misc

i got avid 5, had them for about a year. The braking sucks now.

mystolenbikes

Remove your tire and look at your brake pads and you'll know if you need new pads or not.

misc

i think the pads are still good, but why does me brake suck so much

mystolenbikes

What kind of riding do you do?

misc

95% dodging traffic in NY and 5% mtn

mystolenbikes

Then it's your pads. Just check them, it only takes 30secs to remove your front tire.

Dannihilator

Pads should be replaced once a year and in some people' cases around here a couple of times(at least.)

Hydros or mechanicals?

Shadowex3

Not tight enough perhaps?

mystolenbikes

He's been dodging traffic in city for a year on those brakes I bet you he put a bout a 1000 miles on those pads.

misc

861 miles to be exact. so i should get them replaced?

Dannihilator

Got to be careful with the disc brakes to replace the pads when the pad area itself is thinner than the thickness of the end of a flat bladed screwdriver. Past that point you stand the chance of damaging the calipers.

Edit: Yes I would say after 861 miles that it would be time to replace the pads.

mystolenbikes

+1

electrik

I read once there is about 3mm deep of material left... maybe that is a bit premature.

Covalent Jello

Just put new pads in the front for avid juicy 5's
I don't get it, thought they'd be tighter and more responsive but they are just about the same
New disc, and new pads, hydraulic

lubes17319

Clean & sand the rotors

Shadowex3

That's why I asked if it was all set properly, if you're yanking and not getting enough braking force it could just be that it's gripping too loosely...

helifitz

You said you have Avid 5 brakes. Assuming Avid Juicy 5's or Code 5's you may have air in the hydraulic lines which will require bleeding.

Covalent Jello

edit

Covalent Jello

i got the avid juicy 5's, no brake lines were opened which youd think would mean no air could get into them

i suppose it could be due to not cleaning the rotor before installing, forgot to do that, doh..

its moreso that the lever depresses farther than the bite not being good
tried adjusting the calipers (didnt touch the lever adjustments as they havent been touched to begin with)

might just leave it
but then again, brake fluid is hygroscopic (??) and can get moisture in it over time
which really effects braking
at least on cars

Zan

You should bleed your brakes. Being able to pull the lever and not get any braking power (with clean pads and rotors) means that the problem may be a lack of fluid, or air bubbles in the line.

Bleed kits aren't terribly expensive, and it's easy to do it yourself.

Try not to touch the pads / rotors with your hands. You really shouldn't be getting any oils on these parts.

zjk

bleeding would probably be the next step to take in trying to get the brakes how you like them. One thing to also remember is that there is a little burn in period for the pads when they are first installed. The braking right away won't be quite as good as after they have been broken in.

acpeeps

I replaced mine when I hit the tree.....

I get new ones every season....at 260lbs.....i HAVE to

dminor 

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ed 

Well said!