Singletracks reader Shredthewest0804 recently posed this question on the forums and received a number of good responses, but it got us wondering what’s normal, and what’s not.
Then, tell us in the comments how you decide how often you need to bleed. Do some products require more maintenance than others? How do conditions or riding style affect the need to bleed? Is it better to be safe than sorry?
Usually I end up doing this when I let my brakepads wear down too far. When I replace the pads, if they feel “spongy” I bleed the brakes.
Largely weather/trail dependant, but especially if the pads wear down to the backings.
Every 100 hrs along with a rotor tolerance check. I also check pad wear every 50 hrs. Recently swapped Code metallic pads due to changing to 2.3mm rotors and was pleasantly surprised to find just under 50% wear after 1440 kms of riding.
I bleed them when I change the pads or when it starts to feel mushy . Flush out the old fluid, which is usually a different color.
Only on an as needed basis.
Beware of water infiltration while transporting bikes on the exterior of a vehicle during inclement weather. Bag the bars to prevent waterblasting your master cylinders! Does not matter which fluid type, water can cause issues to arise and it’s preventable.
I tend to go through a couple sets of pads a year, and if I’m replacing the pads, might as well do a bleed at the same time.