|   Specialized FSR XC owners: Loss of brake power ? (Avid Vees) | MBA
Jul 23, 2003 9:01 AM | | History: I cleaned my rims with a SOS pad (you know, the steel wool with the soap in it kind of pad), cleans great but then I lost all power. Ok, either there was still soap on the rim or soap residue impregnated the pads. Strange thing is that I've used an SOS pad before with just fine results. I don't get it.
So, I recleaned the rims with alcohol then filed the pads down a bit to remove the glaze. But, I was still not sure my power was back to 100%. So, I replace the pads (front) with the same Avid pads but it made no noticable difference.
Question: Due to the great front breaking power I think I once had, I'm pretty sure I used to be able to get the rear tire off the ground on asphault or concrete with a one finger break squeeze. Not anymore. Have I screwed something up? You guys getting the rear tire off the ground kind of power? |
| re: Specialized FSR XC owners: Loss of brake power ? (Avid Vees) | Erci
Jul 23, 2003 11:49 AM | | Have you done anything else at all with the bike, besides cleaning the rims? Lots of things can mess up your brakes (like not having your wheel centered in the dropouts)
#1. The rims used to have a machined surface (they weren't perfectly smooth when they were new and you scrubbed them enough times to smooth that surface out which decreased your brake power). What kinda rims do you have?
#2. Pads lost alignment. Are they hitting the rim perfectly straight or the back of the pad hits the rim first.. or does the front of the pad hit the rim first? Do they hit the rim as close to the tire as possible and lay flat against the rim when you put a little force on the lever?
#3. (this problaby isn't it) You cable routing is no good causing the housing to flex and compress so much that your brakes feel mushy and have no real power unless you squeeze really hard. |
| Good Stuff | MBA
Jul 23, 2003 1:04 PM | | I have Mavic 517s with about 700 miles on them. I've scrubbed them just twice.
Both sets of pads were/are aligned to contact flat against the rim (I fiddle with them til the're just right). I'll check to see if they contact the rim as close to the tire as possible (good point).
Also I'll check the cables, actually makes sense. Thanks. |
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