Online Bike, Running and Outdoor Store

How to bleed an Avid Elixir brake?


In all motor sports, braking is an integral part of performance. Braking as late as possible to arrive at maximum speed in corners will only be possible if you can brake hard and efficiently! For this, there is no secret, you need a perfectly maintained hydraulic system! Follow this step-by-step tutorial to maintain your Avid brakes and stop you in your tracks!


Required tools

Required tools

Glasses / Nitrile gloves / Bleed kit / Torx 10 / DOT fluid / Soft cloth / Brake degreaser.

Déposer roue avant

1/ Remove front wheel

Remove the front wheel leaving the bike in its operating position, so that the lever is higher than the caliper.

Syringe filling

2/ Syringe filling

Fill one syringe halfway and the second 1/4 full. Tap the syringe body to remove air bubbles and push them out by pushing on the plunger (use a cloth to catch excess liquid). Close the clamp on the syringe hose.

Air vaccum

3/ Air vaccum

In order to remove the air from the liquid, create an air vacuum by pulling slightly on the plunger, repeat this several times. Repeat this process several times. Then flush out the bubbles again.

Remove Pads

4/ Remove Pads

After unscrewing the pin, remove the pads and replace them with a shim so as not to contaminate them with brake fluid.

Lead screws

5/ Lead screws

For levers equipped with a pad attack adjustment, unscrew the adjustment completely so that the system can be filled to the maximum.

Calliper opening

6/ Calliper opening

Unscrew the clamp screw using the 11 mm Torx key. Fit the half-filled syringe, ensuring that the liquid completely fills the syringe tube. Open the clamp.

Lever opening

7/ Lever opening

Unscrew the bleed screw on the lever, then insert the 1/4 full syringe. Open the clamp.

Hose bleed

9/ Hose bleed

Push the fluid from the caliper to the lever until the bottom syringe is 1/4 full and the top half full.

Locking lever

10/ Locking lever

Close the clamp of the syringe lever, tighten the lever against the handlebar and hold it in place with a strap.

Bleed caliper

11/ Bleed caliper

Pull on the bottom plunger to create an air vacuum and then push the plunger back in to re-pressurise the system, repeat several times until no large air bubbles emerge from the caliper.

Caution: Do not pull too hard on the plunger as air may leak through the plunger seal.

Release Lever

12/ Release Lever

Remove the strap from the lever but hold the lever against the handlebar by hand. Push the plunger of the caliper syringe, letting the lever gradually return to its position.

Dismantle syringe caliper

13/ Dismantle syringe caliper

Remove the syringe and refit the bleed screw. Liquid should appear at the screw head indicating that no air bubbles have entered.

Cleaning

14/ Cleaning

Wipe off any excess liquid with a soft cloth.

Lever bleeding

15/ Lever bleeding

Open the syringe clamp on the lever, pull on the plunger to create an air vacuum and push gently to re-pressurise the system.

Caution: Do not pull too hard on the plunger as air may leak through the plunger seal.

Activate Lever

16/ Activate Lever

Operate the lever about ten times, allowing it to return under the force of the spring alone, until no large air bubbles emerge from the lever.

Putting pressure on

17/ Putting pressure on

Push and let the plunger return one last time.

Dismantle syringe lever

18/ Dismantle syringe lever

Remove the syringe and refit the bleed screw.

Degrease

19/ Degrease

Spray the lever and caliper with a hydro-alcoholic brake solution and then wipe the whole assembly with a lint-free cloth.

Refit pads and wheel

20/ Refit pads and wheel

Remove the chock, refit the pads, refit the wheel, test the system. Bleeding affects the amount of fluid in the system and therefore the position of the pistons, it may be necessary to realign the caliper. If the feel is not satisfactory, repeat the procedure. Check the torque with a torque spanner.

Alltricks

ALLTRICKS NEWSLETTER

Sign up to receive the Alltricks Newsletter, special offers & discounts!

Our Partners

(1) Discount calculated on the lowest Alltricks price during the last 30 days before the start date of the promotion for this product (2) Price calculated on the lowest Alltricks price within 30 days before the sale offer. (3) Discount calculated on the lowest Alltricks price within 30 days before the clearance. (4) Terms and conditions apply. Valid on products sold and shipped by Alltricks. (5) GMT+1 timezone. (6) GMT+1 timezone, Credit Card and PayPal orders only. Until 6pm with Chronopost and until 3pm with other delivery methods. Valid only on all products sold and shipped by Alltricks. Excluding holidays. (7) Usual delivery time. (8) Usual amount of time to prepare your order. Valid only on all products sold and shipped by Alltricks. (9) Enter voucher code at the basket page. (10) For credit card payments between €80 and €6000. Valid in France mainland only on all products sold and shipped by Alltricks. (11) Credit Card and PayPal orders only. (12) A random security check will be made by Oney on some orders. This control takes 24h. (13) Unlimited free delivery with Alltricks Premium on all products sold and shipped by Alltricks. Valid in France only with: Chronopost relais and Chronopost domicile (Chronopost on on appointment excluded), Mondial relay, Colissimo and France Express. (14) Extra 10% off on all products sold and shipped by Alltricks. Valid 1 year. Voucher sent by email for your birthday. (15) Recommended retail price by the supplier (16) In january 2015. Determined by users, among E-commerce Websites available on the Trustpilot platform. (17) Excluding partners sellers products