Problem with my Avid Elixir R front Brakes

bobthebuilder4541

I have a '09 Stumpy Expert Carbon and i am having trouble with my front Avid Elixir R brake. It just doesnt seem powerful. My bike is only 6 weeks old and i have had the problem from new. I just thought it was the pads that needed to bed in but it has not improved. No matter how hard i queeze the lever i cant get the disc to lock up when im on the trail. I am 100kg so not a small bloke but the brakes on the test bike i rode before i bought mine were heaps better. Should i bleed the brakes. Even though they are new.The lever doesnt feel spongy. It feels the same as the other. . I removed the pads and sanded them a bit to remove the shine but that has not done anything. Any other ideas other than bleeding them? any help would be appreiciated

nicklouse

do not touch the brakes Take it back to the shop.

but if you are planing to do something lets see what is going on.

how does the lever feel?

read this?

http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12537260

sniper68

Does it actually stop the bike?
The rear will lock up and skid as you're dragging the rear wheel.I don't think i've ever locked my front brake(Avid Ultimate) on the trail and i don't even want to think about the outcome if i did I suppose i could if i really tried but where as you can control a rear wheel skid,a front wheel skid will end up with pain.

bobthebuilder4541

ibbo68 wrote:

Does it actually stop the bike?
The rear will lock up and skid as you're dragging the rear wheel.I don't think i've ever locked my front brake(Avid Ultimate) on the trail and i don't even want to think about the outcome if i did I suppose i could if i really tried but where as you can control a rear wheel skid,a front wheel skid will end up with pain.

I realise the back can be locked up easy but the front feels like one of my old bikes v brakes. The demo bike felt much more powerful. The lever feels ok but i am sure the brakes should stop better than this even if they dont lock up totally. I think i will get the LBS to have a look.

nicklouse

bobthebuilder4541 wrote:

I realise the back can be locked up easy but the front feels like one of my old bikes v brakes. The demo bike felt much more powerful. The lever feels ok but i am sure the brakes should stop better than this even if they dont lock up totally. I think i will get the LBS to have a look.

if the lever feels ok then you will have somehow to contaminated or glazed the pads.

delcol

could need bleeding..

my brother purchased a elixer cr while we were on hol in may it needed to be bled before it worked properly..

he got some juicy 7s last when we were on hol for his slayer they to had to be bled because they were fading...

my bet is they need bleeding....

nicklouse

delcol wrote:

could need bleeding..

my brother purchased a elixer cr while we were on hol in may it needed to be bled before it worked properly..

he got some juicy 7s last when we were on hol for his slayer they to had to be bled because they were fading...

my bet is they need bleeding....

Sorry if the lever feel is good then they do not need bleeding.

spongey lever shows that there is air in the system from a leak or boiling the fluid. then it will need a bleed.

but a poor performing brake with a solid lever feel does not need bleeding.