The BEST Shimano Brake Bleed Tutorial

[@TheLostCo]

Have you ever performed a gravity bleed? Or do you always use a syringe?

[@jokermtb]

I do the gravity bleed after seeing World Cup dh bikes bleed the same way

[@cjmpaja]

I prefer using a hybrid syringe/gravity bleed method that a local mechanic has thought me. Use the syringe to suck the fluid from the bleed funnel at the lever into the caliper...

[@richardkaz2336]

Just a cheap 5ml syringe.

[@Falasi4]

Yes - Gravity bleed. Relatively infrequent thing I need to do on my bikes so I don't mind taking my time with it.

[@brettperchaluk5252]

Just checking in here - previously I always used a syringe, but the gravity bleed/caliper turning/flip as shown in this video produced a great result on some otherwise stubborn 4 piston XTs that had a wandering bite point issue on my fatbike. Good tutorial!

[@outlastproductions]

Last step if you really wan to nerd out: Loosen the brake lever and tilt it 45 degrees or as far as you can with out spilling what's in bleed cup, pump the lever a couple times while lightly tapping body with wrench or something. watch a couple bubbles hiding in the lever release into cup. loosen lever and repeat same process 45 deg in the opposite direction. usually find some tiny bubbles fwd and backwards tilt. Then you all done:) OH and I always top off a drop of oil into bleed hole after removing reservoir to be extra sure you don't accidentally trap a bubble in there when replacing that little o ring bolt. keep rag handy for over flow.

[@jayhavey1170]

A tip to prevent air retracting in from the caliper side. Crimp the hose as it's in your waste container and hold that crimp with a soft rubber band. As you push down on the lever, the pressure will bleed out the fluid into the waste bucket and when you release the lever the hose will then collapse into the crimp position and not let any back flow of air travel back toward the caliper. That's also how you do a one-person bleed on a car as well. You could leave the bleed valve open and the pressure of the rubber band will do the work.

[@barry.anderberg]

like bend the hose in half?

[@Emtbtoday]

Always making sure the free stroke is unscrewed when bleeding, seen this done so many times without and why people say shimanos free stroke is garbage, it not its just not been let out durn a bleeding! Glad to see this one is unscrewed definitely professional 👍

[@DieterVanHolder]

I was wondering about the free stroke. So you screw the screws out? Not tight?

[@tomekborucki1120]

Have been working as mechanic for 15 years. I serviced thousands of shimano brakes and never used gravity bleeding for mtb brakes. One syringe full of oil pushing the fluid from caliper to lever, the brakes always work with no issues.

[@E.T_rode_bikes_As_well]

Same here! 😅

[@stevesracingbits]

Doesn't matter which way you do it as long as it works

[@dashofawesome64]

I also do think. They should remove the pistons and clean them and at that point new seals. A friend of me got a full suspension mtb second hand from 2008 with Shimano LX M585. I bled his brakes. The front one Was like pure black. But that one was working okay before. Then i did the rear one. It came to the bar. The liquid was clear....done bleeding. Next morning it was sponge again. We both took the whole caliper and lever apart(Do know the guy used it for city use so i bet those brakes haven't seen service in 16 years). The piston(aluminum with plastic inserts) was so dirty, it was stuck on it. Anyway. All cleaned (also we didn't replace the seals they looked good tho, good luck finding OEM ones). Put back together. And they work like new. I believe if the liquid is that dirty there is to much space between the pistons and seals because of dirt on it.

[@MrLapin-LL]

And air rise in fluid so… let’s work this way! Ok the « flush clean » from top to bottom, make sense. But after that, work from down to top!

[@Todd66]

Mike you are way better at making videos than you realize. This video is gold to me. XTR

[@TheLostCo]

Thanks, Todd. That seriously means a lot. Hopefully it comes in handy for your XTR's! -Mike

[@CGDreamsTutorials]

Interesting. I thought I was supposed to keep caliper blocks in the whole process, but it seems this is not the case. I take it you push the calipers out just before you put the wheel back on which would push oil back up into the cup till you do a lever bleed?

