A customer's one comment changed how I do every brake bleed now

Last month a guy brought in a mountain bike complaining the lever felt 'spongy but not mushy' and I blew it off at first. He watched me do a standard bleed and said 'you didnt tap the caliper enough, airs stuck behind the piston.' I laughed it off but tried his trick, tapping the caliper with a plastic mallet during the bleed, and the lever firmed up instantly. Now I do that on every single bleed, takes maybe 30 extra seconds and I have had zero comeback jobs since. Anyone else found weird little customer tips that beat what the manuals say?

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haydenbutler2mo ago

Wait, you mean the manuals actually say to just pump and hope for the best? I used to think tapping was just some old wive's tale too, but honestly after trying it once I felt kinda dumb for not doing it sooner. It's such a simple thing but it really does change the feel of the lever.

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