Mountain Bikes · Public discussion

XT hydro levers

Mojo Deluxe · 2003-12-16T03:22:34+00:00

I've just finished bleeding my brakes, took my time, and got all the air out I possibly could. I noticed my rear brake lever not snapping back quite like the front brake lever. This was happening before I put the reservoir cover back on. Not sure if this is a hydraulic thing (not sure what to do if it was), or if that rear lever is just a little tight. Any reasonable ideas as to what is causing this, and what to do about it, would be greatly appreciated, even from the guys that don't like me.

Started by Mojo Deluxe · 16 December 2003 · Last activity 18 December 2003 · 12 posts · 836 views

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01 / Original postXT hydro leversMojo Deluxe · 16 Dec 2003 02 / This pagePosts 1–12Page 1 of 1 · chronological order 03 / Latest replyPost #12Chris Phillipo · 18 Dec 2003

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Original section: Mountain Bikes
Published: 16 December 2003
Last activity: 18 December 2003
Original author: Mojo Deluxe
Posts: 12
Discussion status: Public discussion
Total views: 836
Views / 30 days: 0
Topics: Disc brakes

The navigation and discussion metadata provide context. Posts remain in their original chronological order.

Original post
Mojo Deluxe
Archived post

16 December 2003, 03:22 UTC #1

I've just finished bleeding my brakes, took my time, and got all the air out I possibly could. I
noticed my rear brake lever not snapping back quite like the front brake lever. This was happening
before I put the reservoir cover back on. Not sure if this is a hydraulic thing (not sure what to do
if it was), or if that rear lever is just a little tight. Any reasonable ideas as to what is causing
this, and what to do about it, would be greatly appreciated, even from the guys that don't like me.

Report
Chris Phillipo
Archived post

16 December 2003, 20:03 UTC #2

In article <[email hidden]>, voudin61 @hellsouth.nett says...
Quoted message said:
I've just finished bleeding my brakes, took my time, and got all the air out I possibly could. I
noticed my rear brake lever not snapping back quite like the front brake lever. This was happening
before I put the reservoir cover back on. Not sure if this is a hydraulic thing (not sure what to
do if it was), or if that rear lever is just a little tight. Any reasonable ideas as to what is
causing this, and what to do about it, would be greatly appreciated, even from the guys that don't
like me.
The pistons in the caliper may be sticking or the return spring in the lever is soft. How old are
the brakes?
--
_________________________
Chris Phillipo - Cape Breton, Nova Scotia ramsays-online.comramsays-online.com

Report
Per Elmsäter
Archived post

16 December 2003, 20:03 UTC #3

Mojo Deluxe said:
I've just finished bleeding my brakes, took my time, and got all the air out I possibly could. I
noticed my rear brake lever not snapping back quite like the front brake lever. This was happening
before I put the reservoir cover back on. Not sure if this is a hydraulic thing (not sure what to
do if it was), or if that rear lever is just a little tight. Any reasonable ideas as to what is
causing this, and what to do about it, would be greatly appreciated, even from the guys that don't
like me.
I have a similar thread going right now in wreck.tech. Subject line is XTR disc brake and
selfadjustment First posted on dec 11.
There may be some discussion there relating to your problems as well.
--
Perre
You have to be smarter than a robot to reply.

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Shaun Rimmer
Archived post

16 December 2003, 20:04 UTC #4

"Chris Phillipo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
In article <[email hidden]>, voudin61 @hellsouth.nett says...
Quoted message said:
I've just finished bleeding my brakes, took my time, and got all the air

out
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
I possibly could. I noticed my rear brake lever not snapping back quite

like
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
the front brake lever. This was happening before I put the reservoir

cover
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
back on. Not sure if this is a hydraulic thing (not sure what to do if

it
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
was), or if that rear lever is just a little tight. Any reasonable ideas

as
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
to what is causing this, and what to do about it, would be greatly appreciated, even from the
guys that don't like me.
The pistons in the caliper may be sticking or the return spring in the lever is soft. How old are
the brakes?
Or maybe the lever pivots are dry? Try lube on them.
Shaun aRe

