bleed hayes 9 disc brakes or buy new ?
 

Hi there ,

New to Mountainbikes and Disc brakes and have picked up a second hand commencal full suspension bike . The hayes 9 disc brakes on it need new pads and the pistons are not going back in fully causing brake rub , enough so that the back wheel doesnt freewheel for very long when you spin it . Im considering getting rebuild kits for the brakes and getting bleed kits and new pads , this would come to about 80 euro . Then I am alos thinking that maybe I should just get new brakes on it altogether .So just wondering what people think .

Try fix up the old hayes 9 or invest in better newer stuff ?If so then any recommendations on a solid brake that doesn't break the bank ?

Also I have a question about disc brake rub . Just how much brake rub is acceptable ?I have read that a little is normal , but would too much mean that you'd lose energy pedalling and be slowed down ?

I have taken out the pads and pushed the pistons back but they wont go back much it seems . My LBS say that its possible the fluid has congealed in the hose and has swelled out against the pistons.

Thanks in advance for any pointers .

Nines are not worth rebuilding, even if you could find parts anymore. They were a spotty design and problematic. A lot of onlines have Strokers of various models for great prices now...a much better design and much better power. Look for Stroker Trails; I've had them before on my downhill race bike and they performed well. My son has my old set on his DH bike now.

thanks for your input , I have been researching and I think Ill go with shimano deore xts , the money i d put into extending the life of the nines would be better spent on new pads

You can't go wrong with shimano disc brakes.

Too True, even down to Acera level, Shimano brakes are the best currently out there.

If you are looking at XT's would only go for them if getting the full ICE-Tech kit, rotors, finned pads etc, otherwise would look at a lower range set.

As you currently have Hayes, they probably have inch rotors, where as all current brakes have rotors spec'd in mm, so they won't be compatible, so budget for new adapters as well.

I swapped my broken Hayes 9s for shimano Deore brakes. The bleed kit, new pads, etc for the Hayes came out to be almost as much as the new Deore kit....and I got a new modern brake set out of the deal.