Shimano Brake Bleed 💉

[@mtbohana]

I've had almost every high end brake out there. Sram, Shimano, Magura, Hayes, Hope, Formula and the best one so far has been the TRP DHR Evo's.

[@TopToBottomMTB]

Thx for the input brotha!!

[@darrenleary5534]

TRP ftw. Been riding some quadiums for a while now and couldn't be happier.

[@aidenthwaits2646]

Yeah my buddy has quadiums and they feel great

[@markpecnik7499]

@@TopToBottomMTB Hayes Dominion A4 are allso amazing. Lots of modulation, great power and very little to no power fade

[@driver_18]

What was the worst in your opinion?

[@jonathanireland2913]

I can't wait to try this on my V-brakes

[@TopToBottomMTB]

😂

[@Jacob99174]

Let us know how it goes

[@khodges2]

My goodness bikes are too complicated now a day.

[@Folskyfied]

​@@khodges2 its fun man

[@codyadam6048]

same bro

[@mangler.m4950]

As a longtime bike mechanic, 15 years, the only reason you should switch out your Shimano brakes is to upgrade to a better Shimano brake. Sram are better then they use to be but still have a squishy modulation unless you over pressurize then when you bleed them. Other brakes have their own problems. Magura’s stop hard but are hard the work on and the lever body’s are plastic or carbon and have a tendency of breaking. Hopes are awesome but very expensive. Hayes work well but have a tendency to alway rub because the pistons don’t retract far enough. Tektro and TRP are very reliable and are very easy to work on but have awful brakes pads. They are usually to hard and don’t stop very well so i always recommend putting in Shimano brake pads or some other high end replacement brake pads. Formula brakes? If you enjoy riding bikes, just stay away from formula brakes. Hard to work on, bleed process is complicated, part are expensive. Brakes pads are expensive and feel terrible when braking not to mention that they are loud alway loud. Best brake out there is Shimano xt 8100 and xtr 9100.

[@TopToBottomMTB]

Wow… thanks for taking the time to share all this knowledge! Good to have in the audience! Thx for the support!💪🏻

[@spartanmtb2640]

Had hopes v4. Absolutely hopeless. Sooo overrated. Bleeding was a joke, pistons sticking, power was bad, and squeal so bad too

[@W250STUFF]

Yessir this guy knows what he is talking about

[@travisgibson5545]

You are a blessing my friend.

[@quinncolby]

My favorite or Sram Guides.

[@ghettoboy6072]

This is a very good tutorial on how to bleed brakes vs other long minutes videos

[@TopToBottomMTB]

Awesome! Good to hear! Many more coming! Thanks for the support!🤘🏻

[@Atxcmtb]

To be fair, a full Shimano bleed is more complicated and is usually worth a longer video than just a lever bleed like this. lever bleeds only remove some of the air and don’t remove contaminated fluid so it’s always good to make the lever bleeds infrequent and not a consistent bleed practice.

[@kennardshire9960]

Haven't serviced my SRAM brakes in 3-4 years never had a problem with them, they got a little spongy but never had a problem, I prefer the modulation of SRAM, Shimano is to grabby for me, haven't tried any other brakes

[@janrodel3511]

Rip

[@kasparasracys6550]

You must change your dot fluid at least once a year, even if it feels okay, dot gets corosive with time and by the time you'll feel something is wrong, you're gonna need new brakes🙉

[@Jekakrab]

I hate the ergonomics of brake lever of sram brakes 😢

[@jojodroid31]

Shimano XT, best I've had and I'm happy. Though tbh I never tried SRAM so they might be better. Let's be honest, everything in that price range is pretty damn good.

[@TopToBottomMTB]

Facts👊🏻

[@pietrozala3420]

I had SRAM guide rsc brakes, i always had a new problem with them, then i got some shimano XT and never looked back.

[@TopToBottomMTB]

Ooh… XTs🤤 did you get the 2piston or 4pistons?

[@pietrozala3420]

@@TopToBottomMTB they went on my YT Capra, couldn't put 2 pistons on that beauty, i went for 4 pistons and 22 cm discs

[@TopToBottomMTB]

Siiiiiick!🤘🏻

[@pokiblue5870]

i use V brake ! Working very well. Easy to replace brake pads and low maintenance.

