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I haven't really used my bike for about 5-6 years but decided that now is the time to return to mountain biking.
I checked my bike over a few days ago and the rear brake lever was pulling to the bars, so I bled it and all seemed good, still felt ok this morning, no sponginess and felt good.
All ok on the ride until half way down a long descent when the lever started going further to the bars and by the end I had no rear brake.
So is it just bad bleeding by me, or a seal problem? Brakes are Avid Elixir R, bike is from 2012 so I'm guessing seals may have degraded?
There was no sign of any fluid at the lever or caliper end.
Thanks in advance
Edit:
I've just noticed that on Merlin you can pick up Shimano mt410 or SRAM G2 rear brakes from £25, are these any good? If they're reasonable then it's not worth me getting a seal kit and messing around with my existing ones. I ride mainly XC stuff, no plans on heading to the Alps or other epic descending places again.
So my inclination in such scenarios is to start with the 'free to fix' stuff before working up to more drastic measures. With that in mind I would suggest that you first eliminate the possibility of air in the system - i.e. bleed the brakes again as this appears to be, from what you've written, the most likely culprit.
Also check your pad-wear. As someone who's on their way back to cycling I've been surprised at how much I'd forgotten and the assumptions that I was making about the state of the bike. A number of times I've found myself tweaking or deep cleaning bike components and remembering as I'm doing that 'oh yeah...this was on the 'to do list' three years ago...'
Thanks, yeah I decided to go along the same thought process while watitng for a reply, so I just rebled them as that's free and I'll see how they go on the next ride
Just a thought - when you test the brakes statically after bleeding, do you do what I call 'the pump up test'?
i.e. repeatedly work the brake lever for 15 seconds or so, if the feel changes, particularly if the bite-point moves away from the handlebars, it suggests that there is air in the system.
The Shimano brakes you mentioned are absolutely fine if you decide to go new.
Just tried the pump up test mentioned above and seems ok. I'll be off for a ride tomorrow so see how they go then and if still problems I'll just get a new Shimano one for 25 quid, that's same price as a service kit and a lot less faff. I'm azed you can get brakes that cheap, I'm so behind these days on bike kit!
“Avid” - there’s your problem
‘Avid Elixir R’ - great brakes when they are working but utterly abysmal most of the time. The fluid expands when it’s hot leading to the brakes rubbing the rotor or locking on.
Bleeding them to relieve the problem means excessive lever pull when it cools down.
Get rid of them is my advice.
Just tried the pump up test mentioned above and seems ok. I'll be off for a ride tomorrow so see how they go then and if still problems I'll just get a new Shimano one for 25 quid, that's same price as a service kit and a lot less faff. I'm azed you can get brakes that cheap, I'm so behind these days on bike kit!
Don’t just buy one, buy a pair.
Note that Avid brakes use DOT 4 or 5.1 fluid and Shimano brakes use mineral oil.
