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any one got a cheaper alternative to the official SRAM pro kit? the syringes look like they would be amazing to use compared to the cheap kits from epic bleed solutions etc
ive bought a few cheaper ones, but alas the syringes and hoses always leak/fail and just recently after bleeding my brakes oil went everywhere for the last time!
so is there any one else out there that makes a kit similar to the SRAM pro kit with similar syringes to that, but for less than the 70 odd quid sram want?
would need the bleeding edge tool too
the syringes look like they would be amazing to use
They are.. no stiction like the other kits and much nicer to use ergonomically. Keep an eye on eBay - I picked mine up for £30.
i've been trying and trying to get one for ages , never seem to get lucky nor with covid have i seen them semi cheap or even in stock
good news on the syringe, i reckon with them i could get a near perfect bleed, but always the pesky connections on the cheap ones fail at some point
Funily enough I had the same thought - just ordered 2 of these yesterday
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/402943960108
There are a few kits on eBay (shipping from China) which have similar looking syringes which might be worth a punt.. just depends on how careful they've been in picking seals that are OK with DOT fluid.
Thing is, most syringes aren't designed for dot fluid so even a nice one isn't guaranteed to last. And a 10 pack of luer lock syringes is very cheap, to replace the ones that come with the epic kit when/if they go off.
I have this kit off eBay the Professional version (may have bought it from another seller) used it loads works great, but don't clean syringe with brake cleaner seems to knacker them, fortunately they sell the Pro syringe separately too. Came with bleeding edge tool and works on road brakes too.
The Pro kit does indeed have very nice syringes - I got mine free with a set of brakes I bought that someone hated / didn’t think were powerful enough (Guide R).
The tubing itself has perished now though so need to pick some more of that up before the next bleed with it.
The epic bleed kit I had before did the job but it just wasn’t as nice. I’ve got an epic kit for bleeding Shimano and they feel like toy syringes in comparison - and the lack of bleeding edge style connections on Shimano is annoying.
I bought one of those cheapish eBay kits to do my Shimano road brakes, the syringes are much better than the ones you get in the Epic kits which always seem to weep at the joints.
fooman
Free Member
I have this kit off eBay the Professional version (may have bought it from another seller) used it loads works great, but don’t clean syringe with brake cleaner seems to knacker them, fortunately they sell the Pro syringe separately too. Came with bleeding edge tool and works on road brakes too.
perfect fooman - exactly what i was after! ill get one ordered, does the pro kit include the bleeding edge tool? if im reading it correct it does - looks spot on and is about the same price as the epic ones, but with nicer syringes
the tubing has mostly all perished on mine too and they always weep at the connections like above - meaning you can really never likely get a perfect bleed!
Funily enough I had the same thought – just ordered 2 of these yesterday
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/402943960108
/blockquote>I tried one of those syringes.
The dot 5.1 fluid dissolved the plunger and filled the fluid with white stringy guck☹
No issues here with the Epic sets for SRAM or Shimano.
Its a blooming syringe, pumps fluid into where needed. Works.
Just take the air out as per instructions. Doddle.
Thread resurrection!
Came here with the same question after trying and failing to bleed my SRAM Guides with my old Epic kit. The syringes are leaking past the piston head so I can't de-gas the fluid properly, and the tubing has softened around some of the joints and leaks so I can't pressurise it properly.
The SRAM Pro kit you see in YouTube videos looks so much nicer to use. The syringes look much more ergonomic and probably more robust. The bleeding edge adapter looks better too - the Epic one doesn't click in and falls out if you're not careful.
Are the eBay kits from China worthwhile, or as Northwind suggested, are you better accepting they're consumable and buying syringes and tubing in bulk? Can only see one seller for the pro-style kit on eBay, and the bleeding edge adapter is included, but they don't show it in the pictures, so wondering whether that's any better than the Epic one too. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/294319599200
I've got some Rock Shox syringes - I think from various Reverb replacements...anyway, they work well and I bought the bleeding edge adapter from Epic Bleed kit and that also works.
Just bled my brakes at the weekend...I've no idea how but so much air in the system - at lever and caliper and then once getting the fluid between each syringe, a load of air back out the caliper end. It works well and there doesn't seem to be a need for much force/effort on the plungers.