[@Inexpressable]

Hydraulic v-brake or just cable? I'm interested in hydraulic vs

[@HeathenRides]

That's true I could change my brake pads at age 6 on my BMX everything was easy maintenance on that bike it wasn't much I could not fix myself.. Now everything is complicated

[@Inexpressable]

@@HeathenRides yeah sometimes the tech gets a bit out of hand but once you know your components it's not too hard to maintain. hydraulic brakes feel amazing but boy are they a pain in the ass to maintain. £100 just for a kit for it, had to take it into the shop instead.

[@Mrzeseb13]

@rollinrat4850 yes sir ! the huge problem is : so much people are apes

[@lexusstefan927]

Had Shimano XT, Magura MT5/7, Hayes Dominion A4 and now on Hope V4, couldnt be happier

[@TopToBottomMTB]

Nice thx!

[@ZompeMoto]

Magura Mt sport, One of THE best two Piston brakes on the market (in My opinion), and THE Price is just as Good.

[@aninterestingtitle9754]

Are they the carbon ones

[@The.JZA.]

Magura MT7’s are my pick. Had mine for about 4 years on two different bikes and they still feel better and have more power than any other brakes I have tried.

[@maribelalonzo2693]

Shimano big fan👍

[@TopToBottomMTB]

💪🏻

[@aviationandstuff5840]

I'm a dead set Shimano user I'm 100% in there group sets as well as breaking systems they never fail me under any circumstances.

[@MariusPatrulescu]

plot twist: it works even without the funnel, just level it, remove the top screw, shake the hose and the caliper to move the air on top, press the brake a few times, add mineral oil with a syringe, put back the top screw

[@db.5811]

Here in Florida, my Shimano m446 180/160 have never let me down. Riding them since 2012. You don’t need much here in FL but they sold me on Shimano durability, modulation and longevity.

[@JuanHernandez-if3bp]

Absolutly Shimano 🤩🤩

[@bikes4lifebaybee]

Hayes Dominions are my favorite. Perfect balance of power and modulation. Easiest bleed system too. Never returning to Shimano or SRAM.

[@InterAliaa]

MT7 or Hayes Dominion for me

[@Soandsoguy]

Awesome! Thank you. Love Shimano brakes.

[@TopToBottomMTB]

👍🏻

[@dannyjulson30]

I’ve ran a lot of brakes and Shimano xt are by far my favorites. Just so functional and responsive.

[@kridstax2248]

If only every tutorial was this straight to the point and perfect . Thanks so much man

[@TopToBottomMTB]

Cheers! 🤜🏼🤛🏼

[@dab-pre-ss-ionaustin1986]

Who needs brakes real men ride and die without em 😂

[@That.Guy.]

I just put the soul of my shoe against the back tire to slow down

[@Leo_MTB767]

This saved my brakes! Thanks alot 🙏

[@TopToBottomMTB]

Glad it helped!

[@jd4000]

Don't switch to SRAM, Shimano kit is amazing, alternative options like HOPE nad the top end TRP stuff is excellent too. But XT and above from shimano is so well designed and nicely finished.

[@dylanperschon8479]

Yeah but every single one of them has pump up and it’s annoying

[@gehirndoper]

@rollinrat4850 What exactly do you mean by "pressure bleeding", and what do you need the rubber bands for? The angles and positions you mention refer to the cable I suppose.

[@gehirndoper]

​@rollinrat4850 Thanks a lot for the in-depth advice! The LX front brakes on my old XC are very spongy and lose almost all power after breaking a few times. Had the bike in two shops because of that, but whatever they did changed nothing. So I'll learn to service them myself.

[@gehirndoper]

​@rollinrat4850 It might well be I need to fully change the oil, given the bike is over ten years old. I'm hopeful there is no leakage, as I was looking out for that. The seals come in a set with the hose, as far as I can see. For now I'll go with Shimano's bleed kit and their oil as well, and I'll check the disks and brake pads to see if they need changing. With regular tools I'm well-set (mostly Wera), as cheep tools indeed just destroy your screwheads. I'm missing a torque wrench though, as using one wasn't really a thing ten years ago. We just did everything by feel.

