Hi All,
Supposed to be heading to Buxton in the morning for some long overdue single track action.
Just took my bike for a quick test squirt and noticed the front brakes were a bit spongey.
They not pulling me up! Not knowing much about them I got the pads out and had a look, seemed alright?
Then stupidly unscrewed the little cap next to the lever and oil came pouring out the reservoir!
So 2 questions, what could've been causing them to have stopped pulling me up and do I just need to retop up the oil in re reservoir?
Shimano Deore XT front brakes,
Thanks and fingers crossed I can ride tomorrow!!!
XT brake problem- Help!
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- bychosis
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Re: XT brake problem- Help!
Postby bychosis » Sun Apr 26, 2015 4:12 pm
Sounds like they need a bleed. Search the Internet for insurrections and let us know how you get on.
Autocorrect fixed instructions for me, but an insurrection might do the trick.
Autocorrect fixed instructions for me, but an insurrection might do the trick.
bychosis (bahy-koh-sis): A mental disorder of delusions indicating impaired contact with a reality of no bicycles.
- trailgumby
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Re: XT brake problem- Help!
Postby trailgumby » Sun Apr 26, 2015 4:22 pm
Are the brakes squealing at all? Have you used WD40 or similar, or something like Mr Sheen, around your bike recently? Getting any of those products on the disc rotors will concrapinate your pads irretrievably the first time you use the brakes (so too late now), unless you've realised what you've done immediately and cleaned them with disc brake cleaner before touching the brake levers.
If so, the only solution is to clean the rotors and replace the pads. They're gawn!
When bleeding, it must be done with the brake block installed (or something the same width) and with the pads out (again, lest you contaminate them).
How do I know these things? Don't ask
If so, the only solution is to clean the rotors and replace the pads. They're gawn!
When bleeding, it must be done with the brake block installed (or something the same width) and with the pads out (again, lest you contaminate them).
How do I know these things? Don't ask
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Re: XT brake problem- Help!
Postby digbyj » Sun Apr 26, 2015 4:37 pm
Thanks for the quick replies, I was already googling so have worked out I need to do a brake bleed. Might grab some new pads while I'm at it to be sure. Looks like I'll be riding the roadie tomoro
- Duck!
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Re: XT brake problem- Help!
Postby Duck! » Sun Apr 26, 2015 7:39 pm
Spongey & not pulling up are not necessarily the same thing. Sponginess also does not necessarily mean a bleed is required (but won't hurt). A misaligned or bent rotor will cause a spongy feel as the pads shove it around to suit the caliper alignment. A bent rotor will push the pistons back into the caliper, so that will also give a long lever stroke as you continually need to pump the brakes up.
If the lever feel is good but you're just not pulling up that's an indicator that your pads are probably glazed from overheating & basically baking & polishing the surface, reducing their friction. Take the pads out, give them a thorough sanding to scuff the surface and they should be good. Check that you don't have a dragging pad, and adjust caliper alignment if necessary. And don't feather the brakes; either grab a fistful or not at all.
If the lever feel is good but you're just not pulling up that's an indicator that your pads are probably glazed from overheating & basically baking & polishing the surface, reducing their friction. Take the pads out, give them a thorough sanding to scuff the surface and they should be good. Check that you don't have a dragging pad, and adjust caliper alignment if necessary. And don't feather the brakes; either grab a fistful or not at all.
I had a thought, but it got run over as it crossed my mind.
- toolonglegs
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Re: XT brake problem- Help!
Postby toolonglegs » Sun Apr 26, 2015 9:20 pm
What you could of done before fiddling with the reservoir would be to tape up the lever hard against the bar for a couple of hours... it is an old trick we used to do with motorbikes to firm up the feel. But after dumping out fluid from the reservoir you will probably need a proper bleed now.
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Re: XT brake problem- Help!
Postby digbyj » Mon Apr 27, 2015 4:24 pm
Thanks for the continued advice. I was feathering a fair bit the other week as have done a couple of climbs up the Donna Buang summer road, one in the wet.
Went to buy a bleed kit today, 100 bucks! Think I'll see if I can put my own together, was a couple of plastic things, some pipe and a fancy trigger thing which I don't think I need. I think the only bit ill have to get specifically is the cup with the funny thing in it.
Wish me luck and thanks again!
Went to buy a bleed kit today, 100 bucks! Think I'll see if I can put my own together, was a couple of plastic things, some pipe and a fancy trigger thing which I don't think I need. I think the only bit ill have to get specifically is the cup with the funny thing in it.
Wish me luck and thanks again!
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Re: XT brake problem- Help!
Postby cobba » Mon Apr 27, 2015 5:05 pm
That's a bit steep, you can get them a lot cheaper then that.digbyj wrote:Went to buy a bleed kit today, 100 bucks!
http://www.pushys.com.au/shimano-tl-bt0 ... -kit.html?
http://www.merlincycles.com/shimano-201 ... 7361.html?
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Re: XT brake problem- Help!
Postby digbyj » Mon Apr 27, 2015 7:20 pm
Yeah that's certainly a more realistic price, plus need the oil. The other kit I think was the pro kit so has like a mechanical trigger system.
Thanks for doing the research for me, now I don't have to!
Thanks for doing the research for me, now I don't have to!
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