How To Swap Hydraulic Brake Hoses | MTB Maintenance

On occasion, you may need to swap your brake hoses over. One thing to bear in mind though, if you're not confident with hydraulics, definitely speak to your local bike shop. We're using Shimano brakes because they're are right and left specific, unlike Sram or Avid brakes, where you can swap the whole lever over. This is a quick and easy process just to swap your hoses over, if you're careful about it, you won't need to do a full brake bleed. To swap the hoses, you're gonna need to an 8mm open ended spanner, you'll need a 2 1/2mm allen key or hex wrench, you need a 4mm allen key or hex wrench, you need the Shimano bleeding funnel with the plunger, you need some mineral fluid, a rag and some kind of cleaner or isopropyl alcohol. Importantly, you want to make sure that if any oil does drip from the brake levers in the process, it can't get on your front disc rotor. So firstly level off the brake levers so they're horizontal, this will be clear later. You then need to remove the rubber boot on the lever, that's covering the hose connector. Now get your 8mm open ended spanner and undo this hose connector. Then your next step is to remove the hose from the lever. When you do this, it's give it a firm tug, to release the olive which is set into the lever. As you pull it out, you might lose a bit of fluid but be as delicate as you can. For this stage, it's vital to not touch the brake lever. If you operate the brake lever in anyway, you're gonna lose fluid and that means you're gonna have to do a full brake bleed. So when my front brake lever is separated from the hose, repeat the same process with the back brake lever, then reconnect those brake hoses into the levers in the reverse process of taking the hoses out the levers. Make sure that the olive sits home, you'll feel it slightly click into place. Then tighten your hose connector back up with your 8mm open ended spanner and replace the rubber boot. We're gonna take the Shimano funnel bleeding tool and a 2 1/2mm allen key. As you remove the 2 1/2mm allen bolt. With the funnel in place on the top of the lever and a small amount of oil inside there, your lever is actually open so air can travel out. Gently squeeze the lever a few times and you may or may not see some air bubbles rise to the surface. While the brake lever is pulled to the bar, gently tap the hose as well, all the way along to the actual lever, just to help any air bubbles travel along, that maybe in there. At the end of the process, you need to put the plug into the funnel and carefully remove the funnel from the lever. Now that I've put the 2 1/2mm top cap bolt back in place, we just to check everything works. Make sure you give the brake levers and handlebar area, a good wipe down with some brake cleaner or some isopropyl alcohol, just to make sure any residue of oil is removed. You're at the end of task now, don't forget to just reset your brake levers to a preferred angle, good to go and hit the trails.

The Global Mountain Bike Network is the best MTB YouTube channel, with videos for everyone who loves dirt: from the full-faced helmet downhill mountain biker to the lycra-clad cross country rider along with everyone and anyone in between.

With the help of our pro and ex-pro riding team we’re here to inform, entertain and inspire you to become a better mountain biker, including videos on:

- How to ride faster with expert knowledge
- Fix everything with pro know-how
- Ride anything with world-cup winning skills
- Dial in your bike with bike set-up advice
- In-depth entertaining features
- Chat, opinion and interact with us on the Dirt Shed Show

Welcome to the Global Mountain Bike Network | Covering Every Angle

Thanks to our sponsors:

Leave us a comment below!

[gmbn]

Are you super confident with your hydraulic brakes? Let us know in the comments below 👇

[RGCastro]

Great job, Andrew! Good information and an easy-to-follow explanation. You looked confident and delivered a good episode. Time to hit the trails and get some action videos in!

[thos]

Welcome to the crew Andrew, keep up the good work, you are doing a great job so far!

[connorjacobs]

This video would have been perfect for Blake on the sabotage video for Neil's bike!

[chw]

Just a note, you started squeezing and tapping the front lever / hose before the front wheel was back in. Only do this if you have a bleed block between the pistons to stop them pushing out! Or put the front wheel back first, making sure not to drop any fluid onto the rotor.

[UncleFjester]

By swap, I thought this would be replacing the entire hose.

[mtb]

Fantastic description. Helped me switch from european to american style brake arrangement on my son's new bike from Chain Reaction Cycles (Vitus). Thank you for excellent tutorial. Worked like a charm.

[TNcountrylife]

Awesome explanation. I ride dirt bikes and have just picked up a new MTB and it is equiped with hydraulic brakes and I needed to swap my front and rear brakes. I put my front brakes on the right side..

[twentytwo_]

I really like where this channel is going! :)

[marcwittkowski]

Nice, calm presenting style. Good addition to the team!

[mustoofa]

Saved me from returning a bike I bought in the UK but was built to be a US export. Very Happy !

[Rorsta]

Great first video Andrew! Congratulations

[panzerveps]

Very informative and well explained. Nice video!

[LORDRADEN]

Cool. I've done this on my last car, a Rav4. Not quite the same thing, but on that I actually changed a caliper and bled the brakes. It's really not hard to learn with great videos like these.

[jakecooper]

good effort doddy on your first lone vid! 🤙🤙

[Big-T-]

Good I watched this before I got my new slx brakes. My plan was to disconnect from the caliper, thanks very much.

[davidpayne]

Thanks so much for the instruction. I am an Brit expat in the Philippines so no useful LBS. I knew it must be possible to change from left to right. I have successfully correctly orientated the brakes on my wonderful brand new Giant Fathom 29er - Thanks

[SHREDDIEMCSKATE]

This video is what I needed thanks!! I’ve been learning how to wheelie but the rear brake is on my right hand making it harder to feather the brake and throttle….but now I’m good!!!

[GEOSIMRACING]

Like that guy, hope he does more how to vids, he explains things very well.

[Cross-Country-Biker]

last bike had swop able levers. New bike is shimano. Watched the vid swopped to match my dirtbike. Working fine thanks