Avid elixir 3 - Sticky Pistons?

compo

Hi all

The pads on my Elixir 3s cam eot the end of their lives and so I am changing them.

I pushed the pistons back with a screwdriver (old pads in) and then put the new pads in. However the gap between the pads was not big enough for my rotor.

Therefore I swapped the pads back over and tried to push again, however, I can't get them to move any further.

What would be a solution to this? Preferrably quick as I'm off riding in Scotland at the weekend.
I have no DOT fluid either

Cheers

cooldad

Push harder.

nicklouse

too much fluid in the system. let some out.

pesky_jones

Hi, have you tried cleaning the piston? May have crud on it which wont let it return properley.

compo

I'm pushing as hard as I can, ie bending the screwdriver

I'll try cleaning the pistons.

To let the fluid out, do i just unbolt the calliper into two pieces and push the pistons a bit so some fluid dribbles out?

pesky_jones

you can just undo the bleed port screw, drip a little oil off the screw and then put the screw back in. You dont want to loose too much fluid

nicklouse

compo wrote:

I'm pushing as hard as I can, ie bending the screwdriver

I'll try cleaning the pistons.

To let the fluid out, do i just unbolt the calliper into two pieces and push the pistons a bit so some fluid dribbles out?

NO.

have you ever bled any brakes?

just open on of the bleed ports and catch any fluid or you may contaminat some pads. use the bleed port on the lever.

compo

Nope, never bled brakes: pretty clueless in this field I'm afraid

I'll do as you say re bleed ports on the lever.

I'll report back in a bit

pesky_jones

You'd be surprised how little fluid it takes. It's worth only letting a tiny amount of fluid out, and checking, untill you get it right - opposed to letting a whole load out and then not having enough fluid, and not being able to bleed.

compo

Yeah I'll do it bit by bit.

Cheers for the advice guys

roverthehill

is one of your pistons sticking? take the pads out and place something between the pistons before you press the brake lever. Watch the pistons and see if they both move.

I have a boardman and it took me about 4 hours to sort out the pistons so the disc would slot in...

compo

All sorted

I just let some fluid out of the bleed port and the pistons pushed all the way.

New pads rubbed when initially put in but after a few stop/starts they are fine

Thanks for the advice guys

pesky_jones

compo wrote:

All sorted

I just let some fluid out of the bleed port and the pistons pushed all the way.

New pads rubbed when initially put in but after a few stop/starts they are fine

Thanks for the advice guys

Glad to hear it worked out well mate. It seems avid elixirs and juicys are infamous for pistons that won't push back far enough.