bikeperson45 Posted June 16, 2009 Report Share Posted June 16, 2009 Right after I had another spoke fitted went out my house for a quick 10 minute spin. Rode for about 15 minutes then all of a sudden brake went mush. I don't understand how it happened, one second they were working perfectly, then the next second, they weren't. It's just a bloody joke now.When I pull the lever, at first doesn't do anything, then pull it a bit futher and completly locks the wheel, then takes a while for pads to move away from the rotor again. What can I do to fix this? Please helpThanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Burrows Posted June 16, 2009 Report Share Posted June 16, 2009 Getting it serviced, with new caliper pistons and seals is the only sure way to fix it. You can send it off to Hope and they will do all this for a very reasonable price, about £40 I think.If you can't afford that, giving it a clean may help. Take the pads out and clean around the caliper pistons with an old toothbrush and some gt85. Once it is all clean you can try working the pistons, pull the lever to pump the pistons out(make sure they don't come out more than 5 or 6 mm or you could pop them out of the caliper bore completely). When you pull the lever both pistons should come out evenly, if this is not the case then you need to work the slow piston. Carefully push the pistons back with flat bladed screwdriver or small spanner. Now hold the good piston in place with said tool and pull the lever until the sticky piston moves. Once it is out 5mm or so, make sure it is all clean, give it a spray of gt85 if needed then push it back into the caliper. Keep pumping it out and pushing it back until it frees up, than check if both pistons move equally again. Once your done make sure you push both pistons back and wipe off any excess degreaser before refitting the pads, then refit the brake and give it a try.If your lucky that might cure the problem, but 90% of the time you get sticky pistons it is due to worn caliper seals and the only thing you can do is replace them all... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trialsmax04 Posted June 17, 2009 Report Share Posted June 17, 2009 You can pump them all the way out. And then its easyer to clean. I used some 1000 grade wet and dry to take any bur's off the pistons. When replacing them, give them a good squirt of Gt85 and re blead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Burrows Posted June 17, 2009 Report Share Posted June 17, 2009 You can pump them all the way out. And then its easyer to clean. I used some 1000 grade wet and dry to take any bur's off the pistons. When replacing them, give them a good squirt of Gt85 and re blead.Whatever you do, don't do that! Sanding brake pistons?!? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bikeperson45 Posted June 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 17, 2009 Thanks for help. I'll try cleaning it up and if not take it to LBS or Hope. Is there a reason this would have happened so suddenly? It was literally working as it always has the next time I pulled down it was all weird Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trialsmax04 Posted June 17, 2009 Report Share Posted June 17, 2009 Whatever you do, don't do that! Sanding brake pistons?!? Its not sanding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Honnest all it is is cleaning any corrosion or dirt that may have occourd on the piston. No Material from the piston is being removed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Vandart Posted June 18, 2009 Report Share Posted June 18, 2009 Whatever you do, don't do that! Sanding brake pistons?!?Nothing wrong with that, use 1200 or 1500 carefully and it'll be fine.Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bikeperson45 Posted June 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2009 Sorry, it was one of those obvious things that you need someone else to notice :$ The previous owner of the bike had put ziptie around it so it wouldn't get in the way, and after a footham tailwhip attempt, it wrapped round more so squeezed it together.Thanks for replys, I'll bear them in mind when something does go wrong Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted June 18, 2009 Report Share Posted June 18, 2009 The previous owner of the bike had put ziptie around it so it wouldn't get in the way, and after a footham tailwhip attempt, it wrapped round more so squeezed it together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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