Mountain Biking - Avid BB5 Disk Brake System

I just bought a trek 6000 which is equipped with Avid BB5s. These brakes have needed to be constantly adjusted in order for them not to rub. I took the bike for a 10 mile ride or so just on the streets last night and when i stopped the brakes were making a squeaking sound as if they're 90 years old. I'm hoping this is just part of the breaking in process. Anyone know if this is normal?

I have BB5's up front on my swobo otis. At first they rubbed, then squeaked, then practically fail to stop all together. I just use the rear coaster brake.

Mine work great and only squeal when wet.

Love the BB5s. Some rubbing at first, but now that they are broken in they have been problem free.

mine were a pain at first but now that they're broken in I love them....


I haven't had to make any adjustments in a while...and when I do it's only one or two clicks on the adjustment knob...

Mine are just completly different. I have not stoping power at all.

Adds a bit of fun to riding

it sounds like the people who don't have any stopping power don't have them adjusted correctly...

ideally the rotor is as close as it can be without rubbing the stationary pad...and the moving pad should come in to compress the rotor onto the stationary pad...

I like to keep mine pretty tight so I have a good positive feel on the brake lever...my pad probably only travels about 2mm and the stationary pad is 1mm or less from the rotor...

they stop me in a hurry...

stopping power aplenty here also.

I have the same bike/same brakes. It's like most things, when the product is blamed when it should be the adjustment. I am new to disc brakes but I am getting better at adjusting them. If you get them adjusted correctly you can damned near kill yourself with the braking power.

You shouldn't have rubbing. You need to readjust. Here's the manual. http://www.sram.com/_media/techdocs/2006_BB5and7_English.pdf

I suppose it is possible your set is faulty and/or your rotors are warped, Nibarlo.

I am betting that they probably need adjusting, however.

Mine work great and only squeal when wet.

Wow.......the things I could say here.

That's just sick!:eek:

mine stop just fine..front and back they rub a tiny bit but only due to flex and i hope that will stop when they get even more broke in...

I had them and the stopping power was great but god almighty did they ever squeak. It drove me half insane.

I'm hoping this is just part of the breaking in process. Anyone know if this is normal?

1. How much have rode this bike?
2. Who installed the brakes?
3. Have you tried to reinstall them?

1. How much have rode this bike?
2. Who installed the brakes?
3. Have you tried to reinstall them?

I really haven't rode the bike much. Probably all together about 75miles.
The brakes were installed by the bike shop when I bought the bike new.
No I haven't tried reinstalling them

Take it back to the shop to have the caliper re-alligned if it doesn't get better soon.

Wow.......the things I could say here.

No need to shame me for my lack of riding time, i beat myself up over it as it is :(

Next year! Next year the mtn bike will be back in action frequently and it will be the roadie that sits!

it sounds like the people who don't have any stopping power don't have them adjusted correctly...

ideally the rotor is as close as it can be without rubbing the stationary pad...and the moving pad should come in to compress the rotor onto the stationary pad...

I like to keep mine pretty tight so I have a good positive feel on the brake lever...my pad probably only travels about 2mm and the stationary pad is 1mm or less from the rotor...

they stop me in a hurry...

I just had them adjusted at the shop. When I figured they didn't stop I looked at them myself and they are properly adjusted. I dont belive its the pads because the bike is not even 6 months old.

Do you have any other tips I can try?

Do you have any other tips I can try?

What levers are you using?

FR 5's

I've got 'em on my new bike and so far so good :)

FR 5's

Sounds like the levers aren't the problem. Either they set up the brakes wrong or you have weak girly arms :p Maybe ask the shop to hook you up with new pads and see if that makes a difference.

I have the same bike/breaks.

I'm having a similar problem, but in addition to low stopping power and squealing, I've had to stop riding the 6000 b/c the front break causes a heavy vibration when in use (the vibration oscillates rapidly, so I think it has something to do with the pattern of holes/no holes on the rotors).

The vibration caused the head tube to come loose after just 15 or so miles (yeah, the vibration is THAT bad).

I'm taking the bike to my store to get it checked out.

They are a bit of a pain to get adjusted properly (compared to the BB7s I've also used), but they do have excellent stopping power once you get them dialed in. I have some on my Xtracycle, and even with me (220 lbs) plus the bike (~45 lbs) and 150 lbs of cargo, they stop on a dime. Well, maybe a nickel. But I can lay huge strips of rubber on either wheel -- if anything, my complaint would be that they are all too easy to lock up (not quite enough modulation). I'm using some old XTR levers and running full housing to both calipers.

Kill.cactus -- you mean the headset came loose, right? It would be pretty terrifying if the vibration made your head tube come loose...

The vibration caused the head tube to come loose after just 15 or so miles (yeah, the vibration is THAT bad).


So the head tube welds have separated and now the frame is in two pieces? Are you suuure?

jezz they told me the pads are brand new, I know they are. What are some good pad options?

Did you try to "break in" the pads gently when you first got the bike? Or did you go all-out right away?

It probly wasn't a hard core ride but im sure it wasn't a slow gentle break in ride.

Why? I know you need to break them in, but do they mean to beak them in on a street or light trail?

Kill.cactus -- you mean the headset came loose, right? It would be pretty terrifying if the vibration made your head tube come loose...


haha yeah oops XD

I got my BB5 rotors bent out of the the package. I bought a 2002 BBDB setup and it beats the BB5 with ease.

-Avinash

I got my bike checked out and the mechanics couldn't figure out how the breaks were causing such horrible vibration so they reinstalled the entire front mechanism. The BB5s work like a charm now :) great stopping power and they are actually noise-free virtually.