kevind Posted October 15, 2011 Report Share Posted October 15, 2011 Fitted a rear Echo TR disk brake to my lads bike. It seems very hit or miss when the pads bite the disk. The pads polish up to smooth metalic sheen and then dont grip well. I have tried a new set of pads, but just the same result. Disk, as was supplied with the kit. The pads and disk a cleaned after each ride but still don't want to work well. Any advice would be great. Different manufacturer of pads? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greetings Posted October 15, 2011 Report Share Posted October 15, 2011 Are the pads hitting square on the disc? Take a close look at the rotor while you're pressing the brake lever, if it twists in any direction then the caliper is out of alignment. I once came across a faulty batch of pads (or maybe they were just contaminated in the factory). The brake was dead quiet but had absolutely no hold at all. Pad change solved that problem right away. Note that new pads also need to bed in, it's not just the disc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark W Posted October 15, 2011 Report Share Posted October 15, 2011 Cleaning them after every ride might contribute to it a little - they just need to bed in really, so if you're cleaning them/doing anything to them after you've ridden it that'll slow everything down. What are you cleaning them with? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cap Posted October 15, 2011 Report Share Posted October 15, 2011 The echo brakes take a long time to bed in, just keep riding it and dont mess with it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary-mac Posted October 15, 2011 Report Share Posted October 15, 2011 kev as said you need to give disc brakes awile to bed in. start a fresh, new pads etc, wipe disc with methylated spirits. To help bed them in keep pouring clean water over the disc and use the brakes and just repeat this for awile as it will help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevind Posted October 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2011 Thanks for the help. We have been out all afternoon and it was getting worse and worse. Stripped it when we got home and noticed that the anodised screw in cap on the outside was moving when you applied the brake, then noticed this was weeping a little oil. tightend it up and cleaned the pads (emery paper) and cleaned the disk. lever is so so on the pull (not lock but not to squishy) It still doesnt lock the wheel. It did take a few rides to bed in when we first got it ( then it was perfect ) so I will let him ride it tommorrow and see if it settles. Need it fixed for British next weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
i like cunning stunts Posted October 15, 2011 Report Share Posted October 15, 2011 Thanks for the help. We have been out all afternoon and it was getting worse and worse. Stripped it when we got home and noticed that the anodised screw in cap on the outside was moving when you applied the brake, then noticed this was weeping a little oil. tightend it up and cleaned the pads (emery paper) and cleaned the disk. lever is so so on the pull (not lock but not to squishy) It still doesnt lock the wheel. It did take a few rides to bed in when we first got it ( then it was perfect ) so I will let him ride it tommorrow and see if it settles. Need it fixed for British next weekend. You sure the pads arent glazed or has oil got onto the pads? Ive just took my pads out and cooked them on a gas hob for a couple of minutes each . Brake feels very sharp now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark W Posted October 15, 2011 Report Share Posted October 15, 2011 Has the brake always felt a little spongey? If it has, that could just be the setup, possibly. If the frame mounts haven't been faced then it's possible the pads are hitting the rotor at an angle. That'd explain both the general lack of performance and the not-ideal lever feel. What are you cleaning the disc with? Generally speaking it's much better to leave them alone unless they're contaminated, in which case you're usually just best off with a different rotor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevind Posted October 16, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 16, 2011 (edited) The brake has worked after its initial time to bed in. Then its just stopped doing its job. The disk, I clean with disk cleaner and clean paper toewels and have givin it a light sand. The frame has had the paint removed and the mounts faced to allow the caliper to sit square with the disk. If it doesnt bed in today then I will rebleed the whole sytem, put on a new disk and cook the old pads. Then it has to work!!! Did the Gary brake and clean with water and wipe the gunk of the disk. For now seems to be alot better. Thanks guys for the help. Edited October 16, 2011 by kevind Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.