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MTB Disc brakes normal adjustment interval?

Started by Peter S · · Last activity · 6 posts · 629 views

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01 / Original postMTB Disc brakes normal adjustment interval?Peter S · 30 Oct 2005 02 / This pagePosts 1–6Page 1 of 1 · chronological order 03 / Latest replyPost #6Random Data · 1 Nov 2005

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Original section
Australia and New Zealand
Published
30 October 2005
Last activity
1 November 2005
Original author
Peter S
Posts
6
Discussion status
Public discussion
Total views
629
Views / 30 days
0
Topics
Disc brakesGear indexingInterval trainingMountain bikingRim brakesBrake pads

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  1. Original post
    Peter S
    Archived post
    #1

    I'm new to mountain bikes - spend most of my kilometres on a road bike which
    almost never seems to need brake adjustment. I've got a Giant Yukon '06
    model with disc brakes. I did a 42km ride on the Munda Biddi trail out of
    Dwellingup with some other guys today - wet and slippery with lots of mud
    and grit flying. I did use the brakes a fair bit. I had noticeable brake
    fade during the ride and by the end was squeezing the brake lever much
    closer to the grips than at the start of the ride. I cleaned my bike tonight
    and adjusted the disc pads closer to the disc and everything now feels like
    the brakes are ok again.

    Is it normal for discs to fade like this? I just had my bike serviced a
    couple of weeks ago and the brakes were well adjusted and responsive after
    the service. One of the other guys on the ride also with discs lost braking
    too and actually nursed the last few km's because his back brake was
    effectively not working.

    It seems at this rate I'd better get some replacement pads and learn how to
    change them if I'm on a long ride and wear them out!

    Peter S

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  2. Random Data
    Archived post
    #2
    Peter S said:

    I did a 42km ride on the Munda Biddi trail out of Dwellingup with some other
    guys today - wet and slippery with lots of mud and grit flying.


    <snip>

    Quoted message said:

    Is it normal for discs to fade like this?

    42km of mud with cable discs and I can see adjustments required,
    depending on just how much you're using the brakes. I've seen rim
    brakes in those conditions go through a set of pads in a similar
    distance, so comparing with your road bike isn't really fair. On the
    hydro Deores I've got on my race/enduro bike I get 1-2000km out of a
    set of pads, depending on conditions.

    I'm not immediately familiar with the discs you've got (new for this
    year) but I'm going to assume they're fairly similar to the Deore cable
    discs of years past, of which I have one on the back of one of my
    bikes. Adjustment is easy - use a 5mm allen key to adjust the inside
    pad until it's just touching, then back off about a quarter turn. Then
    use the barrel adjuster on the lever and or brake to get a lever feel
    you like. Should take about 30 seconds. A pad swap consists of backing
    both these adjustments out all the way, removing the pad retainer bolt,
    then sliding the new pads in and replacing the bolt. Best done with the
    wheel out... Should be a sub 5-minute job, though it may take a bit
    longer the first time.

    The conditions you describe are exactly why discs, and particularly
    hydro discs are great on MTBs. The wheel keeps going around when you
    want it to, and stops when you want it to. With rim brakes neither of
    those are a given. The downside is that you don't really notice a
    problem until you've got the levers to the bars because you've worn out
    the pads. Hydro brakes are basically self adjusting, so this isn't such
    a problem. Keep an allen key handy on rides like that, and tweak the
    brakes when you stop for a regroup. You can probably get away with just
    barrel adjuster tweaks, but if the inside pad gets too worn you'll end
    up with really bad performance.

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  3. Paulie-AU
    Archived post
    #3

    Or mabye instead of trashing trails you could stay off them in the wet.😄

    Yeah mud is fun, but it does a number on your bike and ruts up the tracks so that when it comes to riding in the dry they suck.

    Report
  4. Random Data
    Archived post
    #4
    Paulie-AU said:

    Yeah mud is fun, but it does a number on your bike and ruts up the
    tracks so that when it comes to riding in the dry they suck.

    Depends on the trail. There's nothing an extra set of wheels is going to
    do to the Oaks firetrail in the wet. Anything with soft, easily
    displaceable mud that'd otherwise be hardpack is a different story.

    I've got a range of trails I can ride in the wet comfortable in the
    knowledge that I'm wearing out the cheap (free) bits on my singlespeed and
    that's about it. Unlike Parbs, who has to buy expensive brake pads (and
    seals for that fork (SOFT!)).

    --
    Dave Hughes | [email hidden]
    And you don't think the government lets you buy _real_ tinfoil do you?
    -- D.C. Ross, the Monastery.

    Report
  5. Random Data
    Archived post
    #5
    Paulie-AU said:

    Yeah mud is fun, but it does a number on your bike and ruts up the
    tracks so that when it comes to riding in the dry they suck.

    Depends on the trail. There's nothing an extra set of wheels is going to
    do to the Oaks firetrail in the wet. Anything with soft, easily
    displaceable mud that'd otherwise be hardpack is a different story.

    I've got a range of trails I can ride in the wet comfortable in the
    knowledge that I'm wearing out the cheap (free) bits on my singlespeed and
    that's about it. Unlike Parbs, who has to buy expensive brake pads (and
    seals for that fork (SOFT!)).

    --
    Dave Hughes | [email hidden]
    And you don't think the government lets you buy _real_ tinfoil do you?
    -- D.C. Ross, the Monastery.

    Report
  6. Random Data
    Archived post
    #6
    Paulie-AU said:

    Yeah mud is fun, but it does a number on your bike and ruts up the
    tracks so that when it comes to riding in the dry they suck.

    Depends on the trail. There's nothing an extra set of wheels is going to
    do to the Oaks firetrail in the wet. Anything with soft, easily
    displaceable mud that'd otherwise be hardpack is a different story.

    I've got a range of trails I can ride in the wet comfortable in the
    knowledge that I'm wearing out the cheap (free) bits on my singlespeed and
    that's about it. Unlike Parbs, who has to buy expensive brake pads (and
    seals for that fork (SOFT!)).

    --
    Dave Hughes | [email hidden]
    And you don't think the government lets you buy _real_ tinfoil do you?
    -- D.C. Ross, the Monastery.

    Report

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