[@gehirndoper]

@rollinrat4850 I'll have to wait and see. If the calipers or levers need replacement I'll make sure to disassemble them. Worst case I learn how they work in detail. This has to wait, as for now I'm trying what hopefully will be my new bike, a Fuji E-Jari I got for an affordable price. The assembly on that wasn't done too well unfortunately. I was able to fix the peripherals (I got it with street accessories) and the front brake, which must've shifted during a ride, leading to one break pad being glazed and mostly gone. While servicing it I noticed that the front wheel can't be removed (for now) due to an overly tight (if not glued together) thru-axle. Other than that either the frame or the bottom bracket are creaking under load, making me question the craftsmanship further. It's a lot to learn and take in.

[@cashallen1931]

I had Shimano for a long while until I had a bad caliper on 3 in a row. Gave sram a crack and I love my code rsc! No wandering bite point and oodles of power

[@hanslidlwagen4115]

A simple Shimano MT200

[@caleb5882]

I run mt201s on my park rig, and in a year and a half they have no sponginess at all meanwhile my friend runs guide rsc and has to rebleed every couple months

[@antonioZaRasFiNaLbOsS]

I run Stock Shimano M315. Even though they are less powerful than MT200 and cheaper. I have them on a bike that is 5 years old and still, strong braking power, 1 finger is more than enough to stop my bike.

[@Flako-dd]

​@caleb5882 100% agreed i have the same constellation on two bikes. Sram guide is a lot more maintenance.

[@Popaho]

thank you very much for not wasting my time!!,,..right to the point with no bullshit.

[@cherrytf97]

Magura mt7 all the way with the performance pads and 2 piece Magura rotor

[@shanec8224]

This video helped me tremendously… thank you! I did have to do it twice, but I got it to work perfect. One variation I had to make was, get all the air bubbles out then squeeze the lever and hold it till I pulled the funnel/reservoir off and screwed the oil hole on the lever completely shut, then I let off the lever…

[@BillysBullish]

Hope forever!!!

[@trajanfpv]

Same

[@TimeZ7]

I searched good video to bleed my brakes and this is it of all the videos ive seen so far Thank You!

[@TopToBottomMTB]

Glad it helped

[@TimeZ7]

@@TopToBottomMTBafter this my brakes should work properly right, or do I have to wait some time?

[@danasquith9455]

I just changed mine to shimano and they are amazing 10/10

[@tylerressler9741]

TRP is awesome. They’re sort of a mix between sram and shimano. You get the modulation like you would from sram, but you also have that super strong power like shimano. They also use thicker hoses and rotors on some models which pretty much eliminates brake fade and helps with heat dissipation.

[@TopToBottomMTB]

Awesome! Can’t wait for try them!!

[@beerenmusli8220]

Every brake will feel bad with too much air in the system, and I think you should keep mineral oil brakes rather than switching to Sram. Also hanging the bike angled into the stand is MUCH easier than losening and readjusting the levers all the time.

[@TopToBottomMTB]

Good tip!

[@gatisfauss5400]

Shouldn't old fluid be bled out?

[@beerenmusli8220]

@@gatisfauss5400 Depends on Age and usage. Every ~1500 km, a fluid swap is recommended or every 5 years if you ride less.

[@TopToBottomMTB]

@@gatisfauss5400 not all the time… sometimes you just need the bubbles out.

[@rossjlennox]

This is is one of the best tutorials I have ever seen 😊 thank you so much ☺️

[@azrock1984]

Im still using BB7 😁

[@Fuzei_Media]

I purchased an AVENTON with TekTro brakes, this video was very useful

[@TopToBottomMTB]

Cheers!🤜🏼🤛🏼

[@jamiescott9469]

This is not a brake bleed, this is called "burping" Works perfect for quick Air removal from uncontaminated fluid. All full brake bleeds should be finished with this procedure

[@KevinMGrold]

Thanks. Worked great!

[@TopToBottomMTB]

🤜🏼🤛🏼

[@jonnythelegs2597]

Hope for the last 20 years, the mono 6ti brake on my hardtail are 17 years old now still stoopid power even by today's standard but I love em.

