Can anyone recommend a decent bleed kit suitable for shimano brakes? I'm new to disk brakes (always had v brakes before) and reckon the rear brakes on my new bike need bled as they feel a bit spongey and have lost their bite, so now is the time to learn I guess!

petemaz wrote:Can anyone recommend a decent bleed kit suitable for shimano brakes? I'm new to disk brakes (always had v brakes before) and reckon the rear brakes on my new bike need bled as they feel a bit spongey and have lost their bite, so now is the time to learn I guess!

Which shimano brakes.

Shimano's are dead simple, just need a 7mm spanner, some mineral oil and a bit of pipe. Keep the reservoir topped up (latest sets, 2012 onwards I think you might want a funnel adapter thing , older ones you can just take the cap off), undo bleed nipple with pipe on end at the caliper, squeeze brake, do bleed nipple back up, let go of brake lever, repeat until all air out of system.

Plenty of info on the web/in magazines/on youtube.

This: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... delID=5620
is better value for money that this: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... odelID=663

Hope that's helpful

As Zippy says, it's very easy and doesn't require a bleed kit.

If you think there might be an air bubble you can often shift it without bleeding.

1/ Remove the master cylinder cap.

2/ Pull the brake lever and cable tie it to the bars.

3/ Rest master cylinder cap back on m/c but don't refit it.

4/ Flick the brake line starting from the caliper working your way towards the m/c.

5/ Leave overnight but repeat step 4 as and when you remember.

6/ Refit m/c cap, pump lever a few times ... job done.

EDIT: just thought, I should mention that you might need to move the m/c on the bars so the top's level

If you do need to get a some tube then I would suggest going to an aquarium. You can get all sizes of tube for bugger all. :)

They're m446 brakes, just entry level (?), ones that came with the bike.

Thanks all for the advice, i'll give it a go. Cheers