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Hi guys
I've been having issues bleeding my XT brakes to a point where they feel anywhere near as good as they did when i got them.
I'm following the destructions and when the bleed block is in the caliper the lever feel is great. - very firm and positive. The problem arises when I remove the bleed block and refit the pads - the lever feel goes very soft and pulls pretty much to the bar - the free stroke adjuster doesn't really seem to do much either.
Anyine else experiencing this or have any suggestions.
Thanks
That might be a problem. I find instructions are far more useful and don't result in a destroyed component. 😉I'm following the destructions
Have you tried the old "cable tie your brake levers to the bars overnight trick"?
I had some hard to bleed SLX brakes and doing this with the bike vertical in the work stand worked a treat. I also tapped the caliper every now and then with a screwdriver to encourage the air up the hose.
Take the wheels off and pump the brakes a little to move the pad starting position closer to the disc, this shortens the lever throw and MAY solve your problem.
Get them as solid as possible with the block in, then stick the wheels back in. Level the lever, open the reservoir and pump the lever. The oil level will probably drop. Keep adding a couple of drops and pumping it in until the lever is solid. At this point you can leave it zipped back tot he bar for a while to see if it will take any more. Add another couple of drops and close the reservoir. I have had a variety of Shimano brakes, the most hassle-free approach is to top up the fluid as soon as they feel a bit spongy.
Did my 2012 XT's a week or so ago for the first time, it was quite a new process for me coming from Hope, but got it sorted.
Did you get the new Shimano bleed kit bits, the yellow funnel? apart from that its just a syringe and tube, so its unlikely you've gone really wrong anywhere.
It did strike me that the process was quite fiddly, lots of little parts of the procedure which seemed a little fussy to me at first (tapping the caliper, adding fluid from the bottom of the system at the caliper, then from the top etc), but i did all the little bits in the instructions exactly and it worked fine. Try again from the start, if you haver enough fluid?
ChopChop
Worked a treat!!!!
Good stuff 🙂
I have the same brakes and eventually got them bled properly using the instructions but I´m switching to goodridge since I need a longer hose anyway.
It does all seem a bit fussy though.
Your telling me - its a right lot of meesing about. Especially squeezing the lever whilst simultaneously opening and closing the bleed nipple. Anyway - i did what chopchop suggested and both brakes are rock solid now. Might be worth bearing in mind for future reference.