Shimano Brake Bleed - Quick and Easy - How To

[@timmccorkel2989]

I just did this last night, before watching this video. One thing I would add is that once you are finished at the caliper end, and have the bleeder tight, fill the cup again and flick the brake lever a few times. Doing this should help remove any residual bubbles from the system.

[@motogp9253]

This was a fantastic way to bleed the brakes. Clean and easy! It got all those tiny air bubbles out with ease. The brake feel is so precise and responsive. Thanks for the tutorial!

[@fragrantfrog1648]

Something about how you explained this really helped it click for me- thank you

[@joncrunk598]

Thanks!

[@eastcoastlife3547]

I’m no pro but to add a Little something.. flick the lever also to release and bubbles and back out the adjuster screw as you flick and tap brake then screw back in… might get some more bubbles to release but this is pretty thorough pushing the oil back-and-forth through the system probably don’t need the lever trick I mentioned, but doesn’t hurt. 👌

[@garyp9906]

This is by far the best video on how to bleed the brakes. You explained it well. I would have no problem attempting this now. Thank you very much for taking the time and posting this awesome video!!

[@MarioGoatse]

Nailed this video mate. Thanks so much. Now I can definitely do this myself. Love it when people hand down knowledge. Improves us all!

[@JeffPratt4insurance]

Very well explained, you made it easy to understand. I know in other videos I've seen them push in the calipers in place the yellow block inside. Not sure if you did that or not. Thanks!

[@mikeburgh3956]

Definitely want to use bleed blocks when doing a lever bleed.

[@robalexander7348]

Thank you for that procedure, now i will refresh the brake fluid in my TREK 6000 MTD 👍 Au

[@Lesley_Pokemon]

thank you very much worked great for my bike

[@NonLegitNation2]

appreciate this video. I've never had to fully bleed my brakes. I've burped the lever a few times but never a full bleed. That might change in a few days. i bought a larger travel fork so my front brake hose might be too short (going from 120mm to 160mm travel) I might have to replace the brake hose with a longer hose so a full brake bleed will be necessary. Wish me luck, hopefully I won't actually have to replace the hose since my new frames headtube is shorter so I'm hoping the shorter headtube and longer travel fork make up the difference in the length of the brake hose lol.

[@sheldonhynes3693]

Great video!! I noticed that you run your rear brakes on the left side, never seen that before

[@povalexstephens9257]

most helpful vid ive ever seen, tysm ily

[@Danielxperez14]

Awesome job! Thanks for explaining so well!

[@rider65]

Until I swapped over to magura I didn't realize how easy it is to do a lever bleed with a syring instead of the cup. Maybe it takes an extra 3 to 5 minutes but much more effective. Just watch how to do a quick bleed for magura you can use that on Shimano or SRAM brakes. Works like a charm

[@garage31]

I always found that I over bled the system with a syringe at the lever. But if your technique works for you then keep doing it!

[@user-rl4ji5ne4o]

I have some Riderever (Jagwire) Arc-U brakes on some bikes. They're cheap were I am ($36USD each end) and they use two syringes. Instructions say to lock the caliper end with a plastic clip on the hose after finishing pushing back and forth, and push the lever syringe in a bit, then unscrew and replace the bleed screw. You can definitely push too much in as I found the lever can't be adjusted all the way out now (they could go out a lot further than my hand can reach, so no biggy) It's easy enough with Shimano, having to repeatedly squeeze your brake lever with one hand, whilst holding the syringe upright at the caliper end. Even easier when you go find a velcro strap to hang the syringe upright off the bike frame 😊

[@user-rl4ji5ne4o]

Thank you....thank you...thank you! "You don't need this part here" I did! In my bleed kits i have an elongated piece of plastic with different sized holes near each end. I never knew what it was. None of the 4 local bike shops I've gone to have used one in front of me. None of them.mamaged to bleed my rear brake properly. The tube was always slipping off the bleed nipple. It was decalred 'unbleedable'. I was considering a punctured lever bladder and buying a replacement. So, I attached it firmly with the plastic piece, and ran very slowly back and forth the oil. Major patience mission. Put back together and my brake isn't perfect, but it doesn't go to the bar anymore on that first depression of the lever. It has a solid feel to it, not mushy. There's still a pump effect though, on the first depression, so I'm going to repeat tomorrow when I have more time, and make it my mission to get the last bit of air out of it! Slowly goes it!