[@paradox963]

Magura MT7 with the HC3 levers, on every bike I own. The TRP DHR Evo's are excellent too.

[@ElBikeShop]

Ran shimano XTs for a while, tried SLXs too, and Saints. Great brakes, i just dont like the on/off feel when i get on slippery/steep stuff. Then i got Sram Code R, loved them, though i thought they could use maybe 10% more power. Then i got Code RSC with HS2 rotors, 200/200, now i dont want anything else ! Precise bite point, great modulation, plenty of power to stop me (200lbs) and my 40lbs norco shore park. Highly recommend them !

[@TopToBottomMTB]

Yeah I guess the on/off Shimanos aren’t for everyone and you have to go high up the chain to get decent feeling Srams… thx🤘🏻

[@ricknick74]

Worked perfectly ❤

[@macroglossumstellatarum3068]

Shimano has a nice bite, but mineral oil tho 🤢 I know everyone hates on SRAM, but Codes have next level modulation

[@TopToBottomMTB]

Yeah that’s the consensus… you gotta go fairly high up to get good feeling Srams…

[@dumbr2098]

💀 you think dot's good and mineral oil bad? And sram's modulation is an excuse to spongy brakes that you can't fix honestly, i can't imagine riding park with those pieces of sh****

[@kaedeschulz5422]

What's the problem with mineral oil? It's not horny for water like dot

[@kaedeschulz5422]

@@dumbr2098 same man.

[@imicy1841]

I have been riding shimano my whole life, and just got a new bike with sram. The bleeding process was painfully slow, and if you don’t have the specific bleeding edge tool, it’s impossible to get positive pressure in the brakes (which you need or else the brakes feel like garbage). And the brake modulation feels like garbage, just when you think you’ve grabbed the brakes, you have to pull even farther for then to actually work. Shimano>sram

[@rossjlennox]

Tim his is one of the best tutorials I have ever seen 😊 thank you so much ☺️

[@mikeclarke6000]

“Here’s how to fix them” *installs SRAM brakes* “and you’re done” 👍

[@theferociousmuncher1771]

the correct answer

[@zbynekbroda4729]

X for doubt

[@mdmc1877]

Man this is so easy. Fixed mine in minutes vs draining everything on both ends. Thanks for making this.

[@TopToBottomMTB]

🤜🏼🤛🏼

[@drewmohn2287]

Code rsc’s, best by far

[@jackdehosson]

I am personally a Sram guy. Never got the hang of the feel of the Shimanos🤷‍♂️ I feel like Sram gives me more fine control. My Personal favourites are the Guide RS, the Code R, and my latest set is actually the Code RSC! But any of those will get you fantastic feel, and great high end power😊

[@jackdehosson]

Also, may I add that the seam levers are "flippable"! Important little detail for us riders that sometimes switch our brakes around😅 if you flip your Shimanos you need too switch the levers, and do a full rebleed😢

[@christianeckardt7273]

I Run Magura at every Bike i owne

[@TopToBottomMTB]

Just felt maguras for the first time the other day… 👌🏻

[@michaelmlynarczyk5396]

@@TopToBottomMTB best brakes ever I run the mt7 pros

[@simonecosta4342]

THANK YOU THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH, i solve my brake problems with that.

[@TopToBottomMTB]

Awesome! Thx for the support 💪🏻

[@Work-gj8vm]

I have older Shimano 2 piston brakes… they feel great but I’d love a bit more bite. Maybe get 4 piston calliper in the future.

[@TopToBottomMTB]

Yep! Same here!

[@kosskrit]

If you have stock rotors they are often resin pads only. Try to switch to metallic pads compatible rotors and corresponding pads for better performance during descents. Also installing bigger diameter rotors helps

[@starertree7736]

Funny thing is 2 piston brakes have more bite than 4 piston brakes. That's why trials bikes use one

[@MACROPARTICLE]

You made the process look quick and easy. I've received my bleed kit and mineral oil from Ebay, so I'll attempt this for the very first time.

[@Stefan020]

Shigura for life🤙

[@TopToBottomMTB]

Franken-brakes!!!!

