ABS accumulator sphere required

[Brakebuster]

i have been refurbishing my brakes of late as i have a fault light, i found the high pressure hose from the ABS pump had developed blisters under pressure, so i bought a new pipe from Jaguar ( £60 ) and fitted it , then proceeded to bleed the brakes as required for the ABS system

I have however still got my ABS fault light on, and the brake warning light as well when the pedal is pushed, the pump also activates at the same time

this all indicates that the Nitrogen filled accumulator sphere has failed/depressurised and i need a replacement

any idea's where to get a reasonably priced one ?

i do know that Jaguar use a German company ( Lemforder ) for the part , and that it is used in several other cars other than Jaguar ,
just got to track own a supplier of them

and ACDelco also make/supply them , part number 25528382

but i think i'm looking at £100 at the cheapest , as i dont want to buy ' used '

BB

[robv12]

BB I have spheres here off 89 to end of production XJ40's would this be the same part??

JLM1907

according to JH parts also fits XJS 139052 to 226625

now I'm not familar with XJS vins, so do not know if this will include your car

post a pic of the offending item?

[Brakebuster]

Rob

yes, they are the same part, the earlier ' Girling ' brakes on the '40 is different, but the later model ones are exactly the same

pm me m8

BB

[robv12]

BB

you have a pm, I have used ones here, no new ones though

[robv12]

BB best new price I can find is £155 plus vat

I wonder if the pressure switch is at fault and not the sphere??

[Brakebuster]

its possible the switch is at fault ,

but as i loose pressure and the pump kicks in on pressing the brake pedal , it indicates there is no ' stored energy ' for the accumulator , just solid pressure that drops on pedal push , and i can hear the switch clicking in and out . so i think its the sphere,

i will be back next week trying to find a switch , lol

BB

ps, my local breakers sell it all for £20 if he has them, but there is no way of knowing if it works before fitting it , but he does take them back if not working ( its and old fashioned pull it apart yourself breakers ) , he is only interested in scrap value of anything he sells.

[robv12]

ok BB, keep us posted on progress, here to help if we can

[almcl]

A possible alternative is a firm called Pleiades, in Huntingdon (01487 831239) who are reputed to be able to refurbish the original accumulator at much less cost.

The lemforder part number is said to be 834 000 008, if that helps at all.

[BigCatXJS]

Sorry to thread derail, but can a sphere be re-gassed rather than replaced (assuming that the sphere is not faulty)? If so, anyone know where? I'm South East Midlands based.

Thanks, Rich.

[PaulGover]

Brake Buster,

Are you certain you've successfully bled your brakes? I had problems with my 91 V12, and thought it was the accumulator, then the master cylinder/control gubbins. But I eventually realized it was that I'd not fully bled the rear brakes. It took me a couple of litres of fluid as far as I remember, not to mention both metric and imperial swear words

[Brakebuster]

Paul,

thanx for the heads up , but it was definitely the sphere,

i got a replacement from a local breakers , and when i took off the old one, it was full of fluid and the bladder had collapsed ,

screwing on the new one was an immediate improvement once the pump started

i am now getting ' code 21 ' from the ABS ecu , which is the master solenoid valve , its probably stuck after not working for several years ,

i will ply it gently with 12v to kick it in to life, ( or kill it )

BB

[poprivet]

It is 10 years since I had the sphere re-charged, as an item on my list of things to do before the next MOT, I thought it best to get it re-charged again.

Those great chaps at Pleiades in Cambridgeshire did their magic again, I posted it off Monday and got it back Thursday, tested, charged, painted and new O ring for about £60 which included postage and VAT.

A fantastic turn around, so for anyone with concerns over their sphere they need look no further IMO.