SRAM Guide brakes ... not really stopping me

[JD82]

Before I go to the bike mechanic, just wanted to check if anyone had an easy fix. Yesterday my Guide disc brakes nearly had me flying into a tree fairly quickly as the lever on both went all the way to the handle bars. They have reach adjustment but not bite point adjustment as far as I can tell. I never had this with Tektro brakes, which are supposedly worse?
It’s a newish bike and built by Wiggle. I’m not a complete mechanical idiot but also still new to fiddling with disc brakes.

Thanks for any advice

[JD82]

Captain Raymond Holt said:

Sounds like the maybe need a bleed.

Do they just go straight to the bars or are they spongy?

They feel spongy to me - definitely vs my old tektro ones

[JD82]

Watchman said:

Are they cable or hydraulic? Cable disc brakes can be adjusted just like rim brakes. Very easy.

Hydraulics don't need adjusting once they are filled and bled correctly. If you have hydraulics and they're behaving as you describe, then they will need a bleed. It's easy to do but you will need a small spanner, a small Torx head screwdriver, fluid and a good bleed kit.

Thanks - will look up some YouTube vids. They’re hydraulic.

[JD82]

Tall_Paul said:

As its a newish bike, have you bedded in the brakes?

Also, how do you store the bike, right easy up or upside down?

Brakes should be bedded in by now I think abs they seem to be getting worse... bike stored upright. If I pump the brakes when stationary they firm up, but I use they are spongey and then hit the handle bars if I go quickly.

[JD82]

JD82 said:

Brakes should be bedded in by now I think and they seem to be getting worse... bike stored upright. If I pump the brakes when stationary they firm up, but in use they are spongey and then hit the handle bars if I go quickly.

[JD82]

Thanks everyone - think I have an action plan now! Bleed kit and do properly.

[JD82]

Sheetmaself said:

Mine went like this, hydraulic Shimano 535 brakes. After a bit of working out the issue i found i had knocked the pad in while putting the wheel back on.

Fixed it by pumping the lever without the disc in place which brought the pad out further and then took care not to knock it when putting the wheel back on a second time.

May be worth a go.

Good shout - will try this first and see if it's an easy fix. Will the pads not get 'stuck' together?

[JD82]

Sheetmaself said:

shouldn't do, or at least mine didn’t. They were pushed together but then when inout the wheel in the disc seperated the pads and all was good again.

Finally got round to looking at this - exactly as you said and worked on both discs so brakes now performing like new at zero cost! Thanks!