MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
If any of you were following the [url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/avid-elixir-5-bleeding-problem ]initial thread[/url] about my problems trying to bleed an Avid Elixir 5 rear brake, here is the update that I promised.
Thanks to the seller (messiah) for paying for a new internal kit, I received the kit and managed to get to work on it today. I placed the old and new piston/bladder side by side for comparison. It seems the old one had swollen quite a bit compared to the new one, it also didn't seem to be as tightly connected to the central metal bit the same at the end with the seal that was in question originally.
[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7195/6929084093_de9e0a4983.jp g" target="_blank">
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/73332441@N05/6929084093/ ]new internal[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/73332441@N05/ ]hopsinjoor[/url], on Flickr
I installed the internals as per the instructions on the Avid website, and with the new DOT 5.1 oil I'd bought, I then followed the bleeding procedure on the Avid website.
Let me tell you, it was remarkably simple to do (this time), there was not a single problem, it bled through and worked a treat.
I put the brakes back on the bike, and have just done a few tests. It works great.
Basically, all sorted. 😀
Many thanks to everyone who helped me out in the initial thread, and a big thanks to messiah for his help in rectifying the situation as well. I can't wait to go out for a decent pootle to see how they perform now.
Glad that worked out in the end.
Nice one!
My bladder was infinitely more swollen than yours, though...!
DrP
Heh, I like your sense of competition DrP, and many thanks for all your help in helping me solve my issue in the last thread, it was much appreciated.
As a follow on, what causes the bladder to swell like that and render the brake un-useable? I ask as I've not bled the front brake as it doesn't need it at the moment, but I'm worried that when it comes time to bleed the front brake I'm going to have the same problem.
I'm not saying I'm going to buy a spare kit for when I bleed the front, it's just on my mind is all that whatever caused the back to do that, could also have happened/or could in the future.
Note to self: Messiah = Nice guy and good seller 🙂
Swollen seals and bladders are usually down to contact with some form of incompatible oil,often through filling with the wrong fluid, or lubing pivots using an aerosol that oversprays onto the affected area.
I agree entirely. After reading about so many a "real man" on this forum that turn out to be dodgy as hell, it's nice that some people still care about such matters.getonyourbike
Note to self: Messiah = Nice guy and good seller
The only lasting resolution to Avid brake problems is to replace them with another make. Even SRAM Tech struggle to fix the things.
I don't know if it's related but the brake was working fine when I took it off, but was unused for a few months before I bled it and sold it, so perhaps there was a problem brewing in storage? I bled it believing it was the "right thing" to do to check it before sale. Hohum... hopefully that's all the trouble you'll have. They are great feeling brakes.
Now that they are both working and on the bike, I can totally agree that they are great feeling brakes.
Thanks for sorting this out, and kudos in doing so.
I'll make sure to be careful about storing them if I take them off the bike (or they're not used) for any reason.