[@HaggisPower]

Totally get the top-down method for dealing with the dirt, but why not use a syringe to pull it down faster and speed things up a bunch?

[@HaggisPower]

Well I bled my 4-pot brakes, both of which had air in them (lever pulled to the bar after having flipped the bike over for a couple of hours). I've got to say the gravity bleed worked perfectly and I used far less fluid than I normally do using a syringe and the pull/push method. I used to find it frustrating trying to drain the system of the dirty oil using a syringe whereas the gravity method made it easy. Thanks for the tutorial.

[@okatbikes4917]

The countermeasure spring isn't for top out, it's a negative chamber helper. Helps overcome the friction that exists before the seals are moving (stick-slip).

[@okatbikes4917]

Also, cavitating brake fluid, that's a new one. Read up on cavitation, and what it actually is please.

[@ctsingletrack]

I was actually about to attempt a gravity bleed, because I don't have a syringe. I've donr it this way on my cars many times, and was hopeful it would also work on my bike. Glad to see it does.

[@rickywoods3101]

As a mechanic I always had best results using a power bleeder pushing fluid from caliper upward and push twice as much needed. It flushes completely and pushes out all debris

[@JNineBar]

This is a great method. A good bottle/tube set up the same as in the video is the key to success.

[@shredntread9600]

So I noticed he did not use a bleed block to keep pistons pushed in. Is this because he has the bleed port open so when he grabs lever its not actuating the pistons since the fluid just flows out? Secondly, he is puts the caliper back together and puts wheel back on. So how does he make the lever feel good? I am assuming since he still has the cup on the master cylinder he just keeps squeezing the lever until the pistons engage with the rotor, and the cup allows more fluid to be sucked to give it great feel. Let me know if I got all the right. Great video.

[@ZRMTB]

Shimano brakes are the GOAT…for ease of maintenance and reliability. 👌🏽

[@adrianmuller465]

But when you need to replace seals or small Parts, shimano wont sell you just the Parts. They only offer the lever, tube or caliper as a whole. Thats sad compared to Sram. But sram calipers are just not good for power.

[@ZRMTB]

@@adrianmuller465 Good to know. Have not had to replace any parts for as long as I had them. Just bleed and good to go.

[@sebastiengiovannelli8556]

reliability not totaly sure of that , hope or trickstuff, every parts are replaceable

[@ZRMTB]

@J B So why did you take the time to click on this video?

[@edritchie270]

Learned a little , always did a gravity bleed . Little tips to get more air out . Thanks great video.

[@JJ_MTB_15]

I just did this bleed, worked perfectly. Now we need a SRAM one so I can do my Code RSC's as good.

[@peter1987P]

@thelostco I just mis the part at the end. What do I do? When you are sort of done bleeding. Do you first push back the pistons in order to install the new pads while the top bleedport is open? Then install the pads (don't touch the lever??) And close the top bleedport? Help! Love this video. Just tried it

[@HLS6935]

This approach is similar to bleeding brakes on a car, working the air out of the system starting from the master cylinder to the wheel cylinders. I was curious why you couldn't just do it the same way with hydraulic brakes on a bicycle... thanks for proving my thinking! No need for buying the syringe, etc.

[@mtb4512]

Is it possible to get exactly such a video for Magura MT5 or MT7? No video I know of explains the bleeding of Shimanos so perfectly! Greetings from Germany✌

[@mtb4512]

By the way, the video is just as sweet as the video where the new Grip2 is explained in detail 👌🏽

[@MTB2139]

I agree and really liked the grip 2 dampener video as well.

[@Pithlitthedark]

Great tutorial, definitly gonna try the gavity bleed next time my brakes need some love.

