How To Bleed Your Motorcycle Brakes | MC Garage

Replacing your brake fluid and bleeding the system of air bubbles is regular maintenance that your owner’s manual will likely suggest doing every two years. Brake fluid needs to be replaced because it degrades with use. Water gets absorbed out of the air and reduces the boiling point, and air bubbles can sneak past the seals and make the lever spongy. Replacing the fluid solves both of those issues. Here’s how ya do it.

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Replacing your brake fluid and bleeding the system of air bubbles is regular maintenance that your owner’s manual will likely suggest doing once every two years. Brake fluid needs to be replaced because it degrades with use—water gets absorbed out of the air and reduces the boiling point, and air bubbles can sneak past the seals and make the lever spongy. Replacing the fluid solves both of those issues, and we walk you through the entire process in how to bleed your motorcycle brakes tutorial from MC Garage.

Remove The Cap And Diaphragm
Before you start removing bolts and flushing fluid, take a second to wipe down your brake reservoir, calipers, and brake lines with a clean rag. This will ensure that you aren’t contaminating your pads or getting dirty fingerprints all over your bike. When everything is wiped down, go ahead and turn the handlebar so the fluid within the reservoir is level. Then carefully remove the cap and diaphragm and set both aside on a clean towel, taking note of the condition of the diaphragm. If it is worn, cracked, or torn order a replacement.

Prepare The Bleed Nipple On The Caliper
Pump the brake lever to pressurize the system and—with the lever still pulled in—crack the bleeder screw just loose enough to allow the pressurized fluid to escape. Allow the lever to come almost back to the bar then close the bleeder bolt. Don’t release the lever until you’ve closed the bleeder bolt. Keep an eye on the fluid level in the reservoir as you repeat this step.

Top Up The Reservoir As Needed
Repeat the previous step until the brake fluid reservoir is almost empty. Refill it with new brake fluid until fresh, clear fluid is seen in the hose; it could take dozens of tries so be patient. Do not let the reservoir go empty if you do allow it to run dry it will introduce air into the master cylinder and the bleeding process will take a lot longer.

Finally, tighten the bleeder bolt, remove the hose, fill the reservoir to the proper level, reinstall the diaphragm and cap, and you’re done. Brake fluid does nasty things to paint, so make sure to wipe up any spills with a damp rag. Before you set out on for a transcontinental adventure, take the bike out around the block, testing the brakes and lever feel. If the lever feels spongy, you introduced air bubbles into the line and need to start over.

[dimitarvokata]

That's how all tutorials shoud be. Only the important info, simple and well explaned!

[tomgr]

Additional tip: place the bleeder bottle above the bleeder valve so air more easily migrates out of the lines. Keeping the bottle below the valve defeats that.

[cfltitan]

Another great little tip that I learned several years back to get those last very few stubborn bubbles out is to zip tie your brake lever back and leave it set overnight. All the little fine bubbles left in the system will float up (air always rises) and pop into the fluid reservoir leaving your lines completely air free! It works great!

[jarminben]

Just a tip for easy flow from the brake fluid bottle. do not remove the foil top under the cap when you first open the container just pierce with a pen or phillips head at 6 full size hole and 12 o'clock smaller air hole to slow the rate it comes out at to reduce the chance of a big spill.

[oscarleon]

I can't get enough of MC garage videos. I had to rebuild my forks recently, and your tutorial saved me a LOT of money. Please keep up the great work!

[strictlyJDM]

Another Tip - siphon out old brake fluid before you pour new brake fluid into the master cylinder. That way you don't mix older/newer and its obvious when you get the new fluid coming out on the caliper end.

[tmulpagano]

If you're using a one way valve, the crack and the close aren't required, just be sure to keep the reservoir topped off to avoid sucking air into the system. The check valve will keep the old fluid and any purged air bubbles from getting sucked back in...if you're gonna pay for the convenience of the valve, then use it!

[mattcozine]

Great tutorial. Sweet, simple, straight to the point with no unnecessary fillers. Thanks Mc garage. Couldn't have done it without you guys.

[FunWithAJ]

Ari this is legit the best most accurate how-to you guys have made to date. I signed up for a $40 course to learn this in SoCal like 8 months ago and they taught us the same thing verbatim.

[PANTYEATR]

I fill my bottle with a small portion of old brake fluid and let the end of the tube submerge in it. that way no air can get back in the tube once it comes out. you will also see the air bubbles leaving the system better.

another trick I read (but I don't know how good it works) is to zip tie the brake lever to the handle overnight. that's supposed to let any air rise to the top of the reservoir through the system.

[hay]

By far most helpful video I’ve found. I’m going to bleed my motorcycle for the first time, brembo calipers and master so I just wanted to make sure I got the right info. Yours was clear, loud and informative. Thank you!

[fk]

Great video again! I used to do this before I bought a MightyVac, zip tie the lever and vacuum out the fluid as u refill the reservoir. It's worth the money.

[theranpan_]

I knew it still watched it. There is something about you Ari. Love watching MCGarage! #dontbejealouszach

[MrNipperz]

Got to do my brakes this fall. My Honda is still on the same pads after 18k.Even though they aint on the wear bars i think the material actually degrades with time. Caliper clean, flush and new pads all at the same time! She's gonna love it !

[BlockCylinder]

These videos are the best. I've been putting this job off for weeks because my manual is poorly written and it's overwhelming to keep all of the steps in order in my head. After 5 minutes with Ari I'm feeling quite confident.

[SouperAsH]

This dude knows how to select a good knife.

With that comment out of the way, the rest of the content in the video is cut, dry, defined, and precise. This is what every tutorial vid should be.

[cxbkpmf]

This guy Ari is a badass! Tremendous clarity, succinctness, and logical thought flow. Don't mess with a smart guy with guns like those!

[kanthmclaren]

You people are the best guys...no one can put up a video this small yet with full details....

[carswithsonduren]

One of the best motorcycle channels on YouTube

[Lawheeldrive]

This is by far one of the best tutorials.