Hope M4

DirtMonkee

I have recently started noticing my rear brake is not performing as well as it should be.

With the right leverage set I could always lock the back wheel with little effort (1 finger) but now it appears to take a lot of effort or 2 fingers to do so, (maybe I'm just getting weaker!).

Its only 5 months old and has just suprised me really and a little dissapointed with the brake.

Anyone had a similar problem or solution? Surely it must be too soon to bleed and change pads. Front brake gets used more and that one is fine and still bites effortlessly

I have always had hopes, maybe its time to try something different.

nicklouse

checked the pads for condition?

contaminated? worn?

DirtMonkee

definitely not worn. no tlikely to be contaminated but I suppose that is a possibility.

I'm not aware of any underlying technical/hydraulic fault that could gradually contributute to this. No sign of oil leak either. So just checking the possibility of that.

nicklouse

so what do the pads look like?
glazed?

A bleed is only ever needed if the lever feels squidgy when applied without the rotor being deflected.

shm_uk

In such a new brake the primary candidate is pad and/or rotor contamination

I'd clean the rotor & try the brake with pads from the front caliper (assuming it's also an M4), or get some new pads (you'll need some anyway at some point in the future so it's not wasted expense...)


The other things that could reduce braking are excessive friction/stiction in the lever or pistons. Do the lever and pistons still move smoothly?

sniper68

DirtMonkee wrote:

Its only 5 months old and has just suprised me really and a little dissapointed with the brake.
Surely it must be too soon to bleed and change pads.

Depends where you ride.I've never had a set of pads last 5 months.I bought some Tech M4s 18 months ago and have had around 6 sets of pads on the rear and 4 on the front.The original organic Hope pads lasted about 7 or 8 rides.

DirtMonkee

I'll have a good look at the pads tonight and compare them with the front ones.

Maybe a change of pads is the way forward then. These brakes have been riden a bit harder than my previous ones.

shm_uk

I'd recommend Superstar Components sintered pads ...