Whyte brake hoses

bikerdude69

I own a Whytes 805 650B
Looking for some advice as I seem to have a recurring issue with brake hoses swelling, this happened to the front one last year so I took it to the shop where I purchased it and it was bled and a little fluid removed.
After having not used it for the last few months I decided to go for a ride today only to find the front wheel locked solid and the rear not far behind.
Has anyone come across this before, my previous bike had no such issue in the four years I owned it so I'm guessing it may be the quality of the hoses and that I may need to replace them.
Thanks in advance.

kickaxe

What brakes do you have?

cooldad

I've never heard of brake hoses swelling, and if so why remove fluid?

Bleeding is for removing air.

And what he says.^^^^^^^^^

bikerdude69

From what the bike shop told me, they remove fluid as when the hose swells it causes excess pressure which pushes the pad onto the rotor, brakes are elxr1's.
I searched the net as I thought I would find something if this was a common problem but found nothing, it's a 2014 bike but has had little use as I also have a couple of other bikes and with working longish hours I tend to grab one of those when I get a chance to ride.

rockmonkeysc

Seems like a strange thing to happen. Brake hoses are reinforced, not just plastic tubes.
Elixirs are the most unreliable brakes you could have. They need regular bleeding and never feel quite right. Awful brakes.

The Rookie

Its BS, if the hoses swelled (got bigger) it would mean you wouldn't have enough fluid! They use what are effectively the same hose as everyone else and I am using 2006 hoses that work just fine!

If the hoses swelled why didn't they replace them?

There is an issue with Avids doing this sometimes, but nothing to do with the brake hose, in fact no-one seems sure why it happens although various theories come out such as
1/ Poor control of expansion volume in the Avid lever assembly so it can't cope with enough fluid expansion
2/ Water absorption through the porous castings
1/ Is certainly possible, I personally think 2 is more BS to explain something that no-one (unless Avid know and are keeping quiet) know why it's happening.

It certainly seems to crop up more in spring into summer as it gets warmer suggesting 1 is more likely the truth, if so Avid would keep quiet as the only solution is a new lever!