Bleeding Magura Marta SLs

[Chris]

So the time has come to bleed my Marta Sl's, along with shortening the hoses. I got the hoses cut the correct length and bled the brakes, but now they are worse than before! I want my brakes to work like they did brand new, where I barely had to pull the lever and the brakes would engage. I love my brakes like that. But now I can pull them more than half way to the bar and they finally engage. The mechanic at my shop also tried bleeding them, but to no avail, not much better. Does anyone have experience bleeding these brakes and getting them to work just like they did out of the box???

Thanks!

[CalEpic]

Are you using the Magura bleed kit?

Did you use new fittings on the hose connections when you shortened them?

it sounds like air in the system still.

C

[26'er Zen Master]

i have bleed those a bunch of times at adrenaline. what shop did you take them to? What method are you using?

[Chris]

I'm at Ladera Cyclery. And I did use new fittings and the Magura Bleed kit. And the method I'm using is the one on the Magura site and instruction manual.

Zen, when you bled them did you get that feel that I was talking about?

[2wheel_lee]

Regardless of the brand of disc brakes, the trick isn't how many times the brakes are bled, but how many times it's done right. If could give one word of advice when it comes to bleeding brakes it would be "patience."

In at least one point of your process, you should have more patience in getting all of the air out. Sometimes, even highly skilled mechanics don't always get all of the air out.

[CalEpic]

A few tips I use when bleeding Magura brakes.

• When pushing fluid from the caliper side, remove the caliper mounting bolts and angle the caliper so that any air in there has an easy escape route (up).
• When sucking the fluid from the caliper side, place the caliper higher than the master cylinder - easier for air bubbles to travel up
• pull the brake lever a few times as you're bleeding.
• with the pads installed, slightly push fluid from the caliper to set the pads. (be sure to remove the pads before removing the bleed lines to prevent any accidental spillage)

As Lee mentioned - you need to repeat the process quite a few times to get all the air out when replacing/shortening the lines.

[nintense]

You can bring them over if you around LA.

Originally Posted by Chris

So the time has come to bleed my Marta Sl's, along with shortening the hoses. I got the hoses cut the correct length and bled the brakes, but now they are worse than before! I want my brakes to work like they did brand new, where I barely had to pull the lever and the brakes would engage. I love my brakes like that. But now I can pull them more than half way to the bar and they finally engage. The mechanic at my shop also tried bleeding them, but to no avail, not much better. Does anyone have experience bleeding these brakes and getting them to work just like they did out of the box???

Thanks!

[Chris]

Originally Posted by nintense

You can bring them over if you around LA.

Ah I would love to, but I'm down in S. Orange County. Thanks for the offer though!

[26'er Zen Master]

yea i would get that result i second what lee says it is all about patience and making sure your system is air free. have the throw of the levers been changed I have seen that have a similiar feel to a misbleed making the levers feel like they have more "pull"

[Scott V]

I recently had my Marta's bled at Rock N Road in Mission Viejo. They were all jacked up when I took them in, came out good as new.

[Chris]

I will try bleeding them again, if I still can't get it right I'll have another shop take a look at it.

Thank for all the info!

[Cableguy]

Maguras are very finicky to bleed. Sometimes it takes many times to get it right. In addition to above posts, it takes pushing/pulling lot of fluid. Make sure the fluid is filled to the cap before you close. And slowly push/pull. Make sure no bubbles appear anywhere. And tap the caliper a few times as you bleed to unstuck the bubbles. Go to a motorcycle shop and buy a big bottle of the Magura blood. You will need it.

[Chris]

So I have decided to take my bike to the Path for my brake situation.

Have heard great things, but not much on service. But I am sure it is excellent. Plus, a good friend of mine works there

[EJ_92606]

Don't have Marta's but with my XTs it really helped to hang the bike up by the front wheel overnight...I guess any remaining bubbles worked their way up to the reservoir...also the vibration from riding seems to really help firm up the lever for the same reason.