Hi guys, I have just fitted a set of braided brake lines to my bike but cant get them to bleed. I have bled brakes before and have checked in the Haynes manual so know I am doing the correct procedure but nothing is coming out of the bleed nipple, the lever has full travel with zero resistance and the master res level isn't going down.
How do I get them to start bleeding?

You gota pump like a pornstar :)

No seriously theres many methods, cheapest being to get a syringe, a length of clear tubing and force the fluid up the line from the caliper end. Best method buy a mitivac, about £40 and never have problems again.

Ta mate, I need the bike for Monday so I am now going on a syringe hunt!

If I dont find one then it'll be the pump like a pornstar method! I've got the tache (it is Movember) so cue the seedy music... bow chicka bow wow

Local chemist cheap as chips.

Local chemist cheap as chips.

Aquarium air line, fag lighter. Make one of the ends of the line soft with the lighter, and shove it over the bleed nipple. Put the other end in the reservoir. If you're flash, do both sides at the same time. Open the nipples and pump like mad, making sure you keep the thing topped up. Have the ends of the air line under the surface of the fluid to help stop splashing. Will take about five mins if all goes well.

Use gravity and save yourself a lot of hassle.



Not me but the mate who showed me the trick. Coke bottle with a hole in the side strung from the rafter, length of aquarium pipe down and zip tied to the nipple (keep it pulled straight no kinks) then undo the nipple. The fluid can only go to find its own level, all you need to do is keep the top reservoir filled, and tap the lines and calipers with rubber hammer or similar now and then til bubbles stop coming.

I think I might have a blockage somewhere because I have used a syringe to back fill the system through one of the nipples but although I have put 3 x syringes of fluid in the level in the res has not changed???
got to get ready cos im going out tonite but will resume in the morning. hopefully the brake fairies will have sorted everything out by the time I get in!!

You can get mityvac copies on the bay for half the price.

If im struggling to get the bubbles out then i open the bleed nipple put a long piece of tubing over it pull the brake lever and suck the end of the tube, tastes foul if your not careful though!