[@TheLostCo]

Heck yeah, they should be feeling awesome afterward! -Mike

[@ianiscaratti4924]

love the tutorial but if you keep the funnel on with pads and disc instead of the bleedblock you overfill the system and later when the client will press the pistons back it will burst the rubber diphragm membrane in the lever. maby that would be important to mention....

[@DleonMar]

Anytime you push the pistons out with the new design you need to open the bleed port on the lever. Even a little bit can potentially pop the diaphragm. Unfortunately I learned this the hard way and had to replace it for the customer.

[@ianiscaratti4924]

@@DleonMar you can easily replace it. It's not expensive or difficult to install....

[@TRUTHBMXracing]

Great Video, Like the haircut. FYI I'm the mail carrier with the Fox 36 fork issue that called the other day.

[@cornishcactus]

I've done all this, got rid of loads of bubbles spent ages getting the last stragglers out of the lever, felt great with the wheel in and the cup on. Undid the cup, full to the brim, fitted the screw, spongy again.

[@JNineBar]

Same here, similar issues…

[@NDemanuele1]

Quick question, I'm a newbie: How do you know if there is enough fluid in the brake line when you're done? Thanks

[@paulblo9078]

No joke you are nearly the only ones on KZbin showing how its realy done It makes me so aggressiv seeing so many mechanics doing it wrong. Props to you guys

[@shawnoen1029]

What bleed cup is that? Looks much nicer than the stock Shimano one.

[@Justin-ny6un]

That’s the new Shimano one I think released end of 2021 or beginning of 2022. There’s a new syringe too which goes inside of the bleed nipple. Instead of the black plastic ring. I haven’t got it yet, but I don’t like the original Shimano one, tube always pops off the bleed port, also spill fluid out the cup. It can be bought separately or a full kit. The kit includes: TL-BR001 TL-BR002 TL-BR003

[@purplegarage05]

ive gotta do bleeds on 2 of my buddies bikes soon this is gonna come in clutch

[@jokermtb]

I shaved 1mm from Shimano bleed blocks to expose the pistons a bit and still allow lever feathering without accidentally pushing free the pistons

[@janeblogs324]

Agreed, if I use blocks as soon as I fit the used pads the lever becomes spongy

[@gaborlsk]

How should I manage the free stroke screw? Should I screw out during the bleeding process? When should I screw back in, after I have closed the system or before? In which position should I set up the brake lever during the bleeding process? Thank you.

[@TheLostCo]

I just talked to Alex and they recommend cycling the free stroke in and out a couple times during the bleed to move any bubbles it might be trapping! And once you're done with the bleed, screw it all the way in to give you the most crisp bite possible! -Tor 😎

[@hainman1]

Superb tutorial So anytime I do a bleed I use the bleed block This kinda shakes things up a bit with leaving the pistons free Also wouldn’t the pads close in on the calliper if doing lever bleed last thing with calliper and pads in??

[@TheLostCo]

That is the point, to have the pistons push outward with the pads and rotor in to get it to it's "zero point" to avoid having a slight vacuum on the system which will likely happen if the bleed cup is off when squeezing the lever during final assembly. -Mike

[@joshsavory1825]

Can you do this for Sram brakes plz

[@TheLostCo]

We'll most likely do that one at some point soon! -Mike

[@ZRMTB]

Nobody got that much time. Haha.

[@tytanjan]

@@ZRMTB it takes me 10x less time to bleed sram brakes because you can use two syringes

[@gogovitch66]

and Magura please! I have my first caliper since 2017 that does not release its air bubbles behind the pistons 😕

[@a8f235]

It still baffles my mind that there is no industry standard for this when hydraulic brakes have been around for a very very long time now. Every year I see something new pop up. *_Push it up..._* *_- No, no, push it down!_* *_Up..._* *_- Lala lala laaaaaaaaaaaaaaa...._* ...

[@aarons1073]

How would you stop the downward flow on a caliper with a bleed screw (rather than a nipple you can just shut off) so you can get the screw in without a huge mess?

