Brakes need bleeding?

[tjdixon911]

Over the last couple of rides I have noticed my Brakes have started to stick, I took the pads out gave them a clean and put them all back together again and they seem to rub the disk all the time, I don't think the pads are retracting as they should, is this a sign they need bleeding or something else?

[WinstonWolf]

It's not bleeding, that would make them feel spongy. Something is sticking...

[2DDav]

Could be crud on the piston thats not allowing them to retract properly.
Also worth checking that you brake disc is running straight and true, slight bend will cause rubbing, a quick caliper re-alignment could also help.

[deadtom]

its possible but unlikely that your problem is air in the system. it sounds like the calipers are sticking

[deadtom]

are they sticking to the point that they actually slow you down? or just that you can hear them dragging?

if the latter, it could just be the caliper has come out of alignment or there is crap on the pads and rotor

[WinstonWolf]

Just thought, loosen the caliper bolts, squeeze the brake and tighten while keeping the lever pulled in. This will centre a single piston caliper.

[gazza285]

Are they Avids? One of my bikes has Avids on and they do this. I open the bleed nipple and let out a little fluid, the pistons then retract, and the brakes then work fine for a couple of weeks. Eventually they'll start binding again to the point where they are holding me back and the process is repeated.

No doubt I'll run out of fluid at some point, but I might have put some brakes that work properly on the bike by then.

[Athlon]

The Avids on my bike do as above also!

[Watchman]

MY Avids did too but after releasing some fluid, they have been fine.

[tjdixon911]

The brakes are Avids.

I had another go with them yesterday, when I retract the pistons I notice they creep back out, I will have to have a go at the releasing fluid as suggested above...

[megaphone]

My Hayes brakes do this, but it's seasonal! More in the winter than the summer, maybe the fund is expanding or contracting due to temperature? However it appears to be the wrong way around! I let out a few drops of fluid and it stopped the problem.

[richardxjr]

You could try the push pistons out - lubricate - let some fluid out - hope not to have to bleed them

You could buy the proper kit and rebuild the piston.

Or you could buy some Shimanos (any, seriously, even 395s are excellent, but Deore and SLX are best value), flog the Avids on eBay and never worry about finicky brakes again.

(No need to change disks)

[tjdixon911]

richardxjr said:

Or you could buy some Shimanos (any, seriously, even 395s are excellent, but Deore and SLX are best value), flog the Avids on eBay and never worry about finicky brakes again.

(No need to change disks)

Oooh buy some new shiny stuff, this sounds like a great solution.... my brakes have the shifter mounted on the single clamp, is this compatible with the SLX brakes, they look a good deal @ £109 a set...

[richardxjr]

Possibly. Mine came with a i-spec-something mount (which I took off). Buy em anyway

[tjdixon911]

richardxjr said:

Possibly. Mine came with a i-spec-something mount (which I took off). Buy em anyway

I've been looking into this, It doesn't seem that they are compatible with SRAM X7 shifters unless someone can tell me otherwise? What's the solution?

[richardxjr]

Take off the ispec mount and you're left with a normal bar mount. So should work with any shifter?

[tjdixon911]

The issue I have is that my current AVID/SRAM set up is a combined I-spec bracket, I don't think the SRAM shifter will attach to the Shimano I-spec bracket - I've been reading about an adaptor being available but can't find one anywhere... could I convert the shifters back to a standard bracket (which I don't have..)

[richardxjr]

Sorry, SRAM/AVID free zone here thankfully.

[shalmaneser]

OP you're correct, you'll need to get new shifters as well :-(.

It sounds like the pistons are corroded it's quite common on Avids unfortunately.

You can try taking the brakes off the bike, removing the pads and (carefully!!!!) pressing the brake lever so the pistons expose themselves a bit to look for crud and damage. get it nice an clean with brake cleaner/carb cleaner and lubricate with a tiny bit of DOT fluid (only a tiny bit, it will ruin your pads if you get any on them!). Give them a wipe off and squash them back into the caliper with a flat tool like a blunt knife. You should then be able to cycle them in-out a few times to loosen them up. They'll need relatively frequent check ups though.

Or just buys some SLXs + X9 shifters.

[tjdixon911]

shalmaneser said:

OP you're correct, you'll need to get new shifters as well :-(.

It sounds like the pistons are corroded it's quite common on Avids unfortunately.

You can try taking the brakes off the bike, removing the pads and (carefully!!!!) pressing the brake lever so the pistons expose themselves a bit to look for crud and damage. get it nice an clean with brake cleaner/carb cleaner and lubricate with a tiny bit of DOT fluid (only a tiny bit, it will ruin your pads if you get any on them!). Give them a wipe off and squash them back into the caliper with a flat tool like a blunt knife. You should then be able to cycle them in-out a few times to loosen them up. They'll need relatively frequent check ups though.

Or just buys some SLXs + X9 shifters.

More new stuff? always the solution!