Easy Trick For Bleeding and Flushing Brakes! 🔧, by One-Up Moto Garage on YouTube. 1 min 4 s.
- Video length
- 1 min 4 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Check the reservoir cap for the fluid your bike needs. Most use DOT 4, but some use mineral oil. Never mix the two, and only use fluid from a freshly opened bottle.
Suck the old fluid out of the master cylinder reservoir with the syringe and wipe the inside clean. Top it up with fresh fluid so it stays above the low mark.
Slide the clear hose onto the caliper bleed nipple and put the other end into your catch bottle. Fit the wrench on the nipple.
Fill the syringe with fresh fluid, hold it upright and tap out any bubbles. Connect it to the free end of the hose.
Open the bleed nipple about a quarter turn and push fluid slowly up the hose. Air travels upward with it, which is the whole point of this trick.
Watch the reservoir the whole time. When the level gets close to the top, stop pushing and close the nipple before you pull the syringe off.
Tap the caliper and the hose lightly with the wrench handle to knock loose bubbles upward. Repeat the push and top up until no bubbles appear and the lever feels firm.
Fill the reservoir to the upper line, refit the rubber diaphragm and cap, then pump the lever a few times and check for leaks around the nipple.
Tips and common mistakes
Never let the reservoir run dry, or you will pull air straight back into the system and start over.
Brake fluid strips paint and irritates skin, so wear gloves and rinse any spill with plenty of water straight away.
Keep fluid off the discs and pads, because contaminated pads will not grip and cannot be cleaned.
Test the brakes at walking speed in a safe spot before you ride normally.
Questions
Do I really need a syringe?
No. You can pump the lever, hold it, crack the nipple and close it again, repeating until the fluid runs clear. The syringe just makes it faster and pushes air the way it wants to go.
How often should I flush motorcycle brake fluid?
Most makers say every one to two years, or sooner if the fluid looks dark. Old fluid absorbs moisture, which lowers the boiling point and makes the lever feel soft.
Can I use DOT 5 in my bike?
Only if the cap says so. DOT 5 is silicone based and does not mix with DOT 3, 4 or 5.1, and it can damage seals in systems built for the other types.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
