Shimano M596 brakes

Ian-G
Ian-G Posts: 16
edited April 2012 in MTB workshop & tech
Greetings,

Sorry if this is a newb question. :)

I've just fitted a brand new shimano Deore M596 front brake (the rear brake is on order) to replace the standard M445 brake on my Trance X Ltd. As I understand it, these are supposed to come pre-bled (which I took to mean 'plug & play'), however when I've fitted them, they feel really....slack(?) as in I have to pull the brake lever almost all the way to the handlebar before the brake engages.

Does this mean they need bleeding or am I missing something glaringly obvious? :oops:

Thanks in advance.

Comments

  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    Read the manual?

    Apply the brakes a few times to advance the pistons. Then ride and let the pads bed in.

    All in the manual.
    "Do not follow where the path may lead, Go instead where there is no path, and Leave a Trail."
    Parktools :?:SheldonBrown
  • Ian-G
    Ian-G Posts: 16
    Thanks.

    I did read the manual, including the bits you mention, but after applying the brakes quite a number of times to advance the pistons, they still feel slack - or at least more so than I was expecting.

    Just me then!!
  • kagefisk
    kagefisk Posts: 74
    Adjust the brake-reach screw
  • Ian-G
    Ian-G Posts: 16
    kagefisk wrote:
    Adjust the brake-reach screw

    Will try this, but I thought the reach adjustment only adjusted where the lever starts its travel from rather than how much it travels.

    Is there anything else that could be affecting the amount of lever travel, or is it normal for there to be a lot of lever travel on new brakes (only bought second-hand ones before)? Maybe the fact that the pads aren't bedded-in yet?
  • EyesintheSky
    EyesintheSky Posts: 183
    Just fitted the exact same brakes yesterday, nothing at all needed apart from bedding in, they worked fine straight out the box. They should have an initial resistance as soon as you start pulling the lever, as soon as you get past that the pistons actually start moving if that makes sense. I don't have any travel between 'rest' and the initial resistance.
    Very funny Scotty, now beam me down my clothes.
  • Ian-G
    Ian-G Posts: 16
    EyesintheSky wrote:
    Just fitted the exact same brakes yesterday, nothing at all needed apart from bedding in, they worked fine straight out the box. They should have an initial resistance as soon as you start pulling the lever, as soon as you get past that the pistons actually start moving if that makes sense. I don't have any travel between 'rest' and the initial resistance.

    Thanks Eyeinthesky. That's definitely not what I'm experiencing. I've had these brakes before (bought off Supersonic and fitted to my previous bike only for it to get stolen a few weeks later) so I know there's something not right, but just didn't know whether it's because these are new.

    I'll try resetting the pistons later. Failing that, the only thing I can think of is to bleed them.

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