Looking after a bleed kit

My SRAM bleed kit with Epic Bleed Bleeding Edge tool appears to finally be giving up the ghost. I think the piping may now be allowing a bit of air to sneak in (given the amount of air the syringe was sucking in last night, I’m not believing it was a lack of fluid in the system).

So after almost 2 hours to bleed my brakes (which used to be a 20 minute job), I’m buying the Sram Pro Bleed kit – the syringes look to be more substantial, the hoses and connectors look to be more substantial and I’m hoping this will make degassing the fluid and then bleeding the brakes a more consistent experience.

Anyway, I normally empty the syringes and tubing of any excess brake fluid and then just put them back in a box. I’m not thinking maybe this method of storage might be helping the tubing to start to fail. So how best to store a bleeding kit? It gets used maybe twice a year (although I suspect it might be 3 times this year if I decide to rebleed the brakes when the new system arrives) and then sits in a wee toolbox.

So, what should I be doing differently to ensure the syringes and hoses remain in perfect condition? Thanks.

I try to flush out mine with isopropyl after use – no idea if it prolongs life of the kit, but it stops the dregs of oil from creeping into the cardboard box….

I always wash the syringes, hoses and fittings in soapy water and let them dry before putting them away. I’m not actually sure if it is necessary though.

I did wash out my Stan’s syringe when I add or top-up with tyre sealant…I probably should do the same with the brake bleeding kit…good shouts, thanks.

appltnFull Member
I always wash the syringes, hoses and fittings in soapy water and let them dry before putting them away. I’m not actually sure if it is necessary though.

I didn’t wash out a new set recently (used with DOT5.1) and the hoses have gone cloudy. I’d stick with your approach

I have the Pro kit and it’s much nicer to use than the normal kit or the TBS one I had – the syringes are more ergonomic and have minimal stiction.

I’ve never cleaned them afterwards and had no issues. Any excess gets “tapped out / off” onto kitchen towel and then they’re put away in a container lined with kitchen towel.

So, what should I be doing differently to ensure the syringes and hoses remain in perfect condition? Thanks.

Ditch the SRAM and use Shimano? 😉

The wandering bite point and leaky pistons mean that won’t be happening…however, that would mean I’d never have to bleed them as I’d be replacing them instead… 😉

Apart from the cleaning, which I do with both types of fluid, a top tip – never store your syringe with the piston pressed fully down. Just leave it raised a bit and then when you come to use it and it’s dry or stuck you can press down and it frees without damaging the piston seal.

Trying to work out how old my pro-bleed kit is and realising it’s probably 10 year (given it was pre-bleeding edge) so it’s lasted pretty well.  One of the syringes is leaking past the seal now. the tubes are very stiff and cloudy.  My ‘epic bleed’ bleeding edge syringe sprayed fluid everywhere when I tried to use it yesterday (and the bleeding edge tool is hard to get a grip on) and realised just how much better the pro kit stuff is.

I’ve never cleaned it but I think thats the answer for the replacement. It’s a shame you can’t buy new syringes and tubes (or even just the seal in the syringe) as I have no need for another complete set of brake blocks.

The kit images now show a load of washers – if I’ve got them I didn’t label them, and the tubes definitely need replacing too.  New kit time I think

(Looks like you can buy a set of replacement washers – https://activesport.co/SRAM-SPARE-DISC-BRAKE-SERVICE-LEVER-O-RING-KIT-PRO-BLEED-SYRINGE-INCLUDES-FITTING-O-RING2-COUP“

You can buy a bleeding edge syringe but it is about 24 quid.

I was concerned with the amount of air I got out of both brakes…masses of air. Absolutely no idea how it got in, but the pro bleed syringes don’t degass as easily as the previous kit – almost no bubbles at all.

Once connected, I flushed the line then locked the lever syringe closed and bled the caliper – loads of air out of that…not just wee bubbles but the whole length of tubing of air – took about 6 pulls to get it all out (which is wee push then a quick pull to get a huge chunk of air sucked out). I then closed the bleeding edge and unlocked the lever and did the same there, again a good few pulls and masses of air out, flicking the brake lever got more out as well.

Brakes feel nice and consistent and I’ve left some fluid in syringe and tube as the SRAM manual for the bleed kit suggests leaving fluid in to stop any clouding.

Seems a better bleed, but I was a bit concerned with the amount of air in there, however, seems to allow be gone and the syringes and tubes are still clear (after 3 days!).

as the SRAM manual for the bleed kit suggests leaving fluid in to stop any clouding.

Does it now. Interesting. I assume you need to discard it before the next bleed?

I will be as it won’t be fresh!

Ive read the manual now too. Says to discard- although I have had my kit for about a year and used a few times – I rinse out with fresh water and then flush with IPA. No cloudiness thus far but they are difficult to dry completely so maybe leaving fluid in is a better option. Possibility of mess during storage is quite high though I suspect…

https://www.sram.com/globalassets/document-hierarchy/bleed-manuals/sram/dot-fluid-mtb-disc-brake-hose-shortening-and-bleed-manual.pdf

Page 69 of this manual says to store it filled…unless I’m reading it incorrectly. Or have the wrong manual!

Yes leave filled and then discard before next use.

I got some clear tubing the same size and replace it from time to time- ime the syringes and the actual fittings last pretty much indefinitely but the tubes get loose over time. The wee orings can sometimes tear on the sram/formula style kits, this can happen with the pro kit too, just a “feature”- as you tighten the connector on the oring is kind of brutally twisted between the turning of the connector and the fixed surface of the brake.

One trick is, always retract the syringes a little bit rather than leaving them fully plunged in- they can get very sticky when left, and if you can only pull them “out” that can pull the rubber head off. But if you can push them “in” that’ll not happen.

(I’ve mentioned this before but Epic Bleed Solutions is a small UK business, a nice guy, and I’m pretty sure he’s on here but just never mentions the business side because he’s cool)

Absolutely no idea how it got in, but the pro bleed syringes don’t degass as easily as the previous kit – almost no bubbles at all.

That is odd – I find the pro syringes much easier to degass than regular ones I’ve used.

I got some clear tubing the same size and replace it from time to time

@northwind  how?  it’s necessarily a very tight fit on the metal attachments – how do you get the tubing off and get new on?  What size is it? (link ot supply would be really useful to know something that works).  leaving tubes filled seems fine for a shop but not so hot at home using about once a year.  So replacing tubes in future would be ideal.

I tend to clean my kits out by removing excess fluid with paper towel, spraying with IPA, blasting with compressed air, and then wiping again.

Tubes get a tiny scrap of paper towel pushed through them with a bit of thick wire that I’ve smoothed the end of off, if I can be arsed.

Syringes stored separated. Hadn’t thought of storing kit with fluid in.

how do you get the tubing off and get new on?

Hot water, at a guess.

b33k34
Full Member

@northwind how? it’s necessarily a very tight fit on the metal attachments – how do you get the tubing off and get new on? What size is it?

I just measured the hose and bought some, probably off ebay. IIRC I might have got 2 sizes to be sure.

The attachments are barbed so they push on relatively easily, just warm the hose a little if it’s too hard. Removal, you can just cut it off.