Hydraulic Brakes

[mike9009]

Hi all,

I have never had hydraulic brakes until I bought my Boardman earlier this year. When I apply the brakes, I get a juddering running through the frame (from front and rear brakes) and to my naïve, untrained experience it feels like the brakes need bleeding.....

I have probably done about 300 miles on it, but very light use in reality (especially on the brakes)

Is this possible? Or is it grit, brakes bedding in, or something else?

TIA

Mike

[Justin S]

As a newbie to brakes using discs, you must be aware of not contaminating them with any kind of oil etc. If you spray the gears etc, be careful of overspray. Even greasy fingers don't help either. The hydraulic system is usually a pretty reliable system, but still needs care to set up correctly. The calipers and pads need to be perfectly in line with the disc and made need a slight adjustment, as can cause noisy brakes. Also, the pads may have glazed over, so removing them and a bit of wet and dry on the pads, flat on a bench, will cure this. Also run the wet and dry over the discs and wipe off with electrical cleaner or meths etc. Then riding up the road and braking hard a few times will bed them in again. There are plenty of videos on you tube which can help you visually to sort issues out. Bleeding is only really needed if it is spongy and lots of lever travel etc.

[Rolls]

Juddering ime will be because of misalignment, or warped discs!

[Watchman]

Poorly tensioned spokes can cause this feeling too. I increased the tension in mine (taking the opportunity to straighten the wheels) and eradicated that juddering.

[mike9009]

Thanks for the suggestions. Will give them a whirl next weekend......

Mike

[bingybongy]

They proabably need bedding in start at step 3.

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/article/workshop-how...

[Pablo16v]

Two other things to consider. First, check the bolts holding the discs to the hubs are all tight, and the discs haven't come loose. I once had a rear disc vibrate loose on a DH track and lunch itself in the back wheel....very messy. If everything is tight turn the bike upside down and spin each wheel checking for any wobbles in the discs. If you can see the discs wobbling slightly then the disc is warped and will either need straightening or replacing.

[BOBTEE]

Bleeding your brakes/air in the system won't have anything to do with vibration. I'd avoid bleeding them at all costs!

[mike9009]

Thanks for all the advice.

A quick rub down with 120 grit (on work bench) and then several times of hard braking seems to have solved the issues.

Mike