[@BeastModeMTB]

I love my zee brakes!!! So much stopping power

[@TopToBottomMTB]

Noice👌🏻

[@EliaSs-hs3eh]

Just take Magura!!!

[@ShakaLakaMTB]

I run TRP brakes and love them!

[@BermUnit]

trp

[@TopToBottomMTB]

🤤 nice brakes…

[@BermUnit]

@@TopToBottomMTB although due to supply chain issues/money, i'm rocking one trp front e-lever and one sram guide rear, it's "exciting". really need that back brake though

[@TopToBottomMTB]

@@BermUnit 😬

[@BermUnit]

@@TopToBottomMTB scratch that, i just ordered a proper one off eBay to match (finally)

[@TopToBottomMTB]

@@BermUnit 🤣 out with the Sram!!!

[@Adasrast]

Magura MT7 with HC3 levers. For me personally the best brakes ever

[@SLPrevious]

XTR M9120, best brake i ever buyed

[@loganpingel813]

As a bike mechanic, I naturally like anything that saves me time fixing my bike! Shimano are by far the easiest for bleeding/ maintenance but have a really positive feel. I am running Srams code RSC’s right now and haven’t had to bleed in 2 full riding seasons, and hundreds of miles of single track and bike park laps. Brakes are so good now all across the board, if you are riding 4 piston hydraulics and you can maintenance them on your own- you’re winning!

[@TopToBottomMTB]

I feel the same about my TRPs. ZERO maintenance needed!👌🏻

[@nigelrobinson8201]

I've the same SLX, with Ice-Tech rotors, great brakes.

[@TopToBottomMTB]

Love them!

[@das_enk]

That’s everything I needed to know. Thanks

[@dockilat5576]

I have 2nd hand shimano Saint calipers and SLX levers combo for 13 years now without any change of oil and it never gave any problems for a second.

[@TopToBottomMTB]

Sick! Franken-Shimano!

[@DaveLopez575]

I love my Shimano breaks!

[@alexhelling4128]

Great video. Every disc brake has different pros and cons. Depends in your priorities. Sram is great for winter, shimano is way easier to bleed and, Mechanical is easier to repair if your way out in the woods.

[@TopToBottomMTB]

All true! Thx!👊🏻

[@nataliewilde1226]

Thanks you made it look so simple

[@jaydenlangmtb]

Give the Sram Code RSC a try, excellent modulation and lots of braking power

[@TopToBottomMTB]

That’s seems to be what everyone else says… you gotta go all the way up to get good feeling Sram brakes. Thx

[@Supramk4_2jz]

I love this guy man

[@johnderemiah7553]

Love my SLX brakes. Modulate better than SRAM. They DO get air though.

[@yuxian20]

hell yes! thank you I'm getting some Shimano hydraulic brakes soon and this is exactly what I was looking for.

[@TopToBottomMTB]

🤘🏻

[@Void_e46]

From a bicycle mechanic that works in the biggest service shop in my area. Shimano is the way to go. They rarely ever have issues and they are so easy to bleed. Plus they don't use corrosive dot fluid that eventually destroys the seals. Edit: hope brakes are great as long as you flush the fluid every once in a while. And maguras are the worst brakes to bleed 100%

[@TopToBottomMTB]

Nice! Thx for the input!🤘🏻

[@Void_e46]

@rollinrat4850 yes the other mechanic at the shop and the owner both have tech 3 e4's and they are awesome. Keep up with maintenance on the fluid every few months and you are golden. As for adjustability, they are top-tier, you can adjust the pad clearance seperate from the lever distance. Plus they look sick!!

[@freeridetony]

Shimano do a super job always 🤘🏻💪

[@atiboa]

With Shimano you have a clear feedback when the pads "hit" the rotor. At Sram that sponginess is sold as "modulation feature", while it's just a badly engineered system, where a lot of energy is wasted from your finger to the pads. Isn't a problem with Sram's braking power (for high end models), but the feeling reminds me of cheap v-brake system, where the brake levers were flexible, the cable housing wasn't rigid enough to transmit the power, also a flexoble v-brake blades, which bends before stops the wheel.