Brakes feel nice and solid now...still far too much lever throw but for the solid feel I'll put up with the lever pull.
I've got the non-pro SRAM kit, syringes aren't quite as nice and have a bit of stiction, but still going strong after 6 years.
Ah! Now you mention it, I've got a Reverb bleed kit that I keep meaning to find a home for since I haven't had a Reverb for years, and hopefully will never own one again. It hadn't even occured to me that they might be the same thread. Not sure how they'll cope with DOT fluid - is Reverb fluid mineral oil?
Does the bleeding edge adapter in your Epic kit click into the caliper port and stay in?
Epic kit click into the caliper port and stay in?
Mine does
£50 at CRC
SRAM Pro Disc Brake Bleed Kit | Chain Reaction https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/p/sram-pro-disc-brake-bleed-kit
Cheers Phil. Wonder if mine is faulty. Yeah, saw the proper SRAM one is a decent price at CRC compared to other places... still seems a lot of money for a bleed kit though!
still seems a lot of money for a bleed kit though!
It is but I get frustrated with my syringes every time I use them so thought I'd give this a go. I'm in a bit of a tool buying spree at the moment 🙂
Yeah, after squirting DOT fluid over the garage this morning, I thought, that's it I'm buying the proper kit, whatever the cost. Then went and looked at the cost after I'd calmed down, and the Yorkshireman kicked back in and went, how much?!
I bought a SRAM kit from Total Bleed Solutions, with the Bleeding Edge adapter. It worked well on a bike I serviced with Code R's last month. The Bleeding Edge adapter was a good fit into the bleed port on the calipers, and the kit did the job well.
The only negative was when I cleaned the bits up, the lengths of hose are no longer transparent and turned cloudy/milky. I'm assuming the DOT fluid reacted with hot soapy water.
I'm looking for replacement hose, and will post on here if I have any success. If anyone else has found some, let me know. Cheers.
Reverb is Dot fluid as well as far as I know...
£50 for a kit they've had knocking around since before Sram owned Avid??! Some people are mental 😆
Am I missing something on that bleed kit from CRC? It doesn't seem to have the bleeding edge adapter...or has that been updated to integrate into a standard end for a bleed hose?
It does say it comes with Bleeding Edge Fitting, but I can't see it as edge hose appears to have threads at the end...the bleeding edge piece doesn't need that...
Am I missing something on that bleed kit from CRC? It doesn’t seem to have the bleeding edge adapter…or has that been updated to integrate into a standard end for a bleed hose?
It does say it comes with Bleeding Edge Fitting, but I can’t see it as edge hose appears to have threads at the end…the bleeding edge piece doesn’t need that…
I think it's just an old picture. There's a question answered at the bottom which confirms it comes with the B/E tool.
I have used the Epic Bleed kits for many years and had no issues. I have one set for mineral oil and another for DOT4/5.1. As long as I clean them after every use, I have never had any issues with dissolving syringe seals or yellowing tubing.
I've bought the pro kit that northwind linked to above, seems ok, but don't clean with solvents just dry out the syringes with paper towels and they last well enough. I'd buy the SRAM version if it was a bit more but it's nearly twice the price still.
Perhaps that's where I've gone wrong - I generally spray everything with brake cleaner and then wipe out with paper towel (hoses and all), and then blow through with compressed air.
I've got another Epic kit for the Shimano brakes on my other bikes, and that's fine.
Has anyone found a UK source for the better syringes? Either on their own or as part of a kit. But not the SRAM ones. I'm surprised Epic haven't caught on.
Amazon has any number of kits available for SRAM That look like they have decent quality parts;
CYCOBYCO DOT Oil Disc Brake Bleed Kit Bike Bicycle tool for AVID
Some people are mental 😆
It comes with all the bits you need, plus seals and connectors if you're cutting hoses, and brake blocks. the syringes will last for ever and have multiple bikes with SRAM brakes; it makes a job that's at best dull and a bit tricky just easier and better with the right tools.
I have the epic kit and have recently swapped out the degradable parts for new. After only one bleed, I'm struggling to degas the fluid. I always wash the kit with mild soapy water and thoroughly dry it. The last kit lasted 4 years before needing to be replaced.