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Mojo Deluxe
Archived post

16 December 2003, 20:04 UTC #5

"Per Elmsäter" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Mojo Deluxe said:
I've just finished bleeding my brakes, took my time, and got all the air out I possibly could. I
noticed my rear brake lever not snapping back quite like the front brake lever. This was
happening before I put the reservoir cover back on. Not sure if this is a hydraulic thing (not
sure what to do if it was), or if that rear lever is just a little tight. Any reasonable ideas
as to what is causing this, and what to do about it, would be greatly appreciated, even from the
guys that don't like me.
I have a similar thread going right now in wreck.tech. Subject line is XTR disc brake and
selfadjustment First posted on dec 11.
There may be some discussion there relating to your problems as well.

Thanks, I'll look it up.

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Mojo Deluxe
Archived post

16 December 2003, 20:04 UTC #6

"Shaun Rimmer" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:

"Chris Phillipo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
In article <[email hidden]>, voudin61 @hellsouth.nett says...
Quoted message said:
I've just finished bleeding my brakes, took my time, and got all the

air
Quoted message said:
out
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
I possibly could. I noticed my rear brake lever not snapping back

quite
Quoted message said:
like
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
the front brake lever. This was happening before I put the reservoir

cover
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
back on. Not sure if this is a hydraulic thing (not sure what to do if

it
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
was), or if that rear lever is just a little tight. Any reasonable

ideas
Quoted message said:
as
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
to what is causing this, and what to do about it, would be greatly appreciated, even from the
guys that don't like me.
The pistons in the caliper may be sticking or the return spring in the lever is soft. How old
are the brakes?

Nah, the calipers are working great, and snapping right back, with no drag. The system is brand
spanking new. It seems to be getting better though. I'm thinking now, it could be a soft return
spring, or.....
Quoted message said:
Or maybe the lever pivots are dry? Try lube on them.

....worth looking into. Thanks.

Report
Jon Bond
Archived post

18 December 2003, 06:04 UTC #7

"Chris Phillipo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
In article <[email hidden]>, voudin61 @hellsouth.nett says...
Quoted message said:
I've just finished bleeding my brakes, took my time, and got all the air

out
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
I possibly could. I noticed my rear brake lever not snapping back quite

like
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
the front brake lever. This was happening before I put the reservoir

cover
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
back on. Not sure if this is a hydraulic thing (not sure what to do if

it
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
was), or if that rear lever is just a little tight. Any reasonable ideas

as
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
to what is causing this, and what to do about it, would be greatly appreciated, even from the
guys that don't like me.
The pistons in the caliper may be sticking or the return spring in the lever is soft. How old are
the brakes?
--
_________________________
Chris Phillipo - Cape Breton, Nova Scotia ramsays-online.comramsays-online.com
How would you fix sticky calipers? One or two of mine don't like retracting
🙁
Jon Bond

Report
Reco Diver
Archived post

18 December 2003, 06:04 UTC #8

"Jon Bond" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...
Quoted message said:
"Chris Phillipo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
In article <[email hidden]>, voudin61 @hellsouth.nett says...
Quoted message said:
I've just finished bleeding my brakes, took my time, and got all the air

out
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
I possibly could. I noticed my rear brake lever not snapping back quite
<snip>
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:

The pistons in the caliper may be sticking or the return spring in the lever is soft. How old
are the brakes?
--
_________________________
Chris Phillipo - Cape Breton, Nova Scotia ramsays-online.comramsays-online.com
How would you fix sticky calipers? One or two of mine don't like retracting
🙁
Jon Bond
Cycle them. I suppose it depends on the model and the possibility of an inherent problem. That said,
cycle them. The XTR calipers had an inherent probelm in the first production run. The first
generation, those that were distributed to sponsored teams, had polished pistons. The factory
mechanics seemed to have know problems with setup, but when the production models were released
there were complaints about loose tolerances and over extension and not holding the dust seal. The
factory made a running change in the piston finish. The finish change "tightened up the fit and hold
the dust seal," in many cases it has been a bit too tight.
The tech reps have suggested that mechanics faced with sticking XTR pistons:
Drop the wheel Remove the pads Put a drop of light lubricant on the edge (not the face) of the
piston Carefully cycle the piston (use the lever to move it out, use your fingers to move it back).
Be careful not to over extend the piston or mar the face of the piston.
This has worked on several sets of XTR's around here, but it is tedious work as you may have to
cycle the pistons ~100 times or more. Go figure.
R

