Contaminated brakes?
yimpster
Posts: 15
Hi peeps,
This is my first post on here in a long time.
I have a Specialised Rockhopper for around 8 years. I don't ride much and had it serviced every now and again.
The brakes have always been top notch and very very responsive.
A couple of months ago I cleaned the bike after a ride then used some Muc Off Bike Spray afterwards which i'd never used before. Apparently I contains PTFE.
The brakes from that point were next to useless. Front is OK. Rear is pathetic (which is always my favoured brake).
I took it down to my local Evans and they suggested I replace the pads which cost me nearly £60 with fitting. I tried it myself but the Avid Juicy clips were too fiddly so took it back to the store. They told me the pads would take a while to bed in. Unfortunately they haven't after half a dozen rides or so - nothing too crazy.
When I went back to the store after a month - they said it can take 500 miles to bed in. I left the bike with them for another week and they called to tell me I need an entirely new brake system which will be £££'s.
I've no idea what to do. I was thinking about trying to replace the rotor myself if that may have got contaminated.
Any ideas - or do I really need an entirely new brake system?
Thanks in advance
Adam
This is my first post on here in a long time.
I have a Specialised Rockhopper for around 8 years. I don't ride much and had it serviced every now and again.
The brakes have always been top notch and very very responsive.
A couple of months ago I cleaned the bike after a ride then used some Muc Off Bike Spray afterwards which i'd never used before. Apparently I contains PTFE.
The brakes from that point were next to useless. Front is OK. Rear is pathetic (which is always my favoured brake).
I took it down to my local Evans and they suggested I replace the pads which cost me nearly £60 with fitting. I tried it myself but the Avid Juicy clips were too fiddly so took it back to the store. They told me the pads would take a while to bed in. Unfortunately they haven't after half a dozen rides or so - nothing too crazy.
When I went back to the store after a month - they said it can take 500 miles to bed in. I left the bike with them for another week and they called to tell me I need an entirely new brake system which will be £££'s.
I've no idea what to do. I was thinking about trying to replace the rotor myself if that may have got contaminated.
Any ideas - or do I really need an entirely new brake system?
Thanks in advance
Adam
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Comments
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I couldn't exactly find what kind of brake you have, but I will try my best. 1. Brake pads should only cost about 10£/€, I am not quite sure why they would cost you 60. 2. What you/your shop forgot was that there is most likely grease on the rotor. You should take out the wheel and the pads, clean both with alcohol (pharmacy), and then sand a very thin layer off the pads, maybe a fifth of a millimeter. Put everything together, and after 10 minutes of accelerating and braking everything should work, This has worked for me several times.-Cube Acid 29" 2013
-A new Giant Trance 3 2015!0 -
I couldn't exactly find what kind of brake you have, but I will try my best. 1. Brake pads should only cost about 10£/€, I am not quite sure why they would cost you 60. 2. What you/your shop forgot was that there is most likely grease on the rotor. You should take out the wheel and the pads, clean both with alcohol (pharmacy), and then sand a very thin layer off the pads, maybe a fifth of a millimeter. Put everything together, and after 10 minutes of accelerating and braking everything should work, This has worked for me several times.
I did both sets of pads around £15 each then £15 per set to fit
I did try myself but was too fiddly and was driving me crazy - tried googling it others had complained that the fitting was tricky so decided to let the pro's handle it.
I'll give the alcohol and sand paper a try and let you know - cheers0 -
What grade of sandpaper is best?0
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I couldn't exactly find what kind of brake you have, but I will try my best. 1. Brake pads should only cost about 10£/€, I am not quite sure why they would cost you 60. 2. What you/your shop forgot was that there is most likely grease on the rotor. You should take out the wheel and the pads, clean both with alcohol (pharmacy), and then sand a very thin layer off the pads, maybe a fifth of a millimeter. Put everything together, and after 10 minutes of accelerating and braking everything should work, This has worked for me several times.
I did both sets of pads around £15 each then £15 per set to fit
I did try myself but was too fiddly and was driving me crazy - tried googling it others had complained that the fitting was tricky so decided to let the pro's handle it.
I'll give the alcohol and sand paper a try and let you know - cheers
Well, the pad price itself is ok, but to be honest 15£ for doing something which takes 2 minutes is a bit of a ripoff...
But whatever, the main thing is that you can ride safely. You obviously need to clean the rotors, otherwise the new pads just get contaminated again. Please do me the favor and watch a video on how to change the pads, and try it.
-You need to bend the pin holding the pads straight
-slide out the pads by pushing on one side and taking them on the other
-clean everything
-slide the pads in, put a pin in and make sure to bend the pin again to make sure the pads don't fall out.
-have fun!-Cube Acid 29" 2013
-A new Giant Trance 3 2015!0 -
What grade of sandpaper is best?
Fine enough that it takes you a few minutes to remove 1/5 millimeter of the pads.
--> very fine-Cube Acid 29" 2013
-A new Giant Trance 3 2015!0 -
500 miles to bed in? Find a decent bike shop, or read Parktools and DIY.
