Bleeding front brake....ARGH! (Newbie)
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Novice
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 19
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From: Minneapolis
Bleeding front brake....ARGH! (Newbie)
I decided to try bleeding my front brakes for the first time ever. Just wanted to get some beautiful new clean fluid in there and install my new chrome braided line.
I pulled off the banjo bolts, and reinstalled all the same hardware with the new hose. I refilled the reservoir, connected the tubing on the caliper and started the pumping, bleeding, pumping, bleeding process to remove air bubbles.
After countless cycles, I can open the bleeder and no bubbles appear, but I have no pressure on the lever and the pistons don't move.
What am I missing?
I pulled off the banjo bolts, and reinstalled all the same hardware with the new hose. I refilled the reservoir, connected the tubing on the caliper and started the pumping, bleeding, pumping, bleeding process to remove air bubbles.
After countless cycles, I can open the bleeder and no bubbles appear, but I have no pressure on the lever and the pistons don't move.
What am I missing?
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 170
Likes: 1
From: SL,UT
I know when I swapped calipers and brake lines my bleed valve was at the top of my caliper. I had to re,pmove the caliper and put the valve upside down to bleed.
Fixed my issue but I also used a hand pump brake bleeder
Fixed my issue but I also used a hand pump brake bleeder
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 284
Likes: 3
From: Massachusetts
After you get all the air out of the bleeder, pump the brake a few times to get any air out of the top. Then put the reservoir cover back on. Once it's back on it might take a million and a half pumps to get pressure built up. At least it did for me anyways. I too thought I was doing something wrong but I knew for a fact that there was no air left on there. Like I said, once I put everything back together and tightened, it still took a good 15 to 20 pumps on the lever to build the pressure back up.
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 242
Likes: 0
From: Culpeper, VA
After upgrading a front brake line on one of my other bikes I tried everything. I spent money on the little hand-held vacuum pump bleeder, everything. This was a dual caliper bike and I'd just introduced too much air. I could squeeze that damn lever until the end of time and it wouldn't accomplish anything. It was killing me. But I refused to admit defeat and finally found the miracle of reverse bleeding. Any time normal bleeding starts being a pain in the *** I break out my mega syringe thing and BAM, it's done.
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 232
Likes: 9
From: NE Florida
After upgrading a front brake line on one of my other bikes I tried everything. I spent money on the little hand-held vacuum pump bleeder, everything. This was a dual caliper bike and I'd just introduced too much air. I could squeeze that damn lever until the end of time and it wouldn't accomplish anything. It was killing me. But I refused to admit defeat and finally found the miracle of reverse bleeding. Any time normal bleeding starts being a pain in the *** I break out my mega syringe thing and BAM, it's done.
How to reverse bleed a braking system - YouTube
How to reverse bleed a braking system - YouTube
That's how I did,took 5 minutes.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 321
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From: CA
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Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 242
Likes: 0
From: Culpeper, VA
Hmm, never had a bike with ABS so I have no idea but I'd google the hell outta that before trying it with ABS. That's expensive stuff to have to replace (or tear apart)....
