How often do you need to bleed Shimano disc brakes?
Depending on how often and how far you ride, you will need to bleed your Shimano hydraulic disc brakes about every six months. Some telltale signs that the brakes on your bike need to be bled are that they feel squishy, or that you have to pull the lever almost all the way to the handlebars before they work.
How thick is a Shimano bleed block?
Registered. I have both the yellow Shimano bleed blocks and the red ones from Avid. They are all 10mm thick.
Can you bleed Shimano 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.
How do you add mineral oil to Shimano brakes?
Set the brake lever so that it is parallel to the ground, and then remove the reservoir tank cover. then pour oil into the reservoir tank. Gently operate the brake lever while doing this to help prime the system with the oil.
What can I use instead of Shimano mineral oil?
Alternatives for mineral brake fluid / oil (in a pinch)
- Fork cartridge oil (the lighter (more viscous) variant)
- Total / Castrol LHM Plus Fluid ( I believe it’s power steering fluid)
How much mineral oil do you need to bleed brakes?
Add mineral oil brake fluid into the syringe/funnel, enough to generously cover the bottom to ensure no air can enter the system from above. 5ml should be plenty if you’re using our bleed kit.