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Shimano Deore hydraulic brake problem

5 min read

Asked by: Lindsay Leonard

Why are my hydraulic disc brakes not working?

You may have air in the system and need to bleed your brake, your pads may be worn too far, your rotor may be too dirty, or your pads or rotor could be contaminated. Before bleeding, make sure that everything is clean, and that your pads have at least 3mm of useable material remaining.

Is Shimano Deore brake good?

Shimano’s Deore is one of the best mountain bike brakes on the market and arguably the pick of the Japanese giant’s range. When you buy the Shimano Deore BL-M6100, you’ll find a forged caliper and lever in the box, but they’ll be separate, so you’ll have to put them together yourself.

Why are my hydraulic bike brakes spongy?

A spongy brake lever, or a brake lever which has to be pulled a long way before you feel the brake start to work, is a sure sign of air trapped in the brake system. Some brakes can be more troublesome to bleed than others. Even after multiple bleeds air can remain trapped inside the caliper.

How do you reset hydraulic brake pistons?

Simply push a flat blade screwdriver in between the brake pads and twist. This will separate the brake pads and, in turn, push back the pistons to the reset position.

Why my MTB hydraulic brakes not working?


Quote from video: You can either break it down in one of those one or two different possibilities. It's either air in the system or a pressure situation compress your loss. Parts of friction issue at the calipers.

Do hydraulic brakes fail?

Most hydraulic brake failures occur for one of two reasons: loss of hydraulic pressure or brake fade on long hills. Loss of Hydraulic Pressure: When the system will not build up pressure, the brake pedal will feel spongy or go to the floor.

Is deore better than SLX?

The differences between SLX and Deore at the 12-speed level is mainly in weight and aesthetics. SLX parts look a little bit more refined, and the cassette gets an alloy spider which saves about 67g in weight compared to its Deore counterpart.

Are Deore brakes hydraulic?

The Deore XT M8100 hydraulic disc brake is designed to provide high performance braking for a variety of MTB riding styles. Includes the brake lever and disc brake caliper. Brakes are pre-bled.

Can you mix and match Shimano brakes?

Also, just like SLX all the callipers, whether two or four piston, are interchangeable with the levers, so you can mix and match to your heart’s content.

How do you fix spongy hydraulic disc brakes?

Quote from video: And simply pull the levers as close to the handlebar as you can strap it in place like. So leave for a few hours or overnight. And then remove. And hey presto nice firm levers easy peasy.

Why are my Shimano brakes spongy?

If you find your brakes going spongy then it’s usually a sign that your brakes need bleeding. Over time air gets into the hydraulic lines and, unlike liquids, air can be compressed, which reduces bite and feel at the lever.

How do you fix spongy Shimano brakes?

Quote from video: Itself. So you'll basically your system is open make sure there's some fluid in place release that plunger flick the lever a few times maybe use the spanner just to tap the brake hose there.

How do you bleed a Shimano hydraulic brake?

Quote from video: Take your bleed syringe and fill it with the shimano hydraulic mineral. Oil then undo the valve using your three millimeter allen key just one turn anti-clockwise. Put gentle pressure on the syringe.

How do you fix a seized hydraulic bike brake?

use a stiff putty knife or a flat blade screwdriver to pry the pads all the way back into the caliper, replace the wheel and pull the brake lever a few times to re-set the pads. Be careful not to gouge the pads.

Why are my brake pistons not retracting?

Quote from video:

How do you bleed hydraulic brake discs?

Quote from video: Be sure the bleed funnel is more than half full loosen the caliper bleed nipple 1/2. Turn squeeze the lever gently to start the flow of fluid from the bleed funnel down to the caliper.

How do you adjust hydraulic disc brakes?

Quote from video: While holding the lever snug. Up the bolts. Release the brake lever spin. The wheel to test for Padro if there is no rubbing the pads are aligned secure the mounting bolts to full torque.

Why are my bike brakes not gripping?

If either brake isn’t working properly, it’s likely to be a result of slack in the cable – unless your bike has hydraulic brakes, in which case they probably need ‘bleeding’ to remove air bubbles. (That’s a job for the bike shop or a confident home mechanic.)

How do you adjust hydraulic bike disc brakes?

Quote from video: If it's out of true it's got a little wobble to it go ahead and correct it you can do it right in the in the frame. Itself just a little bend back and forth small increments at a time.

How do I make my hydraulic disc brakes more responsive?

Brakes not powerful enough?



Six simple tips for improving your disc brake power

  1. Lever position. …
  2. Bleed your brakes. …
  3. Buy bigger rotors. …
  4. Clean your rotors and pads. …
  5. Buy new brake pads. …
  6. Improve your braking technique.


Can hydraulic bike brakes be adjusted?

Note: hydraulic disc brakes have self-adjusting brake pads that ensure consistent lever pull so there are no adjustment dials on hydraulic calipers.