As above clean the rotors with isopropyl alcohol, dump the pads if they're contaminated. Buy new from someone like Superstar - about a fiver per end.
And find a new bike shop - seriously.I don't do smileys.
There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda
London Calling on Facebook
Parktools0 -
500 miles to bed in? Find a decent bike shop, or read Parktools and DIY.
As above clean the rotors with isopropyl alcohol, dump the pads if they're contaminated. Buy new from someone like Superstar - about a fiver per end.
And find a new bike shop - seriously.
It's my local Evans and the only shop local to me that seems to have any bikes of any value and experienced staff.
I complained about the mechanics that worked on my bike and the information i'd been provided. I was astonished that apparently i needed to replace the entire brake system - which is why I decided to reach out to you chaps.
I tried getting pure alcohol from my local chemists and hardware store today and neither stock or will supply it. Any other ideas?0 -
Millions of gallons of it on Ebay and everywhere else on the net. Maplin sell it.
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=isopropyl+alcohol&rlz=1CALEAD_enGB649GB649&oq=isopropyl+alcohol&aqs=chrome..69i57&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=93&ie=UTF-8
Get the 99.9% pure stuff or thereabouts.
And don't drink it.I don't do smileys.
There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda
London Calling on Facebook
Parktools0 -
Millions of gallons of it on Ebay and everywhere else on the net. Maplin sell it.
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=isopropyl+alcohol&rlz=1CALEAD_enGB649GB649&oq=isopropyl+alcohol&aqs=chrome..69i57&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=93&ie=UTF-8
Get the 99.9% pure stuff or thereabouts.
And don't drink it.
I ordered from Amazon - just after i asked the question
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you don't need ipa to clean your rotor, scrub in hotwater and fairy then rinse. happened to me before so new pads and cleaned rotors job done.0
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you don't need ipa to clean your rotor, scrub in hotwater and fairy then rinse. happened to me before so new pads and cleaned rotors job done.
It depends on what you got on your brakes. I have tried that before as well, but it just didn't work well enough...
You can't do anything wrong with IPA (except drink it (DON'T)), and it will definitely get all the grease or whatever off. That's why the doctor uses ipa instead of soap...-Cube Acid 29" 2013
-A new Giant Trance 3 2015!0 -
I use it to clean all sorts of things, cheap and always handy to have a bottle around.
Fortunately for drinking I stick to beer.I don't do smileys.
There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda
London Calling on Facebook
Parktools0 -
To clarify, you wont get surgical alcohol better than 96% as it can't be achieved just by distillation, most rubbing alcohol is at best 70% and is fine (the rest is just water anyway).Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.0
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When you originally asked the shop about the brakes did you tell them it was a contamination issue? If so they should have known to clean the discs when they replaced the pads. I'd be asking them to do the job properly foc.0
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obviously you're using non branded stuff lol
fairy removes oil,grease, muc off etc from brake discs.
I'm a doctor and I use fairy :Pyou don't need ipa to clean your rotor, scrub in hotwater and fairy then rinse. happened to me before so new pads and cleaned rotors job done.
It depends on what you got on your brakes. I have tried that before as well, but it just didn't work well enough...
You can't do anything wrong with IPA (except drink it (DON'T)), and it will definitely get all the grease or whatever off. That's why the doctor uses ipa instead of soap...0 -
When you originally asked the shop about the brakes did you tell them it was a contamination issue? If so they should have known to clean the discs when they replaced the pads. I'd be asking them to do the job properly foc.
Yes I went in twice and explained the problem. After the replaced the pads and the problem remained I went back and explained again. That's when the mechanic called and said I'd need an entirely new brake system.
Regardless. I rubbed down with alcohol and and sanded the pads. The brakes are back back on form and I'm skidding all over the place which for me is a good sign they're gripping.
I'll find myself a new place to get the servicing done in future and just go there for parts when I need.
Thanks again to all of you. Was pretty cheap and very easy to do.0 -
[/quote]
I'm a doctor and I use fairy :P
I'm a patient and have been used by a fairy. Maybe we've met?
[...take your pickelf on your holibobs....
jeez :roll:0 -
When you originally asked the shop about the brakes did you tell them it was a contamination issue? If so they should have known to clean the discs when they replaced the pads. I'd be asking them to do the job properly foc.
Yes I went in twice and explained the problem. After the replaced the pads and the problem remained I went back and explained again. That's when the mechanic called and said I'd need an entirely new brake system.
Regardless. I rubbed down with alcohol and and sanded the pads. The brakes are back back on form and I'm skidding all over the place which for me is a good sign they're gripping.
I'll find myself a new place to get the servicing done in future and just go there for parts when I need.
Thanks again to all of you. Was pretty cheap and very easy to do.
Glad to hear that everything is working again! Switching shops sounds good too-Cube Acid 29" 2013
-A new Giant Trance 3 2015!0 -
you don't need ipa to clean your rotor, scrub in hotwater and fairy then rinse. happened to me before so new pads and cleaned rotors job done.
Second that 0
