, I'm in the market for the ABS Actuator Checker (09990-00150) and the sub harness for the Land Cruiser. If I can't find one, I'll have to make one and the harness too, I suppose. I've decided the winter project is going to be troubleshooting the brake system, from end to end, identifying the potential/existing problems (the actual ones, not the ones which "may" exist) peculiar to the Land Cruiser, and developing solutions.

A little history: my first 80 was a 1994 triple locked green beauty with cloth interior, I was able to save from a used car dealer's son in 1998 (who didn't have any idea what he had). I only mention this because I distinctly remember how great the brakes were (when the truck was only four years old).

Fast forward to today and my stable includes a green 1994 with cloth interior (rescued from the Wisconsin salt mines via South Dakota) and two 1995s. The Jan '95 has brakes like it should, namely they work and will put your face on the steering wheel. The other two have brakes like everyone else's, namely they're mushy and pump up like there is air in the system, but no amount of bleeding has cured the problem thus far. The Jul '95 is going to be the test case. I've replaced the front brake system components (because they needed to be replaced) and the LSBPV and thus far have seen no brake system operation improvement. So rather than continue to replace every part in the system (which may restore the system to OEM quality, but which may not be possible, since some of the parts are out of production), I'm going to develop a brake system repair manual that includes what isn't in the FSM, in plain English.

 

[White Stripe]

I personally have felt a big difference in pedal feel depending on my lspv adjustment. Also make sure the lspv link rod isnt upside down. Which is easy to do.

 

[Brandon98]

I am intrigued. Please update us you develop this project. If it works out, perhaps consider renting out the actuator tool you develop (with a 100 percent deposit, of course)

 

[brianh699]

No one other than toyota ever made a tool that I know of, some have activated the ABS manually by powering the system and cycling grounds.

Is there a way to trigger ABS actuator to combat spongy breakes?

Truck info: 1994 LC with ABS So after some brake work (Caliper replacement with pads) I had spongy brakes. Wasted good amount of brake fluid trying to bleed them. I suspected that Air was trapped in ABS actuator but short of buying the SST tool or driving on Ice I did not see a way to trigger...

forum.ih8mud.com

 

[Brandon98]

No one other than toyota ever made a tool that I know of, some have activated the ABS manually by powering the system and cycling grounds.

Is there a way to trigger ABS actuator to combat spongy breakes?

Truck info: 1994 LC with ABS So after some brake work (Caliper replacement with pads) I had spongy brakes. Wasted good amount of brake fluid trying to bleed them. I suspected that Air was trapped in ABS actuator but short of buying the SST tool or driving on Ice I did not see a way to trigger...

forum.ih8mud.com

Looking at it, I would seem that a plug-and-play tool could be fabricated out of a couple connectors, a momentary switch, some alligator clips for + and - and then hook up a pressure bleeder. Hook it all up and clicky click a few times and watch the bubbles magically appear in the bleeder hose.