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Ryan Ireland said:

Is there any way to increase the power of my front Hayes mechanical disc brake. It doesn't really
bite the rotor. I have installed new pads, cleaned the rotors and installed a new cable, but there
was very little performance gain. Is there a trick to the actual set-up of the disc brake. Any
help is appreciated.. Ry

Mine are more than powerful enough. I can lock the front wheel at speed on pavement.

How did you clean the rotor? If you get oil on it, you won't get it off with alcohol (IME). You need
to scrub it off. I find that mud is the best thing to do this. Just get some fine mud and smear it
on both sides. Make sure that there're no stones in the rotor holes -- they'll gouge the pads.
Brake. It's best to do this at the top of a hill. If there's not enough improvement, repeat. If you
can't find mud (not a problem this year around here), make some with dirt and a little water from
your hydration pak.

I find that Hayes pads are pretty good. But, you might try EBC. I use them because they have a
better tolerance to oil comtamination, which I just can't seem to avoid around here (it didn't help
that my fork damping cartridge oil seal failed recently 🙂).

David

"David Kunz" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Ryan Ireland said:

Is there any way to increase the power of my front Hayes mechanical disc brake. It doesn't
really bite the rotor. I have installed new pads,

cleaned

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the rotors and installed a new cable, but there was very little

performance

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

gain. Is there a trick to the actual set-up of the disc brake. Any help

is

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

appreciated.. Ry

Mine are more than powerful enough. I can lock the front wheel at speed on pavement.

Same here.. All I can say is check for contamination, as this can be a bugger (Can ya tell I'm a
Brit!) Other than that make sure you bed the pads in very well. I tend to accellerate to as fast as
I can on the flat or a slight downhill tarmac/pavement & brake as hard as I can at least 20 times
(Not forgetting to slide all the way BACK OFF the seat so you don't instant endo!) This really does
the trick with the pads & makes them grip like hell. cya Phil

Does your rear make that Bubbly popping slide noise. if so its worn in. the front i assume doesnt.
mine doesnt either. i mean Mine bites the rotor. but you just have to squeeze harder lean back more.
I do it too the extent of locking up the front tire and skidding. thats l33t.

"Ryan Ireland" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Is there any way to increase the power of my front Hayes mechanical disc brake. It doesn't really
bite the rotor. I have installed new pads,

cleaned

Quoted message said:

the rotors and installed a new cable, but there was very little

performance

Quoted message said:

gain. Is there a trick to the actual set-up of the disc brake. Any help

is

Quoted message said:

appreciated.. Ry

Ryan Ireland <[email hidden]> spoke thusly...

Quoted message said:

Is there any way to increase the power of my front Hayes mechanical disc brake. It doesn't really
bite the rotor. I have installed new pads, cleaned the rotors and installed a new cable, but there
was very little performance gain. Is there a trick to the actual set-up of the disc brake. Any
help is appreciated.. Ry

one question (and inherent possible suggestion), do bike disk brakes have a problem with glazing,
like automotive brakes?
--
~Travis

megalink.net~farmersOpen ↗

Merlin said:

Ryan Ireland <[email hidden]> spoke thusly...

Quoted message said:

Is there any way to increase the power of my front Hayes mechanical disc brake. It doesn't really
bite the rotor. I have installed new pads, cleaned the rotors and installed a new cable, but there
was very little performance gain. Is there a trick to the actual set-up of the disc brake. Any
help is appreciated.. Ry

one question (and inherent possible suggestion), do bike disk brakes have a problem with glazing,
like automotive brakes?

I've been told that they don't get hot enough. However, IME, the layer of what ever I'm getting off
when my brakes start to not work well is very stubborn and needs grit to do a good job -- seems like
glaze to me 🙂.

David

David Kunz <[email hidden]> spoke thusly...

Quoted message said:

Merlin said:

Ryan Ireland <[email hidden]> spoke thusly...

Quoted message said:

Is there any way to increase the power of my front Hayes mechanical disc brake. It doesn't
really bite the rotor. I have installed new pads, cleaned the rotors and installed a new cable,
but there was very little performance gain. Is there a trick to the actual set-up of the disc
brake. Any help is appreciated.. Ry

one question (and inherent possible suggestion), do bike disk brakes have a problem with
glazing, like automotive brakes?

I've been told that they don't get hot enough. However, IME, the layer of what ever I'm getting
off when my brakes start to not work well is very stubborn and needs grit to do a good job --
seems like glaze to me 🙂.

David

may not be glazing, but it's sibling, polishing. either way, a light sanding of the pads and rotor
(pads in a \\\\ pattern, and rotor in a //// pattern. very light, just to remove the shine. note,
orientation is about 30 - 45 degrees off perpendicular line of travel.) may be the solution, if they
are not contaminated.
--
~Travis

megalink.net~farmersOpen ↗

"Mitch Pollard" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Does your rear make that Bubbly popping slide noise

On occasion.

Bill "thought this was a brake thread" S.

RE/

Quoted message said:

I find that mud is the best thing to do this. Just get some fine mud and smear it on both sides.
Make sure that there're no stones in the rotor holes -- they'll gouge the pads. Brake. It's best
to do this at the top of a hill. If there's not enough improvement, repeat. If you can't find
mud (not a problem this year around here), make some with dirt and a little water from your
hydration pak.

Also, as somebody else observed, for the mud-challenged, there's rubbing compound at the local auto
supply store.
-----------------------
PeteCresswell