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The front brake pads on my Specialized Crave seem to be wearing well too quickly. It is hardly ever used and they have gone again! Does anyone know what could be causing this ?
too much braking?
are you bedding pads in?
I had a similar problem on my commuter.
I eventually worked out that muddy water was flowing straight down the back of the fork, down the flat top of the post mount, and into the top of the caliper where it would be spread between disc and pads. I was only getting 1-2 weeks out of a set of pads (down to the metal, sintered pads) in admittedly quite damp conditions.
I made a small flap out of a piece of plastic and attached it with some helicopter tape (electrical tape would work too) so that it directed muddy water to the side of the boss and over the outside of the caliper. I've still got the same brake pads on (although the weather hasn't been so wet since, it has been 2 months or more - not particularly impressive but >4 times the life)
It looks like the front brake is arranged similarly on the carve, my money is on a similar issue. I don't have the picture of the flap I put on that I can link to, but can send you a pic if my description is unclear. luke at devrx .org
get some sintered pads? what are you using now?
I've had some organic ones which have last 2 or 3 rides.
Yes I'm bedding pads in. The brakes on the Crave have only been gently used as I can't think of many big descents I've done on it.
I eventually worked out that muddy water was flowing straight down the back of the fork, down the flat top of the post mount, and into the top of the caliper where it would be spread between disc and pads. I was only getting 1-2 weeks out of a set of pads (down to the metal, sintered pads) in admittedly quite damp conditions.I made a small flap out of a piece of plastic and attached it with some helicopter tape (electrical tape would work too) so that it directed muddy water to the side of the boss and over the outside of the caliper. I've still got the same brake pads on (although the weather hasn't been so wet since, it has been 2 months or more - not particularly impressive but >4 times the life)
It looks like the front brake is arranged similarly on the carve, my money is on a similar issue. I don't have the picture of the flap I put on that I can link to, but can send you a pic if my description is unclear. luke at devrx .org
If this is the case, this is a major design flaw the the Crave, and I can't believe none of the reviews that I read before purchasing it had even picked up on it!
get some sintered pads? what are you using now?
I put some Sintered pads on previously but I can't remember if it was the front brake or back. I've ordered some new Sintered pads anyway.
I've probably gone through 2 pads already in very little use, they seem to be down to the metal in no time. I can tell how little use I've done on the bike because the chain checker tool does not show it even reaching 0.5% yet and it's never had it's chain changed.
If this is the case, this is a major design flaw the the Crave, and I can't believe none of the reviews that I read before purchasing it had even picked up on it!
I don't think it's the sort of thing reviewers would pick up on, generally (reviews are usually frustratingly bad at assessing reliability of items), and it is not unique to the bike, a lot of post mount bikes will suffer from that problem under certain conditions - though it would be nice to see some thought about it and some design on the post mount to avoid it as a potential problem it's one of those little things that no one would think about until riding it through a UK winter - it took me a few sets of pads before I worked it out.