Disc brakes bleeding

[Sander23]

I have 2 different brands of disc brakes.
My bike runs magura, my father's bike runs Shimano brakes.
Can I use Shimano oil on my magura breaks? Will I get a different break perforamce?
And if so do I need to clean the inside of the brake line?

 

[Mteam]

shimano and magura brakes both use mineral oil as the brake fluid, so its fine to use shimano oil in magura brakes (or vice versa) and theres no need to clean out all the magura oil , you can mix it up.

Brakes that use DOT fluid should never have mineral oil put in them, and brakes that use mineral oil should never have DOT fluid put in them. SRAM and some others use DOT fluid.

 

[KennyB]

SRAM uses DOT 5.1, not 5.0. It is marked on the reservoir cover on the brake lever on my Guide REs.

 

[Sander23]

shimano and magura brakes both use mineral oil as the brake fluid, so its fine to use shimano oil in magura brakes (or vice versa) and theres no need to clean out all the magura oil , you can mix it up.

Brakes that use DOT fluid should never have mineral oil put in them, and brakes that use mineral oil should never have DOT fluid put in them. SRAM and some others use DOT fluid.

And how often should I replace the oil? Or can I just do a lever bleed instead of a full bleed

 

[Jackware]

And how often should I replace the oil? Or can I just do a lever bleed instead of a full bleed

Why are you thinking of bleeding them, are they spongy?

 

[Sander23]

The right lever of my magura breaks won't fully return in the right position like the left one. It's not much but it's there.

My father's bike right break isn't that strong.
It wasn't used much past 2 years so I thought I should bleed them that maybe the breaking performance will be better again

 

[Mteam]

And how often should I replace the oil? Or can I just do a lever bleed instead of a full bleed

There's no point in only partially bleeding them, they're either bled (ie all air is removed) or theyre not (ie some air still present).

with regards to frequency of bleeding - no idea I do mine yearly, but ymmv.

 

[Sander23]

And how much oil do I need for 2 breaks?

 

[Jackware]

I ordered one of these kits from a UK supplier ( I see you're in Belgium but I assume you can buy similar locally) and I've bled 3 bikes and still have 50ml left.

You may find a quick bleed (just using a syringe tube in the reservoir and pumping the brakes with the brake lever horizontal) may cure the problem.

Also on Magura brakes be VERY gentle with the reservoir plastic screw as it is very fragile.

 

[urastus]

And how much oil do I need for 2 breaks?

Burp and top up. Bleeding is a pita. Burping and top up is awesome, easy and it works. Look from 5'20"

 

[Sander23]

I ordered one of these kits from a UK supplier ( I see you're in Belgium but I assume you can buy similar locally) and I've bled 3 bikes and still have 50ml left.

You may find a quick bleed (just using a syringe tube in the reservoir and pumping the brakes with the brake lever horizontal) may cure the problem.

Also on Magura brakes be VERY gentle with the reservoir plastic screw as it is very fragile.

View attachment 46859

I've already bought a full kit on AliExpress US $4.53 29% OFF|Universal Bicycle Hydraulic Disc Brake Bleed Kit For Shimano Magura Hope Tektro Sram Avid Mula Hayes Bike Repair Tool Kit R0202|Bicycle Repair Tools| - AliExpress
As the local shop here sold a less complete kit for double the price. Only needed the oil.
I assume your oil bottle it 100 ml or 250ml?

 

[Sander23]

Burp and top up. Bleeding is a pita. Burping and top up is awesome, easy and it works. Look from 5'20"

That's what I meant when I said lever bleed ,?

 

[urastus]

That's what I meant when I said lever bleed ,?

Yes, I figured, but the zip tie over night or an hour or two prior makes it fool proof; it gets all the air to the top.

 

[Jackware]

I've already bought a full kit on AliExpress US $4.53 29% OFF|Universal Bicycle Hydraulic Disc Brake Bleed Kit For Shimano Magura Hope Tektro Sram Avid Mula Hayes Bike Repair Tool Kit R0202|Bicycle Repair Tools| - AliExpress
As the local shop here sold a less complete kit for double the price. Only needed the oil.
I assume your oil bottle it 100 ml or 250ml?

Sorry - I should have made that clearer - just 100ml

 

[Sander23]

Awesome thx !

 

[jonmat]

I just burped mine after the lever went spongy, I’d had the bike upside down which caused the problem. I made a quick video

 

[2WheelsNot4]

Norris LHM plus is what I used to use in Shim' Saint brakes.
I dont know if its exactly the right thing, but it worked fine, and i think it was probably recommended to me or i'd have just bought shimano fluid. £6.99 ltr it cost me, its now a smidge over 8 quid.
Be interested to know from anyone with real engineering/car etc experience/qualifications if this LHM stuff is actually ok to use in shimano brakes. Like I said it was probably recommended to me by a trusted bike mechanic, but i got it so long ago im no longer sure.