Brakes still crap
Discussion
Hi all,
I posted a while back about my deore hydraulic disks on my rockhopper being weak..
I had them taken to the bike shop and looked at, he did the best he could on them ,and they are still pretty bad. Not able to lock either wheel up when I am riding, and my riding is mostly road too, not DH..
So what do I do?
Can I buy bigger rotors? Do I sell them and get some better ones?
All I want is to be able to bring the bike to instant stop, and at the minute they don't. May it be my weight 15.5 stone?
I posted a while back about my deore hydraulic disks on my rockhopper being weak..
I had them taken to the bike shop and looked at, he did the best he could on them ,and they are still pretty bad. Not able to lock either wheel up when I am riding, and my riding is mostly road too, not DH..
So what do I do?
Can I buy bigger rotors? Do I sell them and get some better ones?
All I want is to be able to bring the bike to instant stop, and at the minute they don't. May it be my weight 15.5 stone?
It may well be your weight. Don't forget that with road riding, it's going to be harder to lock up because of the friction between the tyres and the road, it'll be easier on a loose surface! I have juicy 3's on mine and can just about get them to lock up on the road and I weigh 12stone but had no trouble locking them up on some of the decents at afan.... 
Disc brakes should still lock up, even on a road. Sounds like there is definitely something wrong with them, but if you LBS has had a look then i am at a loss as to suggest what the problem mighrt be. How old are they? Perhaps a chat with Shimano to see if they will repair/replace? If not, and you personally are not happy with them (brakes are a very important feature and the rider must feel safe with them) then perhaps treat yourself to some new ones. You can get a pair of Juicy 3's for £75 here -
http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/mountain-bike-disc-b...
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http://www.merlincycles.co.uk/mountain-bike-disc-b...
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AyBee said:
It may well be your weight. Don't forget that with road riding, it's going to be harder to lock up because of the friction between the tyres and the road, it'll be easier on a loose surface! I have juicy 3's on mine and can just about get them to lock up on the road and I weigh 12stone but had no trouble locking them up on some of the decents at afan....
It's not his weight, and I'd also be questioning your brakes if you can only just get them to lock up on tarmac!I'm 18 stone, and I have absolutely no problem locking up the tyres on the road on my bike if I choose to. Not sure which Shimano brakes they are, but they came as standard on a Spesh FSR XC Pro, so they're not going to be top of the range.
Well I might buy some new pads.
But if that doesn't solve the issue its £25 down the drain.
I asked him how he thought he got on with them, he said yeh we got them working really nice. I got on, they are better than before, and they don't make odd noises under pressure, but they are still a LOT weakrer than my previous brakes, and even my HS33 MAgura rim brakes would be far stronger..
But if that doesn't solve the issue its £25 down the drain.
I asked him how he thought he got on with them, he said yeh we got them working really nice. I got on, they are better than before, and they don't make odd noises under pressure, but they are still a LOT weakrer than my previous brakes, and even my HS33 MAgura rim brakes would be far stronger..
HS33 are pretty strong brakes. I have them on my 11 year old hartail and they're still pretty hard to beat. Bit on the heavy side though. But with the red pads, they're better than my Discs.
I have the Deore Discs and whilst they're ok they do require a bit of a yeank to get the power out of them and I'm only 10.5 stone.
Does sound like your pads could be at fault. Have you degreased the discs?
If you didn't want to buy new pads then you could always try and find someone with the same brakes and swap them to test.
I have the Deore Discs and whilst they're ok they do require a bit of a yeank to get the power out of them and I'm only 10.5 stone.
Does sound like your pads could be at fault. Have you degreased the discs?
If you didn't want to buy new pads then you could always try and find someone with the same brakes and swap them to test.
Wildfire said:
HS33 are pretty strong brakes. I have them on my 11 year old hartail and they're still pretty hard to beat. Bit on the heavy side though. But with the red pads, they're better than my Discs.
I have the Deore Discs and whilst they're ok they do require a bit of a yeank to get the power out of them and I'm only 10.5 stone.
Does sound like your pads could be at fault. Have you degreased the discs?
If you didn't want to buy new pads then you could always try and find someone with the same brakes and swap them to test.
