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A brake bleed consists of the process of removing air bubbles from a hydraulic braking system. The brake fluid level should be monitored and topped off as needed, but if you find yourself with an empty reservoir it is time to do a bleed. Brake bleeding can be done by either using a vacuum method or a pressure method. The price for this service will vary depending on the type of brakes you have in your vehicle.
Bike brake bleeding is the process of purging air from the system to bring it up to pressure. The act of pushing fluid through your brake system also cleans dirt, water, and other contaminants out.
Brake bleeding is usually done approximately every year or two depending on riding conditions, style, and how often you ride. Some riders do bleed brakes more frequently than that due to heavy braking situations (i.e. mountain biking), malfunctions (leaky seals), or just preference. If you want properly functioning brakes at all times this service should be performed regularly so if you need a refresher course here are some step-by-step instructions. You can either perform this service yourself or have a shop do it for you – both methods require purchasing a fresh supply of brake fluid.
Brake bleeding is labor-intensive and depending on your bike mechanics it may also require a special tool to push the fluid out – these can be purchased or rented from a bike shop. It should cost between $15-$45 for a shop to bleed brakes, this does not include purchasing additional supplies if needed – which will probably range from $10-$30 depending on the quantity you need.
How Much Does A Bike Brake Bleed Cost?
How Do I Know If I Have Air Inside My Brakes?
If your brake is fluid, you should be able to press the brake lever and feel resistance – you shouldn’t be able to depress it very much, if your brake is air, you will not have any resistance when pressing the lever.
How Do I Bleed My Bike Brakes?
The process is different depending on whether you are changing the brakes or simply bleeding them. The short answer for both scenarios is that if possible it’s best to do this when your bike isn’t mounted upright in a stand. When changing your brakes, place your bike in gear so it doesn’t roll away while you work.
4-Bottle Master Blaster Hydraulic Brake Bleed Kit, $46.99 – This kit includes everything needed except for fluid and a bleed adapter. The downside of this kit is that you have to provide the brake fluid yourself and it’s not specific to any one brand – however, if you’re a DIYer it provides everything you need except for fluid and a syringe.
How To Do Bike Brake Bleed?
1. Make sure you have the right adapter for your brake (threaded Presta valves)
2. If you’re changing the brakes, set your bike in gear so it doesn’t roll away while you work it on a stand if possible
3. Before bleeding take note of where the air bubbles are coming out, this will tell you which line to attach the bleeder to. Bleeding brakes are just like bleeding car brakes except for one obvious difference. If there’s only 1 spot to bleed at and 4 ports, which do you use? The trick is to find small spots that go all around the circumference of the rotor so that when pressure builds up inside it pushes fluid through all four lines at once making them flow air free.
4. Attach the correct adapter to your master cylinder and screw in a bottle of brake fluid
5. Open the bleeder valve slowly until you see air bubbles coming out in a steady stream then close it off mid-way – this is also when fluid should be going through the system back into the reservoir – too much pressure here can lead to big messes so err on the side of caution. Once you have all four lines open, pressurize them again, do this for each line giving each time for all the air to come out before continuing
6. Close off all four bleeders once there are no more bubbles coming from any of them and mount your bike upright in a stand if possible
7. Go through a couple of squeezes on the brake lever, just barely squeezing it once should be enough. Repeat this until you can squeeze with full strength and no more air bubbles come out. If there are still bubbles coming out turn the bike over, bleed some more then re-test
8. After your brakes are bled, pump a couple of times to help remove any moisture that may have been introduced into the system during bleeding – next time you go for a ride open up each bleed point and push fluid through to flush any remaining moisture at high pressure
9. Once all four bleeders are closed off completely, fill your bottle or reservoir halfway with fresh fluid and top it off
10. Test your brakes again by grabbing both levers firmly and pushing down while squeezing the brake levers a number of times, this will help work any air bubbles out. Once you have done all that your brakes should be working perfectly again – just in time for your next ride!
Brake Bleed Kit
Having a bleeding kit at home you can do brake bleed easily, normally at amazon bleeding kit is available in the price range of 16$ to 60$.
Option 1: Genuine Innovations Brake Bleed Kit, $17.95 – This is a basic bleed kit that includes everything you need except for brake fluid and one adapter. It is not specific to any manufacturer so it can be used on just about every bike on the market. The downside is that if you have Shimano brakes or another system with proprietary fittings this may not work for you. If that’s the case you’ll need to find an equivalent kit from one of the other brands we list below
Option 2: Bike Hand 4-Bottle Master Blaster Hydraulic Brake Bleed Kit, $46.99 – This kit includes everything you need to do 4 brakes and comes with a professional hand pump that can be mounted on your bike frame. It’s the most expensive of our options but it also has more than twice as much fluid as the other two kits combined (4 bottles vs 1 bottle). The Bike Hand kit is often recommended on forums and we agree based on value alone.
Accessories inside bleeding kit:
1- Syringe
2- Oil
3- Cup for a liquid checkup
Conclusion:
A brake bleed is a service that should be completed by your local bike shop. This maintenance will keep you safe when riding and help prolong the life of your brakes.
