New to SRAM road hydros - which bleed kit to buy?

[eddief]

Adding SRAM HRD disc brakes to a bike. Got Shimano stuff already. Need to know if I should buy a SRAM branded kit...or some good/better/decent knock off?

Thx

[StressStrain]

My limited experience:

I bought the SRAM kit. It works really well.

On a related note, I hate cheap tools. Hence I bought SRAM.

[mcteague]

I use the SRAM standard kit, works really well and not that expensive.

https://www.biketiresdirect.com/prod...rake-bleed-kit

Tim

[tellyho]

I bought a knockoff kit, works fine. Nothing fancy there - syringes and the right fittings.

[Alistair]

Just make sure whatever kit you buy has the updated caliper-end fitting (it's a quick-disconnect, not a threaded fitting - in photo it's the third fitting from the bottom right with the red thumb screw). If you have older Sram brakes, be sure the kit has both.

I bought the Sram Pro kit, has all the fittings and all the various size blocks/spacers. Not that I need them all now, but I'd rather have them than find out mid-bleed I don't.

[ocslick]

Epic Bleed Kits is really good and fairly inexpensive compared to the official SRAM kit. https://epicbleedsolutions.com/colle...sram-bleed-kit

[eddief]

decided to go with Sram standard kit to get started.

[StressStrain]

Originally Posted by Alistair

Just make sure whatever kit you buy has the updated caliper-end fitting (it's a quick-disconnect, not a threaded fitting - in photo it's the third fitting from the bottom right with the red thumb screw). If you have older Sram brakes, be sure the kit has both.

I bought the Sram Pro kit, has all the fittings and all the various size blocks/spacers. Not that I need them all now, but I'd rather have them than find out mid-bleed I don't.

Two very good points here:
SRAM fittings have changed from thread in to quick connect - so make sure your kit has the right connections for your bikes.

I like the SRAM Pro kit for this reason.

[kppolich]

I currently use the Jarwire DOT kit. It comes with nice extras for other DOT fluid hydro brakes and a variety of syringe ends for all generations of SRAM brakes, including the latest 'bleeding edge' version. I got a smoking deal on it on eBay, and here's a similar deal.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/27637545556...3ABFBM7pbm08Zj

Before that I was using the cheapest DOT bleed kit on eBay, and it worked great and actually came with DOT fluid and also extra barbs and olives. That seller is no longer active.

Overall, depending on how many bikes you have it might be worth it to go with the SRAM Pro level or Park Tool DOT kit.

[Jdm]

If I have a SRAM bike and a Shimano bike, do I need to buy two different kits? I’m thinking about finally starting to do my own annual brake flushes.

[kppolich]

probably wise to use 2 separate kits rather than contaminate between DOT Fluid (SRAM) and Mineral Oil (Shimano). They also probably use different fittings and the Shimano funnel at the lever vs. syringe at both ends for SRAM.

[StressStrain]

Originally Posted by Jdm

If I have a SRAM bike and a Shimano bike, do I need to buy two different kits? I’m thinking about finally starting to do my own annual brake flushes.

Yes, different kits, as SRAM and Shimano use different fluids and different fittings. You'd have to be really careful and clean to make this work with one kit. You'd spend more time cleaning than bleeding.