[@philsson]

I just did a bleed before watching your video. I did almost everything the same besides keeping the bleed cup on while assembling the caliper. Is there any chance I can put the bleed cup back on the handle to push more oil down? I used a bleed block and now experience I might have too little fluid in the system as my brake pads were half worn out.

[@roccofpv2191]

Great video, Will this work on Tektro brakes?

[@2scoops624]

Excellent content, TIL a few new tricks to try on my next gravity bleed, like that attached catch bottle.

[@1oribe926]

excellent vid. clear and full of useful info. Thanks for the brilliant work

[@Neo_The_One_]

Don't forget to tap literally everywhere the fluid flows and collects to release those trapped bubbles.

[@BrandonMeyer1641]

Honestly this method seems way easier and less messy than the syringe method. I’ve had success with both types of bleeds but I’ve never done of the tips recommended in this vid. Need to get a setup like yours with a bottle for dirty fluid attached to the caliper. Do you recommend cleaning the caliper and pistons before or after bleed?

[@HaggisPower]

It really is the best method (long time syringe bleeder). Uses far less fluid and makes clean-up far easier

[@axelmoiseslaham452]

I do the some but using oil of power steering fluid. What can happeN? Its working good... for the moment

[@bens9151]

So when you do the front brake...same process, except I see a problem. We don't want to leave the funnel in the lever with pads in the caliper, because a spill would risk ruining the pads. Thoughts on that?

[@BJJ403]

Remove the pads?

[@desertrider325]

Does he discard the first small amount of fluid before filling the cup? Does he do full pulls with no pad block? Why a pad block in the beginning and then not all again?

[@dylan-5287]

With the system open on both ends pulling the lever just presses fluid out instead of pushing out the pistons. At first the bottom was closed so he had the blocks in to prevent the lever pull from pushing out the pistons.

[@creatamax16]

Hey LostCo. Just wanted to ask, I always screwed out the free stroke to bleed shimano brakes to allow maximum piston chamber filling on the lever do you guys do this or not bother?. Cheers Mike

[@geckonia]

Appreciate the thorough process ❤

[@TheLostCo]

Awesome! Glad you liked it! -Mike

[@jasperbarrett]

Awesome! Happy to have seen this 😊

[@Slappaisawayoflife]

I'm doing a fs xc build and I can't get the rear brake to lock. My quess is that it is air trapped underneath the crank, I've tried to bleed with a syringe, to have the bar higher and so on. I haven't tried this method though. Do you think this could work?

[@rowerowyja9982]

You don't have to disassemble anything, turn it around and wait forever... It's unnecessary "fun". Triumph of form over content. Top - a tank with liquid. Bottom - appropriate hose and syringe + negative pressure. The procedure can be repeated several times until the bubbles stop flying. It is possible to correct it at "any" moment - a dozen or so hours of rest + adding a few drops of liquid from the top. Years of practice pay off.

[@pirochu666]

Great video for my XTR brakes! When you said "same concept for other brakes", do you mean even for SRAM brakes? Meaning, (a) would you also gravity bleed SRAM (no syringe), and (b) would you also remount wheel/clipper/pads before disconnecting lever side with SRAM? Just checking before considering this with my Code brakes. Thanks!

[@Rasedan]

Crucial tips and an entertaining video as always.

[@sportherz]

Simply the best videos out there, you are amazing..... would be nice to explain some differences e.g. for those MT7's :-)

[@formerlychucks3402]

Keeping the hose submerged in fluid keeps air from getting sucked back in.

[@bikeandplay]

Is it works with magura mt5 calipers too (i think yes)? I have mt5 with shimano slx levers.

[@Adam-vm8kp]

There’s no bleed nipple on the magura calipers, has a threaded adaptor for a syringe.

[@bikeandplay]

@@Adam-vm8kp oh shit. :D i

[@Adam-vm8kp]

Magura sell a bleed kit with everything you need fairly cheap

[@bikeandplay]

@@Adam-vm8kp thanks the information. ;)

[@GokkunGuru]

Steve killed it. I love his style.