The shop degresed and sanded them.. I know the Magura's are strong, the Hayes I had were immense, but these just seem sI have the Deore Discs and whilst they're ok they do require a bit of a yeank to get the power out of them and I'm only 10.5 stone.
Does sound like your pads could be at fault. Have you degreased the discs?
If you didn't want to buy new pads then you could always try and find someone with the same brakes and swap them to test.
t I'd be inclined to ditch them for a set of 2nd hand hope m4's at this rate! I need stopping power!!SLX's are a benchmark brake so if you have problems with them then it's going to be either you or the bike rather than the brakes. That said swapping them for another brand would be the. If you liked your previous set then source another set of those - should be able find a set on eBay or STW.
okgo said:
The shop degresed and sanded them..
Thats as good as useless and a shop should know better really.you need a tin of fenwicks brake cleaner, and some new pads.
seriously - I would put money on it. Your brakes are fine - your pads and discs are contaminated.
sanding them, cooking them, heating them up, washing them... all tales you hear on the internet. They do not work.
look at superstar components for some cheap pads.
Should be a straight swap.
There's certainly the possibility that he brakes are faulty - Pipe had a Hope mini mono that just wouldn't work and ended up being replaced by Hope as they couldn't sort it either.
As for your weight. Not a problem. I'm 14-stone odd and run 160/140 discs on my commuter and can lock both front and rear wheels easily. I run 160/160 on my XC bike and again can easily lock the wheels up (on or off road). Use bigger on the Trail and DH bikes though.
There's certainly the possibility that he brakes are faulty - Pipe had a Hope mini mono that just wouldn't work and ended up being replaced by Hope as they couldn't sort it either.
As for your weight. Not a problem. I'm 14-stone odd and run 160/140 discs on my commuter and can lock both front and rear wheels easily. I run 160/160 on my XC bike and again can easily lock the wheels up (on or off road). Use bigger on the Trail and DH bikes though.
mk1fan said:
Should be a straight swap.
There's certainly the possibility that he brakes are faulty - Pipe had a Hope mini mono that just wouldn't work and ended up being replaced by Hope as they couldn't sort it either.
As for your weight. Not a problem. I'm 14-stone odd and run 160/140 discs on my commuter and can lock both front and rear wheels easily. I run 160/160 on my XC bike and again can easily lock the wheels up (on or off road). Use bigger on the Trail and DH bikes though.
Ok, what bits do I sell then? Just the levers and calipers?There's certainly the possibility that he brakes are faulty - Pipe had a Hope mini mono that just wouldn't work and ended up being replaced by Hope as they couldn't sort it either.
As for your weight. Not a problem. I'm 14-stone odd and run 160/140 discs on my commuter and can lock both front and rear wheels easily. I run 160/160 on my XC bike and again can easily lock the wheels up (on or off road). Use bigger on the Trail and DH bikes though.
And when I buy the new ones, I get new levers calipers, hoses, and a set of pads? What about the rotors?
Thanks
okgo said:
mk1fan said:
Should be a straight swap.
There's certainly the possibility that he brakes are faulty - Pipe had a Hope mini mono that just wouldn't work and ended up being replaced by Hope as they couldn't sort it either.
As for your weight. Not a problem. I'm 14-stone odd and run 160/140 discs on my commuter and can lock both front and rear wheels easily. I run 160/160 on my XC bike and again can easily lock the wheels up (on or off road). Use bigger on the Trail and DH bikes though.
Ok, what bits do I sell then? Just the levers and calipers?There's certainly the possibility that he brakes are faulty - Pipe had a Hope mini mono that just wouldn't work and ended up being replaced by Hope as they couldn't sort it either.
As for your weight. Not a problem. I'm 14-stone odd and run 160/140 discs on my commuter and can lock both front and rear wheels easily. I run 160/160 on my XC bike and again can easily lock the wheels up (on or off road). Use bigger on the Trail and DH bikes though.
And when I buy the new ones, I get new levers calipers, hoses, and a set of pads? What about the rotors?
Thanks
If yo can afford too then why not source the new brakes and then sell what's left after fitting them?
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