Got my first dual suspension but with weak front brakes
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Got my first dual suspension but with weak front brakes
Postby jeff_o » Tue Nov 01, 2011 10:13 pm
It was seldom used and not abused which is good, but it was stored for quite sometime. everything works fine, just needed tuning except for the front brakes. It's Hayes Solo hydraulic and the fronts are just weak. lever felt good, no air and possibly no need to bleed. but is there anything else i should check for the weak front brakes?
the previous owner must've been spraying wd40 all over the bike as there's damp dust marks in all moving parts. also rear tire is out of true... i never tried truing myself... is there anyone living near macquarie center who can give me a hand? i'm new to MTBiking, but have been building my road bikes for years.
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Re: Got my first dual suspension but with weak front brakes
Postby Mulger bill » Tue Nov 01, 2011 10:46 pm
WD40 on the frame helps stop mud adhesion.
Truing the wheels is no different to a roadie.
IIRC, the Hayes Sole is a single piston unit so you may have to manually adjust the inside pad to compensate for wear.
Enjoy getting dirty.
Shaun
London Boy 29/12/2011
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Re: Got my first dual suspension but with weak front brakes
Postby jeff_o » Wed Nov 02, 2011 9:46 pm
remounted tires, readjusted hub bearing tension, cleaned wheelset and disc, cleaned cassette, remounted cassette, repacked headset bearing, cleaned fork, cleaned calipers and pads, tuned transmission... phew 1 day is not enough.
anyways i checked my front brakes and it was gooey with oil from the fork. i guess that's the reason why i have weak front brakes. so i degreased the pads, washed with soap and reinstalled and readjusted. but now both front and back brakes are weak. any ideas? do i have to break the brakes in after a brake job? they felt worse than a mechanical disc brake.
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Re: Got my first dual suspension but with weak front brakes
Postby drubie » Wed Nov 02, 2011 9:54 pm
Next - my guess is that your pads are contaminated and/or maladjusted like Mulger Bill said. Find the adjustment procedure for them and maybe track down some new pads front and rear. Muddy water seems to clear disk pads on a mountain bike of oil, but it's kind of a harsh treatment.
but really, that's rubbish. We get none of it because the choices are illusory.
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Re: Got my first dual suspension but with weak front brakes
Postby Mulger bill » Wed Nov 02, 2011 10:46 pm
How much would you be prepared to pay for a set of <8 hrs old Avid Elixir 5s with a 185 front rotor (and blue hoses)?
London Boy 29/12/2011
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Re: Got my first dual suspension but with weak front brakes
Postby jeff_o » Wed Nov 02, 2011 10:54 pm
i did adjust them fine, and you're right, 1 side is threaded piston and only 1 side is moving with the lever. there is 1 small allen key hole which i dunno what it does (i'm sure it's not the bleeder).
lol thanks mulger for the offer but i'm just bankrupt for now after buying this bike whaat colors are they btw and how much are you selling them? pm me crap here i go again... hide my wallet!
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Re: Got my first dual suspension but with weak front brakes
Postby Mulger bill » Wed Nov 02, 2011 11:10 pm
Pretty much basic black apart from the hoses.
I'm not real sure about price as I haven't really decided whether to sell them or keep as spares. Chances are big that they'll still be around once your wallet recovers, get in touch then and we'll have a yarn.
Shaun
London Boy 29/12/2011
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Re: Got my first dual suspension but with weak front brakes
Postby jeff_o » Wed Nov 02, 2011 11:20 pm
i'll try these brakes for now and think about upgrade in the future. your bike looks sweet!
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Re: Got my first dual suspension but with weak front brakes
Postby Mulger bill » Wed Nov 02, 2011 11:33 pm
The brakes will be waiting if you decide to go that way.
London Boy 29/12/2011
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Re: Got my first dual suspension but with weak front brakes
Postby Mugglechops » Thu Nov 03, 2011 12:33 pm
They were bottom of the line when they came out. They only have a very small pad and one piston.
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Re: Got my first dual suspension but with weak front brakes
Postby jeff_o » Thu Nov 03, 2011 1:02 pm
my discs are 160mm and it seems the calipers are built for 160. if i want to upgrade to 180mm discs, do i replace the calipers as well?
when i buy calipers, do i have to know the size? like this caliper is only for 160mm, this for 180mm. how about the mounting hole (since the fork/frame mounting bolts would remain the same)? does that mean the calipers would have longer arms to fit the 180mm?
just like what mulger's front brakes... .185mm. if i buy his brakes, would i still be able to use my current 160mm? or i would have to buy the 185mm disc as well?
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Re: Got my first dual suspension but with weak front brakes
Postby trailgumby » Thu Nov 03, 2011 1:39 pm
Then PM me and we'll organise to get you over to my place and we'll put some fresh fluid in and bleed them for you.
Yes, you do have to bed pads in if you've swapped them between ends of the bike, changed pads, swapped wheelsets, sneezed on them, yada yada. Normally a couple of passes hard on the brakes from speed (but rolling out of the brakes before you come to a halt) like you would with a car will do the job. Depends on how hard the pads are.
Hayes So1e's aren't too bad - at least they aren't as 'sudden' as the Nines, but being single piston they are a bit fiddly to centre on the disc.
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Re: Got my first dual suspension but with weak front brakes
Postby Gabe » Fri Nov 04, 2011 4:04 pm
Anyway, interesting thread since I will eventually have to do the first maintenance on my brakes as well
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Re: Got my first dual suspension but with weak front brakes
Postby jeff_o » Fri Nov 04, 2011 4:10 pm
took em out last night for a good boiling water soak/alcohol clean... installed them back and they felt much better. we'll see
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Re: Got my first dual suspension but with weak front brakes
Postby trailgumby » Fri Nov 04, 2011 7:03 pm
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Re: Got my first dual suspension but with weak front brakes
Postby jeff_o » Fri Nov 04, 2011 11:24 pm
no problem. cool, congrats to your daughter. have fun in Melb. good chance to buy parts there... i heard it's cheaper over there?trailgumby wrote:I'm away from Tuesday to Saturday showing her Royal Cuteness the sights of Melbourne (daughter has just finished Higher School Certificate exams), and will be staying internet free for the duration ... so I'm not ignoring you if I don't respond, m'kay?
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