disc brake headache

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by animal kingdom
when i first bought my bike with the hayes hydraulic brakes, i was impressed to find how responsive they were to even the slightest touch.

now a year later i have to pull the brake levers a full inch or so before i even begin to slow down.

they told me i needed to get the breaks bled and that it costs about $40 bucks per break.

id rather just do it myself but have no idea how to do it. help!!!

any suggestions/instructions? can you direct me to a book? a website? someone that will help me for less than 80 bucks?!!!!!!!!!!!

have you looked on the hayes site? http://www.hayesdiscbrake.com/

Buy a nice bleed kit or you can make one yourself.

Your brakes should have com with instructions on how to bleed.

$40 each is a rip off.

Basicly on Hayes on the lever in front is a 'window' you unscrew and insert the hose. We use a homemade one here. It helps to use a bottle of some sort to catch the fluid as you pump it out.

On the caliper all you have to do is inser a hose on the barb, unscrew the srew a little bit and push fluid in with a syringe. The syringe is part of most bleed kits.

Push the fluid and see it come out the other end (lever). Push fluid until you no longer see bubbles or it is all clean fluid coming through.

Screw the screw tight (make sure not to tighten too much as to strip it) and close the window on the lever.

You should also check the pads and replace them.

Either way look at the manual.