[@TheLostCo]

Steve is the man. Nuff said. -Mike

[@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?

[@TheLostCo]

Great question! There shouldn't be any issue with using the Maxima Mineral Brake Oil on the Shimano brakes but we recommend flushing out all of the existing fluid and just having one mineral oil in there at a time. But it can be super tricky to get all of the oil out of the caliper and then get a perfect bleed on it so sticking with the shimano mineral oil is definitely still your best bet! -Tor

[@jackiegammon2065]

Ironically, we were bleeding brakes in the same format over 20 years ago, although without some of the bleed cups etc..

[@andrewsiasparks]

I also use rolling papers when there's a void in my life. Oh, you said a role of paper 😂

[@TheLostCo]

Hahahaha like I showed on the screen, interpret that awkward statement however you'd like. -Mike

[@RockMumbles]

Nice tutorial!

[@TheLostCo]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@MichaelRei99]

Man what did that kid do to his arm? That cast has been on him for a while!! I like watching the tutorials.

[@TheLostCo]

I think it was a a fractured scaphoid? This video was filmed a few weeks ago and luckily has their cast off now and has been starting to ride again! -Mike

[@tristanwwsd]

The Burn, Loot ,Murder crew got hold of him for not wearing their gear.

[@DailyMTBRider]

Alex is a wizard.... insert harry potter quote here - ( )

[@Eddie141-BMW]

Perfectly timed upload, as i start this week my winter project aka: complete bike overhaul. I cant wait to try this method cause it looks promising! Thank you for the detailed explanation🙂 p.s: loved the hidden dirty joke with the towel 😁

[@mariopejovic]

great video, but I got two questions. first, if we don't use bleed blocks and pistons are little out, won't we overfill the system? so when we put fresh brake pads, they will rub on rotors all the time? happened to me when in one shop dude did brake blead with my wheel in, and pads were bit worn out. later it was impossible to put new pads without rubbing so I had to open bleed port on lever side and push the pistons back flush, so new brake pads fitted correctly. second question, how come lever and bleeding cup aren't perpendicular to the floor? from this view (might be camera angle) it leaves possibility for some air to stay trapped into the lever.

[@tomasstraka5244]

eventually they will push the pistons back before closing the lever end for sure, and the bleed port on lever side was the highest point of the system so no bubbles there

[@jdssurf]

Hey i got 8100s Im in a position where if the brakes are close to my grip, and i one finger brake, it smushes my other finger. I got the lever throw all the way out. Do I need more oil in the line or something? otherwise I had to scoot the brakes further away from the grip, but that also puts my shifters kinda far away. What am I missing. If I just 2 finger brake then Im fine but what the heck thanks?

[@lazyac_]

Not using blocks to make sure to not put in too much fuild?

[@JJ_MTB_15]

Fricken great video. I will be doing this shortly.

[@TheLostCo]

Thanks! Glad you liked it, and best of luck on the brake refresh! -Mike

[@omtb11]

What camera gear are you guys using?

[@TheLostCo]

For this video and most, a Panasonic Lumix GH5 with a 12-35 f/2.8 lens and pretty much all Røde audio, both camera mounted and wireless mics.

[@omtb11]

@@TheLostCo Sweet, thank you!

[@patrikkovacs3216]

Hey guys! Any recommendations on bleeding Formula Cura 4s? Love them, but I'd like to do a bleed soon and get all the performance available:)

[@MrPeeceecee]

TRP Evo brake bleed tutorial pls!

[@patrickhubner2678]

Best tutorial!

[@jubalvw3302]

Pro tip: for SRAM brakes you can get a "cup" by simply removing the plunger in the syringe. Remember to make sure your "cup" doesn't flop over somehow. 😅

[@3CityRide]

There - I fixed it: "Pro tip: for SRAM brakes - switch to Magura or Shimano"

[@Biking_with_Akiva]

Thanks for the info 🤙🏾

[@celonetvpn]

Excellent excellent!!! Thank you!

