avid elixir brake bleed
stir88
Posts: 124
Hi All, please can someone give me the correct way to bleed avid elixir brakes. i am only bleeding back brake. I have tried 3 methods and none seem great. 1st method was red dog racing, after the bleed the brake seem fine went riding and soon the lever was hitting the bar. 2nd method was the sram video on you tube, after the bleed you touch the lever slightly and the brake is fully on and the pads are constantly dragging the rotor. 3rd method was http://www.sram.com/_media/techdocs/95-5015-019-000.pdf, after the bleed you just touch the lever slightly and the brake is fully on, there is clearance between rotor and pads and the pads are retracting. Is this 3rd method correct but just needs an adjustment somewhere. This is the 1st brake bleed i have performed so it could be i'm not doing something quite right but i do seem to be following each method step by step. Any help would be much appreciated. Cheers
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Comments
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Retract pads before starting, sounds like over filling. Try doing the bleed and if it's hard still retract the pads and open the bleed port on the lever and any excess fluid will come out (so get a rag to catch the fluid). That cured my problems off a too grabby brake. Have you also tried re-aligning the caliper?0
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sounds like overfilling to me too, did you push the pistons fully in then put the bleed block in between the pads?0
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Thanks for replies.Yes, removed wheel, pads then fitted plastic spacer where pads go so pistons were fully retracted. Not tried aligning caliper yet, would this help? which is the best method to use to bleed?0
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Yes caliper alignment would be what I'd try next if you've use te bleed blocks ect. The SRAM video is the method I've used with 100% success (when user error hasn't been a factor anyway!)0
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As its my 1st attempt it could be im not doing something quite right. i'll try a rotor alignment 1st. You mentioned i could have overfilled the system, how would i avoid this and then you said push the pistons back and open the lever port to get rid of excess fluid. will the pistons push back with the port closed and will air get back in the system?0
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you wont get air back in the system. To avoid overfilling just make sure you retract the pistons fully and put the bleed blocks in or new pads and the wheel (thats how i do it as i dont have the bleed blocks). the pistons won't push back on their own no. just try the rotor first, then try retracting the pads opening the lever bleed port if that doesnt work0
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you wont get air back in the system. To avoid overfilling just make sure you retract the pistons fully and put the bleed blocks in or new pads and the wheel (thats how i do it as i dont have the bleed blocks). the pistons won't push back on their own no. just try the rotor first, then try retracting the pads opening the lever bleed port if that doesnt work0
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i'll try aligning rotor shortly. Just to clarify, if i have overfilled the system do i push the pistons back then open the lever port, or open lever port then push pistons back. cheers0
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push pistons back first, then open lever port. any excess in the system will come out of the port. ones its obvious its slowed right down/pretty much stopped (will only take a second) just put the screw back in and pump the lever to set the pads again and see if that cures it.0
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Just checked the rotor that seems fine. I'll try and push the pistons back and open the lever port tomorrow afternoon. thanks for your help0
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it is the caliper i have checked for alignment0
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the caliper is aligned right, no drag on the rotor. i've taken wheel out, pushed pistons back and opened lever port. a small amount of brake fluid came out, the lever function is slightly better. i am riding thursday, i'll give the brake a good test then. thanks for help. cheers0
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Glad it seems ok now. I found I soon got used to mine once they were bled properly!0
