Disc Brakes - am I a tight fisted git?

[breamster]

Hi,

The rear (hydraulic) disc brake of my hardtail has developed a leak at the brake lever. Local bike shop has quoted me £60 to replace the lever?

Is this a fair price?

Problem is that they said they will replace it with a Deore unit so I'll have mismatched brakes. Current brakes are Hayes something or other.

The bike cost me £600 7 years ago. Aside from pads the brakes haven't been touched.

Can I use this as an excuse to upgrade? Any good deals on a front and rear brake set? Can I fit them myself? Easy enough to fit? Pre-bled?

Cheers.

[Gargamel]

Take a look on chain reaction, big component sale if you can fit them.


Won't be per bled....

[Bacon Is Proof]

You can get the lever and calliper for £42 from CRC, maybe cheaper elsewhere.
£60 for just the lever is a bit steep IMO.

[Jimbo.]

Bacon Is Proof said:

You can get the lever and calliper for £42 from CRC, maybe cheaper elsewhere.
£60 for just the lever is a bit steep IMO.

If they're going from Hayes to Shimano, then it's a new lever and calliper: they're not cross-compatible, so £60, fitted and bled (no biggie) from a shop isn't too shabby.

Stuff from the likes of CRC is normally pre-bled, although chances are you'll need to shorten the hoses. If you're very lucky you might be able to get away without bleeding, otherwise. For Shimano at least it's a piece of piss.

EDIT: £90 and use your existing discs http://www.merlincycles.com/bike-shop/mtb-parts/br...

Edited by Jimbo. on Wednesday 15th May 22:34

[DRB]

You've done well to get 7 years out of a Hayes brake (nine/sole?). Replacing both with deore wouldn't be a bad move. As said, shimano lever and hayes caliper not compatible (use different fluid) so price is for a whole brake.

[SixtySpeedTwin]

Or may be just replace the seals?

[airbrakes]

Can I ask whats wrong with it being mismatched?

I upgraded my front brake to a twin-piston hydro but still have the cable operated disc on the rear because a) I cant afford it but mainly b) it doesnt need a rear hydro for what I do. As I dont have OCD, it doesnt bother me that the brakes dont match

[P-Jay]

airbrakes said:

Can I ask whats wrong with it being mismatched?

I upgraded my front brake to a twin-piston hydro but still have the cable operated disc on the rear because a) I cant afford it but mainly b) it doesnt need a rear hydro for what I do. As I dont have OCD, it doesnt bother me that the brakes dont match

It's not ideal, different lever shapes, different pull rates. bite points and whathaveyou, as you've proven it's not the end of the world, but I wouldn't like it.

[breamster]

Ah well. I am a bit OCD! Two new brakes ordered.

Bike shop wanted £140 to supply and fit deore brakes front and rear which is a bit too much to jusitfy.

Have just ordered the bits for £85. In a few days I'll find out how hard they are too fit!

[Vladimir]

I managed to fit my X0 brakes so unless you're a numpty, you'll breeze it. Just be very methodical and I'd advise bleeding them anyway.

Mind the fluid (if its DOT); nasty stuff!

[Jimbo.]

Vladimir said:

I managed to fit my X0 brakes so unless you're a numpty, you'll breeze it. Just be very methodical and I'd advise bleeding them anyway.

Mind the fluid (if its DOT); nasty stuff!

Shimanos use mineral oil, one of the main reasons why they're so damn good as it makes them so much easier to work on. Old oil? Doesn't matter. Spill a bit? Doesn't matter. Magura oil? Shimano oil? LHM? Doesn't matter.

[Vladimir]

Jimbo. said:

Shimanos use mineral oil, one of the main reasons why they're so damn good as it makes them so much easier to work on. Old oil? Doesn't matter. Spill a bit? Doesn't matter. Magura oil? Shimano oil? LHM? Doesn't matter.

I seem to remember that DOT is less prone to heating issues and tends to resist air bubbles better.

[anonymous-user]

they should come complete with fluid from the factory so unless you want to change the hose length, just bolt them on and away you go... front hose will be 900mm, rear will be 1600mm

[Jimbo.]

Vladimir said:

I seem to remember that DOT is less prone to heating issues and tends to resist air bubbles better.

Maybe, but not really an issue on bikes, at least not in my experience from DH'ing in the Alps, fart-arsing around in Wales etc, etc.