How To Bleed Mountain Bike Brakes Without Kit

Bleeding mountain bike brakes without kit is not an easy task. It requires a lot of time and effort to do it manually. But with the help of a few tools, the process becomes much easier.

You will need a bucket, some brake fluid, brake pads, and a pump. Put the pads on your hand and place them over the brake lever. Now place your other hand on top of the pads and push down on them with all your strength for about 30 seconds. This will create enough pressure in order for you to pour brake fluid into the reservoir through the bleed nipple without spilling any of it on your bike frame or wheels.

Can you bleed MTB brakes without a kit?

Fortunately, you can actually get a pretty decent bleed on Shimano disc brakes without using the bleed kit. The bleed port on this lever is the little black screw right in the middle. Start by removing the caliper from the bike and letting it dangle as low as possible to help the air bubbles make it up to the lever.^[1]

How do you get air out of brakes without bleeding MTB?

Start your car’s engine and press on each brake pedal 20 times to push any excess air out of the system (it will take less effort than before because there is no more air in the lines).^[2]

Can you bleed your brakes without using bleeder?

Most definitely, you can bleed the brakes of your vehicle from the brake line. You have to detach the brake line fixed to the brake caliper. After that, put the end of the brake line inside a can containing brake fluid. Then then you get an assistant to help you apply pressure on the brake pedals of your vehicle.^[3]

How often should you bleed MTB brakes?

As a general rule the more you ride your MTB the more often you need to bleed the brakes. If you are an experienced rider that rides a lot, you would need to bleed your brakes once every 6 months. For medium-level riders, once a year would be enough, and for casual riders once every 2 years would be recommended.^[4]

How long does it take to bleed MTB brakes?

It takes about 5 minutes. You can find videos of this procedure on Youtube or some other MTB sites. Parts needed: Funnel and brake fluid. 1) Adjust brake lever so the bleed screw hole is somewhat level.^[5]

What happens if you don’t bleed your brakes?

What happens when air gets into the brake lines and if you don’t bleed the brake system? You won’t have responsive brakes. You will experience these issues: Spongy brakes.^[6]

Will air work itself out of brake lines?

It won’t get better on its own, and it could get worse – eventually, a bunch of small air bubbles in the line will join together to become one big, dangerous bubble. So your brakes won’t have their normal pressure – and they could fail entirely, McGraw says.^[7]

What is the easiest way to bleed brakes?

Gravity is the simplest one-person brake bleeding method. Attach the hose to the bleed screw, open it up, and watch old brake fluid and air flow out of the lines like water through the Aqua Virgo aqueduct on the way to Rome. These inexpensive Bleed-O-Matic type setups work well.^[8]

Why are my brakes still spongy after bleeding?

Another condition leading to air in brake lines after bleeding is a leak in the hydraulic system. Since it works under pressure all the time, just a tiny leak can add up and cause a large amount of spongy air to affect your car’s performance.^[9]

What happens if you have air in your brake lines?

Air is the enemy in a hydraulic system because it reduces pressure and essentially makes the process less effective. When air gets into the brake lines, your brake system suffers. Symptoms that can indicate you have air in your brake lines include the following: Brake pedal feels spongy when you press down.^[10]

Should bikes be stored upside down?

Shimano even recommends against turning the bicycle upside down. In a manual for its hydraulic disc brakes it says: “The disc brake is not designed to work when the bicycle is upside down. If the bicycle is turned upside down or on its side, the brake may not work correctly, and a serious accident could occur.^[11]

Is it hard to bleed bike brakes?

Bleeding mountain bike brakes is a relatively simple process if you use the proper tools and manufacturer’s directions. Every brand uses a slightly different procedure, but the idea is the same: over time, air bubbles get trapped in hydraulic fluid, and by bleeding the brakes purges all those bubbles out.^[12]