Can A Complete Beginner Bleed Their Own Brakes?, by GMBN Tech on YouTube. 21 min 53 s.
- Video length
- 21 min 53 s
- Time to do it
- 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Squeeze the lever. If it pulls close to the bar or feels spongy rather than firm, air is probably trapped in the system and a bleed will help.
Buy a bleed kit made for your brake brand. SRAM brakes need their own adapters and fluid, so a generic kit may not seal or fit.
Put the bike in a work stand so the lever sits level. Remove the wheel, slide out the brake pads and fit a bleed block where the pads were.
Fill one syringe with fresh fluid and fit it to the lever port. Fill a second syringe part way for the caliper end and hang it upright.
Push fluid from the caliper syringe up towards the lever, flicking the hose and caliper to free bubbles. Draw it back down and repeat until no bubbles appear.
Close the lever port first, then the caliper port, and squeeze the lever a few times to check it feels firm before you go further.
Wipe away spilled fluid with isopropyl alcohol, refit the pads and wheel, then pump the lever until the pads sit close to the rotor.
Spin the wheel and test the brake at walking pace, then bed the pads in with a few firm stops somewhere safe before proper riding.
Tips and common mistakes
Wear gloves and glasses, because DOT fluid damages paint and skin, and keep every drop off the pads and rotors.
Never squeeze the lever with the pads out and no bleed block fitted, or the pistons can push out of the caliper.
Tap the caliper and hose with a screwdriver handle while pushing fluid so trapped air rises to the top.
Use fluid from a fresh sealed bottle, since old fluid absorbs moisture and gives a soft lever again quickly.
Questions
Can I use the same bleed kit on SRAM and Shimano brakes?
No. The ports, adapters and fluid differ, and Shimano brakes use mineral oil while most SRAM brakes use DOT fluid. Buy a kit that matches your brake model.
Can I bleed the brakes with the pads still fitted?
It is not worth the risk, because spilled fluid soaks into the pads and ruins them. Remove the pads and fit a bleed block instead.
How often should I bleed my brakes?
Bleed when the lever goes spongy or the braking feels inconsistent, and about once a year for regular riders. Store the bike clean and check the lever before each ride.
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.