[@motogp9253]

Good to know. What bleed kit did you use? The kits I've seen don't include that plastic piece.

[@Sunshine-wn5ev]

Simple job and your explanation was simple and good!!! Finally a good how to video that didn’t leave you more confused!!! Thanks for the video !!!

[@Krillekris]

This is probably the best break bleeding video I have watched. Just blead my front brakes, and they work good :-) Thanks

[@StreetPete]

Are you doing this with the pistons pushed back or anything? And not using the bleed blocks? Need to do mine tomorrow so just wondering.

[@garage31]

Yes with the pistons pushed back. I find you generally don’t need a bleed block if you go slowly, you’ll just need to watch the pistons so they don’t fall out. Use a bleed block if you don’t want the hassle. Thanks Len

[@MrFishyduds]

Spot on - thank you.

[@yuboymoni]

Hey boss so I have a euro bike “C2” wheelie bike with shimano brakes, if I don’t know how to take my wheel off and all do you think they would know how to replace my pads and bleed my brakes for me ? I’ve never been to a bike shop 😅

[@francisjohnification]

Thanks. Thumbs up and subscribed. One query. How do you rectify problem if the brake lever is too sensitive. The feeling that the system is ‘over full’. I would appreciate any advice. Apart from that the brake is fine. 👍🥳

[@garage31]

Put the bleed cup back on the lever, then push the pistons all the way back, then remove the bleed cup. That should address the over bled feeling. Thanks Len

[@francisjohnification]

@@garage31 Thank yo0u sooo much for the advice. I appreciate your time. Kind regards. John (UK)

[@reginaldcardoze990]

Thank You

[@rebaz7256]

Informative

[@anish_editz11]

Love from Nepal This video is helpful

[@davidelpenho]

One question: why didn’t you use the yellow bleed block? Doesn’t it overflood the system if you don’t use it while bleeding?

[@garage31]

I find that the brake caliper seals on Shimano brakes are normally strong enough to keep the pistons in place so i don't normally use one. This video is just a "quick" bleed, i would normally advance the pistons and lube them with mineral oil before retracting them after bleeding, negating any chance of the system being too full. Hope that makes sense, thanks Len

[@GokkunGuru]

Can I use Maxima Mineral Brake Oil on my Shimano brakes? If yes, can it be mixed with Shimano mineral oil or should the existing oil be flushed out first?

[@garage31]

Yes no problem, I would flush out the old fluid regardless but if it mixes a little it won’t really affect anything. Thanks len

[@mattjns]

Nice simple vid man. 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@garage31]

Thanks!

[@YoMumzinnit]

Do you have to remove the back wheel for this procedure?

[@garage31]

I would recommend removing the wheel and brake pads so you don’t contaminate anything. You can get by without removing anything but be really careful not to spill any oil. Thanks Len

[@YoMumzinnit]

@@garage31 understood, thank you. Excellent videos

[@Bandivagyok]

lifesaver. thanks man:)

[@notjulesatall]

Why do you do fill it from top to bottom when the instructions in Simano's dealer's manual are to fill it from bottom to top?

[@garage31]

Why Bleed Shimano Brakes This Way?

[@ThanhVo-uq7ex]

Cheers man spot on👍🏻

[@justinmolyneux6040]

Easy assembly, known brands like Shimano gears and Schwinn

[@donofthedonmtb]

We have had people in a facebook group asking why their pistons are stuck out after watching this video. No bleed blocks used and those people pumped their lever like most videos show.

[@garage31]

Easiest way to fix this is to put the bleed cup back on and gently push the pistons back, then remove the bleed cup. Sometimes the pistons move a bit when bleeding, a bleed block would fix that but I find they generally don’t move. Thanks Len

[@donofthedonmtb]

@@garage31 That is what we are telling them to do after we explain why it happened. It seems your video has been found by many recently and they are not paying attention to your method and squeezing the levers with no blocks in.

[@glennet9613]

I just bought a shimano bleed kit, there is no clamp but instead a metal insert in the tube - not sure how to proceed.

[@garage31]

Is it a Shimano branded kit or a third party?

