Hi all
My front brake isn't working properly (avid elixier) it appears as if one of the caliper pads is sticky... any ideas?
take calliper off bike
Take pads out - hold in the piston that moves and pump the lever gently a few times until the sticky one moves. Be carefull not to pump it right out
Lube with the correct fluid for your brake
Work in an out a few times. Check both moving equally - you might be as well to do both
This is quite a common problem on Avid brakes, there are a few chains of though on the best way to sort the sticky piston.
1 - remove pads from brake, use a large flat bladed screw driver to press on good piston and carefully pump the brake lever to push the sticky piston out about 75% DO NOT PUMP THE BRAKE SO MUCH THAT THE PISTON POPS OUT OF THE CALIPER. apply some Dot 5.1 fluid to the piston using a cotton bud to remove and dirt build up and push piston back into caliper. Repete this a few times to remove as much crap from the caliper as possible and re lubricate it and it should stop it sticking
2 - same process as 1 but using red rubber grease, small tubs are available on ebay for a few pounds. red rubber grease is used in the motor industy for lubricating pistons and seals so should be good for buike ones too.
Ooh this happened to my Elixirs only t'other day. In a 'not broke don't fix' kinda way I'd not serviced mine in about 3years. I removed the pads then used the lever to pump the pistons out as much as poss. Then I removed the caliper, took it apart and used a track pump to pop the pistons out. Everything was given a reet thorough clean. Once dried I then popped the pistons all the way back in using dot oil as a lube. Then I reattached the caliper, bled the system and wanger, banger thank you mamma, braking awesomeness restored.
Track pump + brake caliper = dent in my shin (from the piston flying out at high speed)
Now I fire them into a bucket of water!
If you remove the pistons completely you run the risk of finding the seals leak when you put them back in. Less chance of it happening if you only pump 'em out 3/4 of the way and it should be enough
Thanks all
Buggered up and popped the piston out by mistake ... how I assume I need to bleed the whole thing.
Yeah, clean up the piston as before and pop it all back togeter and bleed the brake. There will be alot of air in there compared to normal so it may be a bit of a pig to bleed