Hydraulic Breaks

Turbo Turtle

was just wondering how often the hydraulic break fluid should be topped up and is it easy to do yourself (like doing most of the work myself and not because i am cheap). I have a hardtail mountain bike and have done over 100miles since i got it a little bit ago, not a lot but want keep it in good condition.

rob1891

If your brakes are spongy, they have air in the lines, then bleed. Otherwise, I wouldn't bother bleeding them ever!

... well, maybe before a trip to the Alps or somewhere with some very long descents, or if I've boiled the brake fluid recently (a sign of water adsorption in dot fluid brakes). You end up having to bleed them now and then anyway, if you damage a brake lever, wear out a seal, snag a brake line and so on.

Bleeding brakes is not too hard once you have done it a few times. Find a guide for your particular make/manufacturer of brake. Don't just top them up, you need to do a full bleed if you are going to do anything.

Turbo Turtle

cheers rob, might need bleed them they not as responsive as they were the first day. might try cleaning the disks first picked up a disk cleaner today in halfords (meant for motorbikes but should to the trick)