Hydraulic brakes
Bleeding and mineral oil replacement for Shimano hydraulic brakes. I do every MTB series: Deore, SLX, XT, XTR, Saint, Zee. Price from 100 zł per circuit. The full tool set, genuine Shimano oil, done exactly to the manufacturer's procedure. It is part of a wider bicycle brake service: adjustment, pad and hose replacement, rotor truing.
Bleeding means purging air from a hydraulic brake: replacing or topping up the oil in the brake line so no air bubbles remain in the system. Air compresses, oil does not. As long as the brake holds nothing but oil, the lever feels firm and precise. Once air collects in the line, the lever pulls back to the handlebar and braking becomes spongy and unpredictable.
In short: bleeding is a service procedure hydraulic brakes need roughly once every year or two, depending on how hard you ride. Without a bleed the brake gets steadily worse, until in the worst case it stops braking on a descent.
Bleeding Shimano brakes works differently than SRAM, because Shimano uses mineral oil and SRAM uses DOT fluid. Two completely different fluids that must never be mixed. Shimano brakes are bled bottom-up: oil goes in through the caliper and air escapes at the lever through a dedicated funnel.
The simplest signs that a brake needs bleeding:
If you can see leaks at the lever or the caliper, a bleed alone will not do: the seals need replacing. During service I always check the state of the pistons and seals and tell you what I found before doing any further work.
| Scope | Price |
|---|---|
| Bleed, 1 circuit (front or rear) | from 100 zł |
| Bleed, 2 circuits (front + rear) | from 180 zł |
| Full oil change (drain + bleed) | from 130 zł / circuit |
| Bleed + brake hose replacement | from 160 zł / circuit |
The price depends on the brake model and the condition of the system. Some older Shimano models (e.g. first-generation Saint) take more work. You get an exact quote after inspection, before the work is done.
If the bike is a few years old and the oil has never been changed, I recommend a full change (drain + bleed), not just a top-up. Old oil, even when it looks fine, is less resistant to heat.
All hydraulic Shimano brakes use the same mineral oil and a similar bleeding procedure, so I service the full range:
If you do not know which model you have, check the engraving or the sticker on the caliper, or just come by, I identify them on the spot. If it is something unusual, mention it in the booking note and I will check parts availability.
In theory you can bleed Shimano brakes at home with a shop kit (funnel + syringe). In practice it usually ends with:
What you get here:
The result: a brake as firm as new, a lever that works where it should, and the same braking on the first descent and the fiftieth.
Bleeding is one element. If the brake judders, squeals, the rotor rubs or the pads are nearly gone, fresh oil alone will not help. I do complete bicycle brake service, hydraulic and mechanical:
In the form pick "Hydraulic brake bleeding" or "Adjustment (brakes / gears)" and describe the symptom in the note. Book a visit, you get the quote before the work starts.
Choose "Hydraulic brake bleeding" in the form and give the year and model of your bike. I will call you back to confirm.
Book a visit →The most common symptoms: the lever pulls to the bar, a spongy feel, the point where the lever stops wanders when you pump it, brake fade on a long descent. As prevention it is worth bleeding once every year or two, because mineral oil absorbs moisture over time and its boiling point drops.
Bleeding one circuit from 100 zł, bleeding both circuits from 180 zł, a full oil change (drain + bleed) from 130 zł per circuit, a bleed with brake hose replacement from 160 zł per circuit. You get an exact quote after inspection, before any work is done.
Bleeding one circuit on a healthy system takes around 30-45 minutes. Both circuits: an hour, an hour and a half. If the system needs extra work (leaks, hose replacement, piston cleaning), a little longer. In most cases I do the bleed the same day you drop the bike off.
Bleeding restores the full power and precision the brake had when it was new. If the pads are worn or the rotors are warped, a bleed alone will not fix that, those parts need replacing as well.
Genuine Shimano mineral oil. Some alternatives work technically, but for servicing I stick to what the manufacturer approves, because that guarantees temperature stability.
Yes, I also bleed SRAM (DOT 5.1 fluid), TRP, Hope and Magura. Each manufacturer has its own procedure and I use the correct fluid and tools for each of them. Pricing is analogous: from 100 zł per circuit.
Mostly from Grodzisk Mazowiecki, Pruszków, Milanówek, Brwinów and western Warsaw. If needed I can also pick the bike up from your home: from 50 zł within Grodzisk, Milanówek and Pruszków, from 90 zł from western Warsaw.
Yes. Beyond bleeding I do complete bicycle brake service: adjustment from 40 zł, pad replacement from 50 zł + pads, rotor truing quoted after inspection, brake hose replacement from 160 zł per circuit. Hydraulic and mechanical brakes, on MTB, city, dirt and BMX bikes.