[@TopToBottomMTB]

Thanks for the input!💪🏻

[@waynecampbell9714]

No I love my Shimano brakes and shifters because they both work amazingly My brother's got spongy but they're easy to fix

[@andrewaton3353]

I have the same brakes... Amazing ones

[@TopToBottomMTB]

👌🏻

[@leandereggmtb1471]

I am running Hope Tech E4 brakes, these are amazing, but not everyone likes them. But once you get used to it or just if you like how these brakes work, they are awesome

[@Z3n1tHL0rD]

love this method, will try this first :)

[@jessicalovell9970]

Good video. I like my magura Mt 5 they have a lot of modulation and are really powerful breaks I also like that they are customisable you can change the break levers to suite your riding

[@martincorrea4031]

Magura mt5 TOOONNSSS of power and modulation in between shimano and sram, to me the perfect brakes!

[@Tom_makes]

I have Shimano XT. Would never change them out.

[@TopToBottomMTB]

🤤

[@nicucatana5220]

Shimano BR-M785, best for me,easy to service, affordable brake pads, enough power ,and handlebar clamp does not brake as easy as on M8000

[@coltonsendittoflat]

I have been riding sram all summer and love them

[@jamowie4866]

You've got to get the air out of the caliper too. If you take the time to get ALL of the air out you can get them pretty solid. Failing that get Hopes

[@Coastal_Cruzer]

Advantage of mechanical brakes: you can adjust them on the fly if you experience loss of power instead of having to make it all the way home to bleed the brakes

[@dztryr]

Shimano all the way. Easy maintenance and parts are always readily available.

[@KrisBrosnihan]

SRAM on a Madone SLR Gen 7. Having the shop bleed my brakes, but you made this look easy.

[@ronmuniz7856]

Love my Shimano brakes and drivetrain!

[@TopToBottomMTB]

Oh man! Me too!

[@GrizzJibber]

New shimano brakes works like dream and are so easy to bleed

[@Th30rangutan]

I run Dominion H4s and they’re pretty good. Excellent stopping power and haven’t had any problems with them

[@dawsonmiles9704]

Shimano has a super simplistic bleeding process, which makes them a little more appealing. Magura mt7's are extremely nice as well

[@alexford5214]

Love my Shimano SLX on my DB Mission 2 mullet and Magura MT5 on my Ragley Big Wig for their ease of dealing with mineral oil. When I swap the DOT from my wife’s Niner WFO 9 RDO G2 R SRAM brakes, it freaks me out because that stuff destroys paint/ carbon. They all work well but I still prefer the bite I get from Shimano (and they are the cheapest with 180/180 only).

[@Man1K223]

You could try showing us where the bleed Port is on various brakes just a thought

[@Evan_Burridge_]

Just changed to sram db-8 quad pistons on my new canyon spectral al5 and they are amazing! Lol previously commented saying shimano but sram is great

[@TopToBottomMTB]

That’s because the DB8 are the only Sram brakes that use the same mineral oil as Shimano and TRP… No wonder you like them…👌🏻

[@MrChadLedford]

It would take a lot to get me to even consider trying another brake. My shimano's have been running excellent with only one bleed through 3 season. Slx 4 pot. Plenty of power even at the park.

[@Lutajman]

SLX with the metallic pads rulez!!!

[@TopToBottomMTB]

Same setup!🤘🏻

[@chickenclips]

Same here and much nicer over SRAM

[@wirooudejans4939]

I like the brake feel of sram.

[@superawesomefuntimego]

SLX's are fantastic brakes at the price point and nearly as good as XT's. The only SRAM's I like better than my Shimano XT's are the Code RSC's which are more powerful overall and modulate better. The full SRAM G2/Guide lineup I place under the SLX's.

[@emmanuelgatpo651]

i am using a shimano non sereis brake set mt200 😊 good braking power for me around 6/10. since there are higher model of brake set. like the alivio, deore, slx and saint. but for me the non series is already okay

[@hillbillyholler516]

I run z zoom and love them! Schmono keep messing up on me.

[@johnriggs-d5v]

I run XT on my HT race bike and they are the best bang for your buck. Having some quality rotors can shave weight and give a bit more performance albeit at the cost of having to replace them more frequently.