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[Closed] Scary Hope E4 brake fade.

twonks · 2017-08-26T16:31:30Z

Just got back from my first trip over to Long Mynd, and had a scary ish experience down the last down hill on the route - no 9 into Little Stretton if that helps. Got half way down and was going reasonably quick but due to the steep and lose terrain I was feathering both brakes, then got the the bottom 100 metres or so and both brakes ceased to function, with the rear lever clicking under pressure then going back to the bar. I sort of threw the bike around and crashed into the gate at the bottom to stop in a rather ungainly fashion, looked down at the brakes and they were both pinging and looking very hot indeed. Not had any brake fade on any bike or trail since I had Hope C2's nearly 20 years ago and this has left me slightly concerned about the Tech 3 / E4 suitability for my 110Kg. I've only had them a few months (from new) but they've managed a few trips into Wales, round the peaks a couple of times and loads of local rides with no bother and great performance. The obligatory Strava upload calls the hill I had the problem on 'Bake your brakes', so I guess it is rather famous or it. This made me feel a little easier but should I be concerned with this and can anything be done to prevent it? Staying off the brakes on a hill that steep is not something I'd be comfortable with, and according to the results I'm well into the top half of times so not really mincing down. Bike is a Ibis mojo SLR with 180mm and 160mm floating Hope rotors, E4 calipers and Tech 3 levers, with red pads (as they came) Brakes feel fine again now but they haven't been used in anger since. What are the thoughts - bigger disks, different pads, different brakes all together? I have Zees on the other bike but prefer Hopes for the modulation. Or, slow down until I lose weight :oops:

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carlosg

Posts: 0

Free Member

Mmmm, the hill appears to have grown since I was 4 , that'll be the Shropshire one then 😉

Posted : 28/08/2017 11:16 am

molgrips

Posts: 91169

Free Member

If lost fluid the lever will not recover because you've lost fluid

Yes it will, if the lost fluid is replaced by the contents of the reservoir.

Posted : 28/08/2017 6:40 pm

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