[@Tntdruid]

This is the best guide I've seen on KZbin, thanks for great guide. 👍

[@ΣΤΑΥΡΟΣΓΚΕΡΛΕΣ]

why not put a syringe and a hose to the caliber and suck from the syringe down to the caliper?

[@bdubs1967]

Can you gravity bleed TRP brakes?

[@bdubs1967]

never mind....saw it at 13:30.

[@kleinkurti]

aint nobody got time for this :D But yes, this might be the cleanest way to bleed

[@scotsemmens596]

What kind of stickers are on that rear triangle?

[@TheLostCo]

That's all stock graphics and paint! Pretty cool!

[@joncrunk598]

Thanks!

[@fullpullmtb]

What diameter tube are you using?

[@fetB]

why not use Isopropyl to flush. With all that new oil pushing, you mix it with the old

[@yoondaman316]

Why no bleed block?

[@Stomperproductions]

No bleed block?

[@zigzachmtb2821]

Gravity bleed 💯

[@TheLostCo]

Gravity is your friend! -Mike

[@zigzachmtb2821]

@@TheLostCo 🤣🤙🏼

[@nickireed796]

Ace vid! Great explanation of what’s happening. You can never know too much when it comes to bleeding brakes!

[@TheLostCo]

Knowledge is power, and we want MO POWAAA!! -Tor

[@86309]

sweet!

[@aaronburela432]

I'm a gravity bleed guy easiest way for Shimano and trp

[@nikkeijin-man7025]

The ideas and explanations make sense. Yeah, it's dirty down below since calipers come in contact with rotors. Dirt and other chemicals sip through the pistons time and time. As for me, It's better to begin the process from the top going down rather than from the caliper going upwards, as w/c could allow microscopic dirt to reach the top. I see my old man do this when bleeding his car brakes, but haven't tried it yet on an mtb. Thanks man!

[@TheLostCo]

Thanks for the comment!!

[@klstrucker930419]

9:53 that's what happened to me. How to avoid it?

[@Nihonjindesuka1]

8:47 didn't u listen what he said? Its the cleaning process, not the air removing process 😂

[@Tomzzzzzz]

I've had the least success with rear brake bleeds, so I'm glad this video focused on that specifically. I am going to try this method on my next bleed. This video from Syndicate mechanic "Marshy" is also very good and uses a similar gravity bleed technique: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ppq6c4l6nZajiqc

[@TheLostCo]

The long hoses on the rear brakes definitely make things more finicky! Marshy and Alex are two of the best in the biz, great minds think alike! -Tor

[@su1raM]

Till this video I was using syringe, from now on only gravity

[@suggoz]

The "best"

[@britny_f_7086]

Alex is the best

[@beetrooot1137]

Air gap in it

[@JaredHoff]

Video should be titled “CRAZY Shimano Brake Bleed Tutorial” because he looks crazy in that thumbnail 😂 But seriously, always love the videos guys. I need to get up there and visit you guys sometime.

[@alabaster4263]

Make a sram one now

[@kimaschenbrenner7483]

Who would be daft enough to wear a blm t shirt

[@ddtddt2165]

Stopped watching when I noticed the BLM T-shirt.....

[@lukecico5155]

I now have 2 bikes with shimano hydraulic disc brakes. I f’ing hate them. Bleeding brakes sucks.

[@jupsuu806]

Try magura. Then you love shimano.

[@Hard_Work_Is_Rewarding]

Or... You can just stick to manufacturer's instructions. For some reason there is an obsession with bleed tutorials on youtube. As everything seems to work, everybody and his dog are giving their advice.

[@sebastiengiovannelli8556]

if you have time you can do hope style aka moto style , gravity , let the oil flow through the hose if you are in a hurry because your wife ask you to came for diner you can do the 2 syringes method and push pull and catch the bubbles , trickstuff style