Shimano lever bleed technique

noapathy · Dec 27, 2022

OneTrustMan said:
I just ditched shimano oil with fork oil 2 years ago and don't need to bleed them occasionally anymore, nor getting the wbp.

And with the reverse 2 syringe bleed, Sram brakes can feel as digital as Saints.

So no biggy there too.

Yeah, just no.

DMFT · Dec 27, 2022

-There's a great video on YouTube of Greg Minaar & his Mechanic doing to SH Burp dealeo. Shows him cleverly putting the Downtube on top of the clamp on the work stand (No need to clamp it down!) and it levels the brake levers perfectly (for most!)

Sparticus · Dec 27, 2022

DMFT said:
... putting the Downtube on top of the clamp on the work stand (No need to clamp it down!) ...

Trying to picture this... can't.

=sParty

hoolie · Dec 27, 2022

Sparticus said:
Trying to picture this... can't.
=sParty

Try sitting down, so your eyes are where mine are, I’m 5’6” (IF I’ve slept a full 8), then visualize it. I can‘t take a crap without using a ladder.

EatsDirt · Dec 28, 2022

Sparticus said:
Trying to picture this... can't.
=sParty

I think maybe he's talking about hooking the downtube/headtube junction (right behind the fork) on the workstand arm/clamp.

DMFT · Dec 28, 2022

Sparticus said:
Trying to picture this... can't.
=sParty

YouTube "Shimano Brake Burp" and scroll to "On the Spanners with Greg Minaar & Jason Marsh".
Crack a beer & enjoy.

-I'd link the vid but this Chromebook is being a piece of garbage & not cooperating....

MTK · Dec 28, 2022

TylerVernon said:
Ah, I see you're following my method.

I also do this: open the brake port and let the fluid drip out to clear contamination. Then I attach two syringes (rubber band to seat stay or fork) and blast fluid up from the caliper as fast as I can. This flushes any bubbles. My shimano brakes feel perfect - same firmness, same travel front and rear.

Nice Brother,just thought I would share. I too love Shimano Brakes and can not understand all the people having problems? Save for XTR’s seal problem years back,they have been Solid for me. Most seem to want a lot of lever throw. IE,they want the Lever tobe able to come way in on the Fingers and Then have Constant Full Power. They are not having Luck with doing so. Mabye I’m wrong.

Jayem · Dec 28, 2022

tootalltim said:
If I remember rightly, using Putoline HPX fork oil stops the wandering bite point problem

No, it does not.

Jayem · Dec 28, 2022

slimat99 said:
I've never found a lever bleed or full bleed to be a long term solution for WBP. Some say it's a viscosity thing, not a bleed thing, but I really don't know enough to talk about that. I know there's a fluid on the market that claims to remedy the issue for good. Bleed.com maybe? Maybe it's just rebranded O weight suspension fluid which some say takes care of it.

Yep. Bled with HPX 2.5. Still does it. Maybe a little less, but not less enough to say it's not a problem.

It's not a bleed problem. Air is compressible and easily detected. The WBP is a firm lever. It's not air.

Reaperactual · Dec 28, 2022

Also been using Putoline in my brakes for a year now. I guess wandering bite point issue improved a little or I've got used to it and don't notice anymore.

Tried everything I could think of to sort out rear bite point issue and no alternative bleed method or anything else I tried made any difference.

Brad Pitted · Dec 28, 2022

Some good thoughts here but I’m still baffled every time I crack the bleed port on the lever of my xt8000s and see dead space in there. Where has the fluid gone?

OneTrustMan · Dec 28, 2022

Reaperactual said:
Also been using Putoline in my brakes for a year now. I guess wandering bite point issue improved a little or I've got used to it and don't notice anymore.

Tried everything I could think of to sort out rear bite point issue and no alternative bleed method or anything else I tried made any difference.

Try to just install a brand new brake hose.
As weird as it sounds, some people tried to just change the levers, or calipers, or both. And the problem was still there.
But after getting a new hose the new components suddenly worked without any issues.
It just a guess, but maybe there is something wrong with your hose, or the cable gets clamped to strongly along the frame in some spot.

Reaperactual · Dec 28, 2022

OneTrustMan said:
Try to just install a brand new brake hose.
As weird as it sounds, some people tried to just change the levers, or calipers, or both. And the problem was still there.
But after getting a new hose the new components suddenly worked without any issues.
It just a guess, but maybe there is something wrong with your hose, or the cable gets clamped to strongly along the frame in some spot.

Still using the same original levers, only ever had a bite point issue on the rear. Front and rear have both had new two pot calipers fitted and now both have four pot calipers fitted.

I considered what you mentioned a long while ago about the hose being clamped too tight (with cable ties) but went from external to an internally routed frame. At the same time the rear had a brand new hose fitted coz the old one was too short.😔

bmwpowere36m3 · Dec 28, 2022

Brad Pitted said:
Some good thoughts here but I’m still baffled every time I crack the bleed port on the lever of my xt8000s and see dead space in there. Where has the fluid gone?

As the pads wear, the pistons need to extend further out from the caliper. In effect, the volume of the system increases and the fluid in the master cylinder drops.

In brake systems of cars, motorcycles, etc… the brake master cylinder reservoir is much larger. However you can still see the level drop in the reservoir as the pads wear.

Reaperactual · Dec 28, 2022

Brad Pitted said:
Some good thoughts here but I’m still baffled every time I crack the bleed port on the lever of my xt8000s and see dead space in there. Where has the fluid gone?

My guess would be after bleeding with a bleed block, fitting new pads or whatever a little more oil instantly goes into the system during the few lever pumps that brings in the pads to the normal clearance gap to the rotors.

paul c · Dec 28, 2022

That is a good way to bleed since that is now the absolute highest point and there shouldn’t be any air getting trapped in a dip or bend in the rear line.

BackWoodsHick · Dec 29, 2022

Brad Pitted said:
Where has the fluid gone?

Overflow bladder.

Sparticus · Dec 29, 2022

BackWoodsHick said:
Overflow bladder.

Do I have one of those?
=sParty

ocnLogan · Dec 29, 2022

I was going to say something more relevant, but I got distracted by your brake lever angle. They’ve got to be like a 70 degree angle or something.

Ive run my brake levers not even near as perpendicular to the ground as yours (maybe 50 degrees?), and it was still way too pointed down to me. I find that once I’m going down any sort of steep section, the brake levers are either pointed straight down, or even back towards me. And doing that gave me thumb pain, as I was effectively just hanging on by my thumbs when on anything steep.

So now they are flatter(maybe 30 degrees, no idea, never measured), and I use my palms on the grips more like a push-up while descending.

Sparticus · Dec 29, 2022

Yeah, since I'm standing whenever I'm descending plus I'm tall plus +3" ape index plus long fingers, I like 'em like that.

=sParty

Shimano lever bleed technique

noapathy

DMFT

Sparticus

hoolie

EatsDirt

DMFT

MTK

Jayem

Jayem

Reaperactual

Brad Pitted

OneTrustMan

Reaperactual

bmwpowere36m3

Reaperactual

paul c

BackWoodsHick

Sparticus

ocnLogan

Sparticus

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