kaybs41282 Posted May 8, 2011 Report Share Posted May 8, 2011 I was riding around on my bike earlier, pulled the back brake and something felt like it gave and clicked. The brake then became very spongy and crap! I've looked at the brake and had it apart. The left hand cylinder works fine but the right hand cylinder seems to have problems in moving the pad and the piston doesn't move at all/very little....is this classed as a sticky piston? It is easy enough to fix? Many thanks for your help in advance Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigjames Posted May 8, 2011 Report Share Posted May 8, 2011 (edited) Does sound like you've got a sticky piston, but it doesn't explain the clicking feeling your lever gave. Hold the working piston in, whilst pulling the lever, this should push the sticky piston out. Give it a thorough clean a tiny bit of oil or silicone lube and cycle it in and out for a bit. Should free it up. If a sticky piston is your problem that is... Edited May 8, 2011 by craigjames Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dann2707 Posted May 8, 2011 Report Share Posted May 8, 2011 The click reminds me of my '04 lever that made that noise once the TPA had broken. Could it be no? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heartohelp:) Posted May 8, 2011 Report Share Posted May 8, 2011 hs33.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaybs41282 Posted May 8, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 8, 2011 The click reminds me of my '04 lever that made that noise once the TPA had broken. Could it be no? Possibly but to be honest it has been seized for a while... How could I tell? Does sound like you've got a sticky piston, but it doesn't explain the clicking feeling your lever gave. Hold the working piston in, whilst pulling the lever, this should push the sticky piston out. Give it a thorough clean a tiny bit of oil or silicone lube and cycle it in and out for a bit. Should free it up. If a sticky piston is your problem that is... Thanks I'll try that now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaybs41282 Posted May 8, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 8, 2011 Right, sticky piston freed and it is still very spongy and the pads are pretty unresponsive when I squeeze the lever... Any ideas? Could that "give"' feeling have been air getting in somewhere? Bloody things Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigjames Posted May 8, 2011 Report Share Posted May 8, 2011 Give it a fresh bleed and see if that improves things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaybs41282 Posted May 8, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 8, 2011 I will do... Bath bleed it is then... Never done it before, easy enough? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wmcycles Posted May 8, 2011 Report Share Posted May 8, 2011 easy peasy lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trials Punk Posted May 8, 2011 Report Share Posted May 8, 2011 easy peasy lol Helpfull, "lol" Have you got a bleed kit to save the hassle of taking the brake off the bike to bleed it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigjames Posted May 8, 2011 Report Share Posted May 8, 2011 As provided to us by the ever helpful revolver: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaybs41282 Posted May 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2011 Helpfull, "lol" Have you got a bleed kit to save the hassle of taking the brake off the bike to bleed it? No unfortunately not but the brakes are already off anyway As provided to us by the ever helpful revolver: Thanks for that ive spoken to him and think I have it sussed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tioz Posted May 9, 2011 Report Share Posted May 9, 2011 What were the advantages of bleeding with water again? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaybs41282 Posted May 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2011 What were the advantages of bleeding with water again? So I don't have to buy oil and bleeding kit bits...bit skint at the mo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigjames Posted May 9, 2011 Report Share Posted May 9, 2011 What were the advantages of bleeding with water again? It's thinner than Magura blood/mineral oil so gives a lighter lever feel and a more responsive brake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tioz Posted May 9, 2011 Report Share Posted May 9, 2011 (edited) It's thinner than Magura blood/mineral oil so gives a lighter lever feel and a more responsive brake. cool and it's free just wondering: would distilled water be even better? Edited May 9, 2011 by Tioz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaybs41282 Posted May 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 Right, progress update... I've followed advice and bled the brake and installed a new TPA and unfortunately neither of which have worked. The right hand side slave piston is unstuck but seems very slow and lazy and the brake lever is unresponsive, spongy and almost light feeling when you pull on it. There is no definitive "thud" feeling like I used to get when the right hand pad hits the rim and it just generally feels like nothing is happening when I pull on the lever. Could it be an air leak or something or would fluid pour out if this were the case? I'm pretty sure that the slave piston is a factor (but I'm sure it was always slow) but it still doesn't explain the feeling of something not right when you pull the lever....or does it? Any ideas guys before I box it up and send it off the experts? Thanks in advance Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JD™ Posted May 11, 2011 Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 Get the slow piston out as far as you can with the lever, then pull it out a bit more (carefully!) with some pliers or slimiler. Chuck some oil on it, and use the lever to keep moving it in an out, it should free up pretty quick. To be fair though, it sounds like a shocking bleed as well. They take a little while to get right, so I always used to do a few repeats every time I did it in the early days. You'll know if you've got a leak that goes from good bleed to spongey in moments, water will spray out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaybs41282 Posted May 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 (edited) Get the slow piston out as far as you can with the lever, then pull it out a bit more (carefully!) with some pliers or slimiler. Chuck some oil on it, and use the lever to keep moving it in an out, it should free up pretty quick. To be fair though, it sounds like a shocking bleed as well. They take a little while to get right, so I always used to do a few repeats every time I did it in the early days. You'll know if you've got a leak that goes from good bleed to spongey in moments, water will spray out. Any bleeding tips? What could I be doing wrong? 50ml went through the systemt without any bubbles Edited May 11, 2011 by kaybs41282 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JD™ Posted May 11, 2011 Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 Any bleeding tips? What could I be doing wrong? 50ml went through the systemt without any bubbles I assume you weren't bath bleeding, so first off the simple option is to do that - it's pretty tough to get it wrong! If you wanna carry on with a syringe bleed then make sure you're bleeding from bottom to top, the lever is level. When I was paranoid about technique I'd push through a quick syringe worth, to sort of 'blow' any air out, then a slow syringe worth while tapping basically every part of the system, then another slow syringe worth just to check nothing's coming out. Oh, and the exit tube from the lever I generally submerge in water too, for extra piece of mind when you're refilling syringe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaybs41282 Posted May 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 I assume you weren't bath bleeding, so first off the simple option is to do that - it's pretty tough to get it wrong! If you wanna carry on with a syringe bleed then make sure you're bleeding from bottom to top, the lever is level. When I was paranoid about technique I'd push through a quick syringe worth, to sort of 'blow' any air out, then a slow syringe worth while tapping basically every part of the system, then another slow syringe worth just to check nothing's coming out. Oh, and the exit tube from the lever I generally submerge in water too, for extra piece of mind when you're refilling syringe. Ok I'll try that but if it "gave" all of a sudden for no reason (which seemed to be the catalyst) would that indicate a leak and therefore the need for a bleed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaybs41282 Posted May 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 Fixed thank Christ! You were right JD I had done a poor job of bleeding it the first time...huge air bubbles! 3 bleeds later with water and antifreeze and it feels pretty good (touch wood). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JD™ Posted May 13, 2011 Report Share Posted May 13, 2011 Fixed thank Christ! You were right JD I had done a poor job of bleeding it the first time...huge air bubbles! 3 bleeds later with water and antifreeze and it feels pretty good (touch wood). Good job Bleeding is one of those things I think everyone gets wrong for a while before it clicks - certainly took me a few goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tioz Posted May 13, 2011 Report Share Posted May 13, 2011 What mix of water/antifreeze would you use? Or would just distilled water be best? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaybs41282 Posted May 13, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 13, 2011 What mix of water/antifreeze would you use? Or would just distilled water be best? I just followed the guidance on the bottle and went for 50:50....not sure about distilled water Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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