animalfarm

I've been busy at work, but already received the new accumulator. In the next few days I might have time to change out the accumulator, I'll post some pics when doing so.

This how the new canister looks like:










Bottom





Top

sakataj

iTrader: (182)

interesting....does the new canister come precharged? or do you have to charge it? also, is there some reason you cannot just recharge the old one?

ta1972

iTrader: (1)

You could get it charged, but you would need a lathe and other tools to open one up and add a shrader valve on top.
There is someone on a different forum that does this.

animalfarm

The new canister is precharged.

animalfarm

Took me 45 minutes today









Get the steel belt oil filter wrench.

animalfarm

joebor1776

Nice pics. Did it fix the issue for you?

I'm wondering how to tell whether the buzzing I hear behind the driver's side dash on startup (4 secs) and while braking (and a fairly mushy pedal) is due to this issue, or just normal?

sakataj

iTrader: (182)

i love this so so much, im continued to be impressed by people finding solutions to our cars

so DID this work correctly for you?

animalfarm

Yes, it sure did. Pressure in the system remains constant. No more pump buzzing every time I hit the brake.

Important: after installing the canister, I've used member Paige's tutorial on how to bleed the brake system. Personally I value this to be a very usefull contribution from a Lexus enthusiast.

1aristo

Very usefull indeed!!
Im not sure how the set up works, but im assuming there it no chance of nitrogen escaping while screwing in the new canister right?
Also, while unscrewing the old one did any pressure escape or did you pump the brake to release the pressure as someone mentioned before?

ta1972

iTrader: (1)

I'm curious too. Not enough details on that part.

LentoGS300

Mine buzzes when I first start up and I can occasionally hear it while driving but brakes work well and not losing any fluid. Do I need to look to replace or be worried at all?

ta1972

iTrader: (1)

That's normal upon start up. It's the actuator pump pressurizing the accumulator. If however, if it's doing that every 10-15 seconds early all the time, then you possibly have a slow leak from the accumulator. This in turn will wear out your actuator pump quicker and eventually fail.

sakataj

iTrader: (182)

MOD's can we sticky this?

animalfarm

Yes, pump the brake (ignition off) about 40 times. The fluid level in the reservoir rises, take a syringe to take the brake fluid out completely. After this there's no more (significant) pressure in the system.
Now you can unscrew the canister.
About the canister: this is just a reservoir and inside there is a large piston, above this piston is the (high!) pressure nitrogen. On a moleculaire level, nitrogen atoms seep past the piston seals ( these also wear out), so over time (years), the pressure gets to low.
How ever, I would personally never start drilling in the canister, because you don't know how much pressure is left, even after 10+ years.