[@glennet9613]

@@garage31 Thanks for replying. Shimano, bought from a reputable outlet. "Shimano Professional Disc Brake Bleed Kit TL-BR001/TL-BR002/TL-BR003"

[@RudeRyder98]

Very helpful video. I have a Switchblade also run XT brakes. What brake pads do you have installed? I am not a fan of the finned pads that come stock. They rattle a lot and very noisy. I'm currently using a hack to quiet them down

[@garage31]

Thanks! I’m currently testing our own Garage 31 pads, no fins and a lot more modulation than the stock metal pads. I agree the fins rattle, add no performance for most people plus they are expensive. The Garage 31 pads will be much more affordable when they’re released. Len

[@Shred_Tube]

@@garage31 random question but do you happen to know the difference between shimano mt420 brakes and the rest of shimanos 4 pot brake models? Im looking to upgrade for more stopping power for when i do the occasional trail with a long steep descent like Pikes Peak. From what i can tell the main difference is the higher end models have better durability and longevity but i cant find much on difference in actual performance

[@jonskootje6981]

Do i need to remove my rear wheel?

[@garage31]

No but you risk spilling oil on your pads and rotor

[@dwhyte3392]

Great vid, cheers man 👌

[@garage31]

Glad it helped

[@adamjallow2890]

What happens if you don’t get rid of the old fluid and keep using new fluid

[@garage31]

Ideally you would want to flush out the old fluid, I bled this brake a few days before filming this video so the fluid was already clean. If the fluid comes out black then get rid of it, if it's still pink then it shouldn't be an issue

[@adrianoaragon]

So after all that, you don’t show how to remove the funnel up top?! Do you squeeze the brake to pump air out? Now I have to find another video. Hmmm

[@pwn3d_d1rt]

If you can't figure that out you should probably take your bike to the shop rather than do your own bleed lol

[@Mikehdy]

He did say he removed the cup after inserting the plunger so as not to let the fluid run out!

[@Tofusoldat]

Just like that without any bleed blocks or pumping the system?

[@garage31]

Yes, normally no bleed blocks needed for Shimano as the piston seals in the caliper will hold the pistons in. You'll need bleed blocks for almost every other brand though

[@Tofusoldat]

@@garage31 I’m glad that I switched from SRAM to Shimano! It just works. Thank you for sharing that knowledge! ❤️

[@JustDrinkingCawfee]

Great bleed procedure, don’t know why all the tutorials suggest to push the dirty fluid back into the lever

[@a.n.mwaliullah1632]

Shimano m615 Brake caliper piston popped out. How do I get it back in? :

[@dazdeluxe6672]

Use a flat surface to pop it back in, part of a spanner can work

[@yokanshree4621]

But I never saw u pull the leaver

[@balgraeve]

Ty

[@Jonas.N-o2c]

U will never use vakum to bleed shimano brakes! Lift the bike so that the brake lever is in the top position and use a hose from the brake caliper into a cup instead

[@garage31]

If you end up with a bled brake, it doesn’t really matter how you got there. I’ve performed this procedure on well over 2000 Shimano brakes with no issues. If your technique works for you, keep doing it!

[@bluforcemotors]

it has NOT to be done so OFTEN....1 Time ...max 2 Times sending the fluid through the system will push ANY Air through...finally trapped in the external funnel....the rest of the video is dead on...good help for the beginner guys ;)

[@Ismatvrides]

Thanks for sharing this fullysuspported you

[@garage31]

If you found this video useful, head to the website/amazon links to purchase some sweet Garage 31 products. Available in Canada and USA! Thanks! WEBSITE bikegarage31.ca/ AMAZON Canada www.amazon.ca/shops/garage31 AMAZON USA www.amazon.com/shops/garage31

[@dongerdong1184]

Push the fluid up.

[@nhutlinhphuocmd486]

❤️❤️👍👍😊

[@polex65]

Not the ri

The technique is not correct. You basically mix the old brake fluid with the new. This cannot be good.

[@YoMumzinnit]

Listen to the video……

[@BullyGovJ4F7775]

yeah this tutorial sucks. it's supposed to show to bleed but instead you're showing how to replace fluid. when did you start to bleed them.

[@garage31]

By replacing the fluid, you also bleed the brake at the same time. If I’m doubt, push and pull clean fluid from top to bottom a few times. It’s a very simple concept. Thanks Len

[@wangsworld9454]

You're an idiot