Questions on New Elixir 5 brakes
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 236
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Questions on New Elixir 5 brakes
i've looked through all of srams manuals on the elixir 5 brakes but it doesn't answer a simple question for me. If I purchase these brand new, will I have to install the brake fluid myself? I'm assuming so since cable length isn't known, and cable hose is likely not pre attached with fluid inside.
I've always used avid bb5's for the simplicity of use but now I have the opportunity of switching over at a great price. However i'll need to install them myself. Thanks for any help.
I've always used avid bb5's for the simplicity of use but now I have the opportunity of switching over at a great price. However i'll need to install them myself. Thanks for any help.
#2
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 236
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 62
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
You can find the bleeding procedure in the Internet, but if you have no experience doing it, I would suggest to take the bike to the LBS and ask them to do.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=IoaPUw5DliA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=IoaPUw5DliA
#5
Tour De French Fries
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Salt Lake City
Posts: 1,251
Bikes: 2010 Cervelo R3 SL & 2013 Airborne Goblin
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
elixir brakes suck. Buy some XT's instead
I'm a SRAM fan, but their hydraulic brakes are horrible compared to shimano. By the way brakes usually come pre-bleed w/fluid installed. Just make sure your hose lengths are right length.
I'm a SRAM fan, but their hydraulic brakes are horrible compared to shimano. By the way brakes usually come pre-bleed w/fluid installed. Just make sure your hose lengths are right length.
Last edited by Elduderino2412; 01-30-13 at 04:04 PM.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Memphis TN area
Posts: 7,391
Bikes: 2011 Felt Z85 (road/commuter), 2006 Marin Pine Mountain (utility/commuter E-bike), 1995 KHS Alite 1000 (gravel grinder)
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 676 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 13 Times
in
13 Posts
I checked out the video on bleeding those Elixir brakes and OMG it looked soooo complicated! I mean dang it looks easier to bleed the brakes on a car!! I don't know if all hydro discs are like that, but I did read some Elixir reviews saying that the bleeding process is complicated, and they weren't kidding!
#8
Frozen in carbonite
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 805
Bikes: '85 Full Cycle Cycle.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Elixirs aren't that bad. They will often come pre-bled though sometimes there is still an air bubble or two. Bleeding them isn't that hard if you have the tools but will probably be necessary eventually. If they come ready to go, there is nothing wrong with using them with a little extra housing length, provided it won't bind or hang up on anything.
#9
Two-Wheeled Aficionado
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Wichita
Posts: 4,903
Bikes: Santa Cruz Blur TR, Cannondale Quick CX dropbar conversion & others
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
4 Posts
unless you have a XS frame, most likely you can install them with the stock housing length and then bleed them later.
like... next winter?
like... next winter?
#10
Still kicking.
Elixir5's are ok, there's some good points and some bad points. Personally, I don't particularly care for the lever feel on them or the avid rotors.
__________________
Appreciate the old bikes more than the new.
Appreciate the old bikes more than the new.
#11
Senior Member
Elixir's are only as good as the LBS that assembled/set them up/bled them.
If you live in a town where there are superb bike shops, with top notch wrenches (like I do), you will have very few problems with them. No "turkey gobble", no squeals, no immediate need for bleeds, etc.
If you live in a town where there are superb bike shops, with top notch wrenches (like I do), you will have very few problems with them. No "turkey gobble", no squeals, no immediate need for bleeds, etc.
#12
Senior Member
Elixir's are only as good as the LBS that assembled/set them up/bled them.
If you live in a biking town where there are superb bike shops, with top notch wrenches (like I do), you will have very few problems with them. No "turkey gobble", no squeals, no immediate need for bleeds, etc.
If you live in a biking town where there are superb bike shops, with top notch wrenches (like I do), you will have very few problems with them. No "turkey gobble", no squeals, no immediate need for bleeds, etc.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Memphis TN area
Posts: 7,391
Bikes: 2011 Felt Z85 (road/commuter), 2006 Marin Pine Mountain (utility/commuter E-bike), 1995 KHS Alite 1000 (gravel grinder)
Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 676 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 13 Times
in
13 Posts
Can you expound on the "lever feel" you refer to? Just curious because the Trek MTB with XT hydro discs had a different feel to the brake levers than what I'm used to with mechanical v-brakes, so just wondering if was anything like you refer to. I actually really liked the feel of the levers on the XT brakes.
#14
Have you seen my tractor?
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Stanwood, WA
Posts: 106
Bikes: Kona Stinky and Stab
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
The 5's I had on my Stab were ready to go out of the box. I liked them.
#15
Still kicking.
Can you expound on the "lever feel" you refer to? Just curious because the Trek MTB with XT hydro discs had a different feel to the brake levers than what I'm used to with mechanical v-brakes, so just wondering if was anything like you refer to. I actually really liked the feel of the levers on the XT brakes.
__________________
Appreciate the old bikes more than the new.
Appreciate the old bikes more than the new.
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Chapel Hill
Posts: 457
Bikes: Canfield Yelli Screamy, Pivot Mach5, Specialized Roubaix, '65 Hercules, '79 Schwinn Stingray Lil Chic, '68 Schwinn Stingray Fastback, '89 Specialized Allez Epic, '86 Battaglin World Champion
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
So, if the price is hard to pass up, go for them. If Shimano(or the new Maguras) is in the same price range, might want to go that route. If you want a brakeset that you won't ever want to swap out, get Hope.
#17
Frozen in carbonite
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 805
Bikes: '85 Full Cycle Cycle.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I hate to point it out to two people who clearly know bikes from their elbows, but if one person's complaint is that they're too crisp and one says they're too spongy, it may just be all about setup.
#18
Still kicking.
I'm actually extremely nit picky when it comes to disc brake lever feel. Having worked on them and tried them on demo's having felt them at both too crisp and too spongy. Spongy can happen to any brake. On/Off can be gotten over for myself. The thing I just don't like is the shape of the lever on the elixirs, can adjust it so it can be done, but the lever will get too close to the grip.
__________________
Appreciate the old bikes more than the new.
Appreciate the old bikes more than the new.
#19
Frozen in carbonite
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 805
Bikes: '85 Full Cycle Cycle.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts