Ineffective front discs

mattacjones

Hi - I have a Forme hybrid with Tektro hydraulic discs, when new all was good, after about a year front disc s just became very ineffective - you put the brakes on hard and whereas it would normally come to a sharp stop, no longer, almost as if you had only applied 3/4 pressure. So, anyway, cleaned, sanded, took in to shop and came out improved, went back to where it was, bought new pads, improved .... but now falling back into 'not very good and hope I don't end up going downhill and having to stop in a hurry' category.

Any suggestions? I'm stuck

Thanks in advance ....

sungod

are the hydraulics ok? no air in there?

mattacjones

tbh - not sure, did have them bled, and they do feel spongy-ish.

sungod

spongy isn't good

tbh it's best to learn how to diy if you can, you'll need a service kit and some tools...

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/tektro-disc-brake-service-kit/rp-prod34877
http://bicycletutor.com/bleed-tektro-auriga-comp-disc-brakes/

this thread also has info...

viewtopic.php?f=10004&t=12627592&p=15580516#p15580516

kajjal

Have you accidently got oil or similar onto the pads / rotor ?

If you have until you clean the rotor completely with a proper disc brake cleaner and then put new pads on it will not work very well. Just putting new pads on a contaminated rotor means the pads quickly become contaminated and stop working again. Soapy water will not clean oil off rotors.

ElectronShepherd

[url=http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=19648281#p19648281]Kajjal[/url] wrote:

Soapy water will not clean oil off rotors.

Don't see why not. People remove grease from metal surfaces every day using a common detergent (it's called "doing the washing up").

Personally, I use an old pan scourer. Liberally douse it in Fairy Liquid, pop it under the tap and squeeze a few times to work up a lather, take the wheels off and give both sides of the disc (I'm in England, so we have discs not rotors) a good scrub, and then rinse off.

veronese68

Wipe the discs clean with IPA* and use fresh pads. You might need new pads if the new ones you have are now contaminated with oil. I've heard various ways of cleaning them but I don't know if they work or would trust them myself.
*That's isopropyl alcohol not India pale ale by the way.

dgunthor

i use car brake cleaner on disc and pads now and again