Avid Brakes

delete_my_account

I'm replacing the pads on my Elixir brakes which I've done a million times before but this time they're being an arse. I'm replacing the back ones with the front ones, and the front ones with new.

In the back I've pushed the pistons back with a screwdriver and the old pads. I've put the front (part worn) pads in the back, put the bolt in, wheel on. The pads are nowhere near the rotor.

No amount of squeezing the lever is making the pads stay closer to the rotor. Both pads are moving but they're not adjusting themselves like usual.

I removed the wheel and pumped the lever more and replaced the wheel. No better.

What do I do?

The Rookie

Don't pump them rapidly, pull the lever, hold for a few seconds to (hopefully) let the seal settle, then release slowly and repeat.

TJ20862

they may require a bleed as you may have pushed too much fluid out of the caliper?

The Rookie

TJ20862 wrote:

they may require a bleed as you may have pushed too much fluid out of the caliper?

Erm, just no, what a load of twaddle.

From your other posts, you say you work in Halfords, please try not to perpetuate the myth that you are all knowledge less about bikes.

delete_my_account

Haha, no fluid came out of the calliper. If I'm pushing the pistons into the calliper this makes it even less likely.

I ended up adjusting the levers' reach all the way out which meant that when I pulled the lever the pistons were actually adjusting themselves rather than just retracting to where they were before. Never had to do that before though. I don't like Avid brakes. Been thinking about getting some SLXs or some XTs