Report
Chris Phillipo
Archived post

18 December 2003, 06:04 UTC #9

In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...
Quoted message said:

"Chris Phillipo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
In article <[email hidden]>, voudin61 @hellsouth.nett says...
Quoted message said:
I've just finished bleeding my brakes, took my time, and got all the air

out
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
I possibly could. I noticed my rear brake lever not snapping back quite

like
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
the front brake lever. This was happening before I put the reservoir

cover
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
back on. Not sure if this is a hydraulic thing (not sure what to do if

it
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
was), or if that rear lever is just a little tight. Any reasonable ideas

as
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
to what is causing this, and what to do about it, would be greatly appreciated, even from the
guys that don't like me.
The pistons in the caliper may be sticking or the return spring in the lever is soft. How old
are the brakes?
--
_________________________
Chris Phillipo - Cape Breton, Nova Scotia ramsays-online.comramsays-online.com
How would you fix sticky calipers? One or two of mine don't like retracting
🙁
Jon Bond
Typically by replacing the piston seal, if the piston is still smooth this should do it. The dry out
and crack over time.
--
_________________________
Chris Phillipo - Cape Breton, Nova Scotia ramsays-online.comramsays-online.com

Report
Jon Bond
Archived post

18 December 2003, 06:04 UTC #10

"Chris Phillipo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...
Quoted message said:

"Chris Phillipo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
In article <[email hidden]>, voudin61 @hellsouth.nett says...
> I've just finished bleeding my brakes, took my time, and got all the

air
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
out
Quoted message said:
> I possibly could. I noticed my rear brake lever not snapping back

quite
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
like
Quoted message said:
> the front brake lever. This was happening before I put the reservoir

cover
Quoted message said:
> back on. Not sure if this is a hydraulic thing (not sure what to do

if
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
it
Quoted message said:
> was), or if that rear lever is just a little tight. Any reasonable

ideas
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
as
Quoted message said:
> to what is causing this, and what to do about it, would be greatly appreciated, even from
> the guys that don't like me.
>
>
The pistons in the caliper may be sticking or the return spring in the lever is soft. How old
are the brakes?
--
_________________________
Chris Phillipo - Cape Breton, Nova Scotia ramsays-online.comramsays-online.com
How would you fix sticky calipers? One or two of mine don't like

retracting
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
🙁
Jon Bond
Typically by replacing the piston seal, if the piston is still smooth this should do it. The dry
out and crack over time.
--
_________________________
Chris Phillipo - Cape Breton, Nova Scotia ramsays-online.comramsays-online.com
Yeah, but its only been like 6 months, and 2 of those have been injury/school-induced downtime. I
haven't even worn though a set of pads yet...
Jon Bond

Report
Per Elmsäter
Archived post

18 December 2003, 06:04 UTC #11

Reco Diver said:
The tech reps have suggested that mechanics faced with sticking XTR pistons:
Drop the wheel Remove the pads Put a drop of light lubricant on the edge (not the face) of
the piston
Would the Mineral Oil used inside the hydraulics system be OK for this, or should I use something
more like sewing machine oil?
--
Perre
You have to be smarter than a robot to reply.

Report
Chris Phillipo
Archived post

18 December 2003, 06:04 UTC #12

Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
Quoted message said:
Typically by replacing the piston seal, if the piston is still smooth this should do it. The dry
out and crack over time.
--
_________________________
Chris Phillipo - Cape Breton, Nova Scotia
Then you might be able to fix it by pushing the piston all the way back in and out a few times with
no pads in the caliper in order to get some oil into the seals. Be careful not to let them come all
the way out of the caliper or you will have to take everything apart and re-bleed them.
--
_________________________
Chris Phillipo - Cape Breton, Nova Scotia ramsays-online.comramsays-online.com

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