Rookie brake bleeding question.

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Fatherof2
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Rookie brake bleeding question.

Post by Fatherof2 »

Hi Gang,

I have a real rookie brake bleeding question.

I bleed my brakes, and when I hit the pedal the pads pressed up against the rotor, but they wont return. They remain pressed against the rotor.

What should I do?

Thanks for any help,

David
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SS109
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Post by SS109 »

They're supposed to! Well, actually they will release just a bit but not enough to really notice visually. As long as the front wheel rolls you are good.
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Post by Fatherof2 »

The wheel does spin, but the pads are constantly rubbing the rotor.

I come from a mountain biking background, where there is no rub when the brakes are off.

Thanks SS.

D.
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Post by SS109 »

It should just be very lightly touching the rotor. If you can feel drag when turning by hand then something is wrong.
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Post by Fatherof2 »

I can feel some light rubbing.

I can hear it too.
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Post by SS109 »

Does it feel like it is holding back the wheel from rotating? If not, you are good.
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Post by Fatherof2 »

The wheel spins pretty well.

There is constant rubbing however.
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Post by gregp »

Normal. Because of the limited "power" available on a bicycle, I assume their brake systems actually pull the pads away from the discs a little bit. On a motorcycle, the hydraulic pressure is released, but there is no spring or other mechanism to pull the pads away from the disc. They simply stay right where they are, with no pressure on them, rubbing lightly on the disc. If there were a spring to pull them back (or push the caliper piston back), the first step on the lever would be "dead", meaning that the pedal would simply push all the way down, until the pads contacted the disc again, and then you would have to take another bite with the pedal. A similar thing happens when you bend a disc. The bend pushes the pads back, and you end up with a lot of lever or pedal play.
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Post by Fatherof2 »

Thanks Greg!

Thanks everyone!

I am learning.
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Post by kdx633 »

Have you lubed the caliper slide pins?
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Post by scheckaet »

if you keep having problem, replace the pin, they get worn a little and you usually can't tell. I was trashing pads every ride then I replaced the pin, no more problem after.
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Post by Fatherof2 »

I lubed up the pins really well with Bel Ray grease.

I guess this is just how the brakes function.

I am new.

I guess that goes without saying.

Thanks for all the help.
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Post by scheckaet »

BTW I was talking about the pins that holds the brake pad (NO grease) not the pin that holds the caliper together (the one going into the rubber piece filled with grease)
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Post by Fatherof2 »

>|<>QBB<
scheckaet wrote:BTW I was talking about the pins that holds the brake pad (NO grease) not the pin that holds the caliper together (the one going into the rubber piece filled with grease)
I knew what you meant, but thanks for clarifying.
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Post by gregp »

Often, people do not realize just how critically sized the caliper volume, the brake hose length, and the master cylinder volume (or piston diameter/stroke) have to be to have a system that works well. If you were to change any one of these components with another, say, from another machine, the entire sytem balance can easily be upset, and you end up chasing the problem down the line. I have seen this happen several times on street bikes.
This is why something as simple as a braided hose, or a slightly bent disc can make a huge difference in feel at the lever.
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Post by Mr. Wibbens »

I was worried about that during my fork swap

E series has just a single piston caliper, while the H has a twin. Plus the H hose is longer

But thankfully it all works fine
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Post by SS109 »

>|<>QBB<
Mr. Wibbens wrote:I was worried about that during my fork swap

E series has just a single piston caliper, while the H has a twin. Plus the H hose is longer

But thankfully it all works fine
Same here. H series caliper with E series M/C and hose. Works great!
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Post by gregp »

I am glad to hear that swap works well for our bikes. The volume of the larger diameter E series single caliper piston is most likely very close to the volume of the 2 smaller pistons/bores of the H series caliper.
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