Hydraulic brake bleed
A bleed replaces old fluid and clears air from your hydraulic brakes, so the lever feels firm and consistent again. We bleed Shimano and SRAM road and mountain disc brakes.
When your brakes need a bleed
- The lever feels soft or spongy, or pulls closer to the bar than it used to
- The bite point moves during a long descent
- The lever feel is different from one ride to the next
- You've had a hose cut, a caliper swap or a bar and stem change
Long descents in Orange County, like the Modjeska Grade, Park Ave in Laguna or the drop off Newport Coast, heat up brakes and show up a tired system fast.
Mineral oil vs. DOT fluid
Shimano hydraulic brakes use mineral oil; Shimano says to use only its own mineral oil and to replace it when it's discolored or performance drops (Shimano). SRAM road and most SRAM MTB brakes use DOT fluid, while some newer SRAM brakes use mineral oil; SRAM publishes service guidance by model (SRAM). The two fluids must never be mixed, which is one reason a bleed is worth doing carefully.
What we check along with the bleed
- Pad wear and contamination (oily pads usually need replacing, not cleaning)
- Rotor wear and true
- Caliper alignment, so the pads don't rub
- Lever reach and bite point, set to your hands
Prices: ask [CONFIRM].
Questions riders ask
How often should I bleed my bike's brakes?
There's no single interval. Bleed when the lever feels soft or inconsistent, when the fluid is discolored, or after hose work. Riders who descend a lot usually need it more often.
Can you bleed both Shimano and SRAM brakes?
Yes. We bleed Shimano mineral-oil and SRAM DOT and mineral-oil hydraulic disc brakes on road and mountain bikes.
My brakes squeal. Do I need a bleed?
Not necessarily. Squeal is often caused by contaminated pads, a glazed rotor or caliper alignment. We check the whole system and tell you what it actually needs.