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My front XT (M785) brake lever suddenly won't move very far at all. I haven't altered the bit point or lever throw so I'm guessing it needs a bleed. That sound right to the collective SYW hive mind? Ta.
If it needed a bleed it would usually go soft.
Sounds a bit more like a seized or sticking piston to me.
This can happen if you've pulled the lever whilst the wheel is out of the frame / fork. If this is the case then your pads will be very close to or rubbing the rotor which you'll be able to see, feel or hear when spinning the wheel.
This being the case, yes, it will need a bleed, or you might get away with fitting the bleed, funnel filled about third of the way with fluid and gently pushing the pads back against the calliper body. You'll see some air bubbles. You can then do the lever flick in the three position finishing part of the bleed process to top it off.
Turn your bike upside down for the evening that should sort it
Thanks @binno, I was thinking of doing that quick and dirty, half bleed thingy to sort it. @notmyrealname, that's a good point and I'll check the pistons before I do anything else...
Or... your lever seal has shit itself and is totally knackered. That's what happened to mine.
Take the wheel out, push the pistons in, refit the wheel - pull the lever, if it moves in a nice smoth action and the piston moves you're alright, if there's a cracking noise or it only moves half or so, it's shagged.
Both mine went one after the other over the space of a week, CRC sent me a pair of M8000s in replacement.
Ouch, P-Jay. Fingers crossed it isn't that... certainly going to push my pistons in before doing anything else.
If the pistons have advanced too far because the lever was pulled while no rotor in between the pads you don't need to do bleed.
Just take the wheel and pads out and push the pistons back. Use something that won't damage the pistons like a plastic tyre lever or screwdriver wrapped in tissue or cloth.
Put the pads and wheel back and depress the lever a few times to set the pads again. Initially the pistons will be too far in so lever will feel soft and have a lot of travel. But as the pads advance again the lever should go back to feeling normal stiff and travel.
Kink in the hose? Happened to me when the hose got yanked in the car - kink was hidden under the strain relief by the lever. Easily fixed by shortening the hose.
@jairaj I guess I could have pulled the lever getting my bike in and out of the car. Will give the pistons a good push with an old Pedro's milk lever...
I've had 3 shimano levers do this now. Utterly useless. They're cheap for a reason. Never buying them again.