Wobbly Brake Lever
Graydawg
Posts: 673
Well Guys - came off my bike at speed this afternoon - and as i landed i managed to pop the brake lever out and was sitting round like it was a broken finger!! the little rod with the ball joint was hanging out so I popped it back into the socket on the brake and it seems to be a little wobbly now. :shock:
The brake still works and are still springing back but you can move the lever out a little more, almost like something is loose? I have checked and can see the bit (forgive me for the lack of technical wording) that the push rod screws into is looser than the other undamaged side? Is there any way that this can be re tightened?
Can I get a replacement one of these or will it need a whole new assembly?
The brakes are Tektro's Auriga Comp.
Thanks in advance!
The brake still works and are still springing back but you can move the lever out a little more, almost like something is loose? I have checked and can see the bit (forgive me for the lack of technical wording) that the push rod screws into is looser than the other undamaged side? Is there any way that this can be re tightened?
Can I get a replacement one of these or will it need a whole new assembly?
The brakes are Tektro's Auriga Comp.
Thanks in advance!
It's been a while...
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Not 100% familiar with your brakes, but a new washer should be all that is required, you will need circlip pliers to remove the circlip in front of the washer.
You will have to unscrew the push rod from the lever to fit the new washer, but all easy stuff to do.
i could see the circlip is still in place - ive got some photos of it below.... dunno if they are any use to you?
the last photo there i am holding up the bit that appears to be loose? there is more play there when you press the brake lever that in the push rod...?
The lever could pop back out at any time on a ride, but if you always cover that brake then you should be OK till you get to the LBS.
The push rod will wobble a little in it's bushes, it's pretty normal for it to do so
First bike with hydraulic brakes and push rods! I reckon too with it being the first "off" it's one of these things that's going to annoy the living daylights out of me till i get it sorted!! :roll:
Anyway - another one of my bike shops said they reckon they'll have a spare that will do the trick - sad thing is i wont get it in till this Saturday - so have to put up with a wobbly brake lever till then
And my shoulder hurts - Guess its a hard reality check when you come off your bike and smack the rocks.
http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLq ... 130c003177
http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/ebwPNLq ... 130c003177
The push pin might have been damaged, but it's usually the washer that goes.
took it to my local bike shop who wernt sure on getting the parts but wanted to take a hammer to the washer.
i smiled and walked away
if its like mine you will just have an annoying rattle but my lever hasnt popped out yet
Im guessing if worst comes to the worst I could pop down to my local hardware shop and get a washer from there for 10pence!
It would probably do the same job as that would appear to be all that's wrong!..... I hope! lol
Went into the LBS on Saturday they took a look at it and said there wasn't anything they could do to fix the problem.
So I went to my local hardware store and bought a pair of Circlip pliers and took the washer out myself!
It was all burst out of place. They said it was a "specialist" washer - but TBH a washer is just a washer - so i pressed this one back into shape and reinserted it all together again..... low and behold - perfect! No more play - and the brake lever is nice and sharp again!
At least i know what to do if the problem reoccurs in future!
Maybe I should tell the LBS :roll: :roll:
Well done for fixing it, but one word of warning - IF (I don't know if this is the case) the lever assembly is anything like Hayes be very careful when the lever pops out like that. I did the same stacking my DH bike, popped the ball joint back in and covered the lever with my finger as usual and carried on like normal for the day.
On return home I stopped by my LBS who had a replacement for the circlip that had popped out and fixed viola! They also let me know that the circlip doesn't just hold in the ball joint of the lever - it also keeps all the gubbins of the master cylinder within the lever housing and I'd been lucky that it hadn't all popped out! Seeing as it seems parts for this Tektro brakes aren't readily available around your way I'd recommend you at least find a replacement circlip from a DIY store or something (there's no such thing as a specialist circlip). Should the worst happen and it fires all the gubbins out of the lever (they're spring loaded so that they return against the lever), at best it'll need a rebleed, at worst you'll be rooting around for parts!
My HFX9's have been fine since so don't loose any sleep over it - just thought I should warn you (assuming it is a similar system to the Hayes).
John