Hydraulic disc brakes after period of no use
06-20-23, 03:51 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: SoCal
Posts: 1,186
Bikes: 2016 Surly Cross Check, 2019 Kona Rove ST
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 284 Post(s)
Liked 313 Times
in
211 Posts
Hydraulic disc brakes after period of no use
My son has a MTB (a little nicer than entry-level Jamis) that has hydraulic discs. We got the bike in 2020, and he only rode it occasionally up til about a year and 1/2 ago, and hasn't touched it since. "Light use" would be an understatement. He's interested in getting back out there, but I'm strictly a rim brake and mechanical disc guy on my bikes, and have no experience with hydraulic brake maintenance. I've examined everything I can--pads, etc, and as expected that stuff is fine--like new really. The pads are barely worn. The brakes appear function fine--the feel as they did when it was new. But do we need to bleed the brakes after this long a period of no use?
06-20-23, 03:56 PM
#2
Senior Member
They’re probably fine. If they feel bad or have significantly uneven bite point then consider a bleed.
06-20-23, 03:57 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 587
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 94 Post(s)
Liked 151 Times
in
105 Posts
My son has a MTB (a little nicer than entry-level Jamis) that has hydraulic discs. We got the bike in 2020, and he only rode it occasionally up til about a year and 1/2 ago, and hasn't touched it since. "Light use" would be an understatement. He's interested in getting back out there, but I'm strictly a rim brake and mechanical disc guy on my bikes, and have no experience with hydraulic brake maintenance. I've examined everything I can--pads, etc, and as expected that stuff is fine--like new really. The pads are barely worn. The brakes appear function fine--the feel as they did when it was new. But do we need to bleed the brakes after this long a period of no use?
06-20-23, 04:15 PM
#4
Clark W. Griswold
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: ,location, location
Posts: 13,551
Bikes: Foundry Chilkoot Ti W/Ultegra Di2, Salsa Timberjack Ti, Cinelli Mash Work RandoCross Fun Time Machine, 1x9 XT Parts Hybrid, Co-Motion Cascadia, Specialized Langster, Phil Wood Apple VeloXS Frame (w/DA 7400), R+M Supercharger2 Rohloff, Habanero Ti 26
Mentioned: 54 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4361 Post(s)
Liked 4,002 Times
in
2,671 Posts
Generally I just pump the brakes a few times and everything is good. The only time I would consider if you are using DOT fluid like most SRAM brakes but if mineral oil you should be fine. If the bike was stored upside down which I would hope not then air could be introduced to the system but usually a couple pumps and all is good.
06-20-23, 04:19 PM
#5
Habitual User
Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Altadena, CA
Posts: 7,997
Bikes: 2023 Niner RLT 9 RDO, 2018 Trek Procaliber 9.9 RSL, 2018 Storck Fascenario.3 Platinum, 2003 Time VX Special Pro, 2001 Colnago VIP, 1999 Trek 9900 singlespeed, 1977 Nishiki ONP
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4957 Post(s)
Liked 8,100 Times
in
3,833 Posts
This is simple...Ride downhill really fast. If the brakes don't slow you down, and you crash and die, you'll know the brakes need to be bled.
__________________
"Swedish fish. They're protein shaped." - livedarklions
"Swedish fish. They're protein shaped." - livedarklions
Likes For oldbobcat:
06-24-23, 12:45 PM
#7
Senior Member
I have a bike with hydraulic disc brakes and they need several pumps in the spring, after a winter off, before the function as actual brakes again.
