avid elixir brakes locking in hot weather

markhusbands

Hi guys, as anyone ever had their brakes lock up from being out in the hot weather before? I've posted a couple of times on here regards my avids.I've figured out possibly what's wrong with them, after a lot of internet searching it seems quite common in avids hydro brakes to lock up in heat as the dot fluid has gone off, you wouldn't think it for a bike less than a year old.

WindyG

Never experienced it on mine, I was out racing in the sun yesterday without any issues and mine are Elixir 5's are about 18 months old.

markhusbands

What they would of been overfilled from the factory? When we had hot days last year they never locked like this before.

Super Dee

Had this happen on Saturday. Went to go for a ride with my son and thought I'd take the Camber (elixir 5sl) but the rear brake was locked on. I took my 29er that has elixir 3's and that was ok.

I couldn't get the Camber to release the rotor, even after a wheel out / push pads back attempt.

In fact, the front wheel was in the sun when I was working on the back wheel and then that locked for a while. By the evening the front had freed up but was rubbing slightly.

I got the back free by taking the pads out (the pistons seemed to be sitting flush with their caliper housing) and letting a tiny bit of fluid out.

Both worked last evening when I tested it round the block, although the front is making a grumbling noise despite healthy material left on the pad.

The joys of modern mtbing hey!

.blitz

Yup same day, same brake, same problem

Was just getting the Voltage out of the shed and realised I was dragging it instead of wheeling it. Back brake was on. Stood it in the sun for half an hour and the brake was on even more.

Had a look on Sunday (it had eased off a bit by then but still draggy). Both pistons move evenly and can be pushed back as expected but after a few seconds they start to creep forward and after several minutes in the sun they are probably a millimetre out. Combine this movement with new-ish pads and there's not a lot of pad/rotor clearance.

Released the bleed valve and let out a dribble of fluid and all was well but I know when the weather cools down the brake will feel soft.

markhusbands

Thanks for your replys guys, wow seems I'm not alone here, what's. Your situation with your bike's ie have you ever bled them at all? Or have they not been done since new. I've now ordered a bleed kit to see if it will help or is it a case of while the weather as hot, letting a bit of fluid out and then come winter bleed the system and top up for oil, just seems very high maintinence which I understand being hydraulics but really! Haha

.blitz

They've been bled but it doesn't make any difference. Probably like yours, the feel at the lever was/is pretty good - firm but not solid - and when they're not dragging they work consistently and reliably. They just seem to be more sensitive to ambient temperature than other brakes. Having let a bit of fluid out they will be OK now until the temperature falls below 10 degrees or so :?

markhusbands

Right ok, maybe I should hold on the bleed then, as I know normally tell tale signs of a bleed is squidgy lever where as mine is nice and solid stiff still. Do you bleed from the lever or caliper? If its a case of occasional fluid release in the hot days then do a total bleed in the winter? As that constant fluid I'll be letting out will surely need replacing right?

Super Dee

I took mine for a quick so in at lunch today. Just 5 miles buy the brakes worked OK.

bob6397

I had this on my elixir 3's as well - went to get it from the rack yesterday to find that the rear (but not the front in the same conditions) was rubbing - luckily it wasn't locked on and i could still get home, even if it was a little slower than usual

As far as i can tell, the rear does has more fluid in it compared to the front as well - does anyone have any tips for bleeding them ? (never done hydraulic brake maintenance before other than align caliper and check for pad wear...

bob6397

markhusbands

I've never bled brakes before, I've ordered a kit to do so tho. But it would seem that these avids do just lock up in hot conditions, ive been told even if I do a bleed then its likely they will lock again so not sure what to do now. But regards to bleeding their are plenty of decent YouTube videos to follow and they are easy to follow as well.

Initialised

It's not the fluid it's air in the fluid.

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/tech-tuesd ... -2010.html

The most important bit is de-gassing. If you don't do this air dissolved in the fluid will expand in the heat and jam your brakes.

You need to get the air out by de-gassing a syringe of fluid, attaching it to the lever , push the fluid in and then pull the air out, repeat until no more bubbles come up.

Don't let fluid out, except in a 'get me home' emergency, you'll regret it when the temperatures drop and you can't stop.

bob6397

thanks!!

markhusbands

*update* after finally managing to log in to my account after being stuck in a bug/glitch in the new beta version of bike radar I can finally give a update to my situation, problem fixed,bled rear brake and the rear brakes seems better than ever,air seemed to be the problem,so after bleed used,tested,sat bike in hot weather and no issues to report,thanks to all that replyed,mark

mc625569

For what its worth - I have elixir 1's that I bought in 2012. Never had any issues with them and rode them regularly in 90-100 degree weather.

I took a 4 month break from riding, took my bike out today in hot weather about 90 degrees and within 5 minutes of riding rear brakes seized.

I took it to my LBS, he took one look and said avid stopped making elixir 1's and he guaranteed me SRAM would replace the brakes due to problems with seizing. He called me back later in the day to say SRAM had shipped the new brakes out to me, and they'd be replacing them at no cost.

This is the second time I've seen ELiXir brakes lock (1s and 5's) in heat, and after having the bike be inactive for a number of months.