Avid Elixir 5 Hydraulic Brakes - Adjustment

[SquareDaff]

Does anyone out there have any experience with these?

I've just bought a bike with these fitted and am getting a slight rub of pad on disc.
My old HDB's had an allen key adjuster for pad protusion. Can't see anything similar on these though!

Does anyone have any links to technical docs or any advice that my help me to get them adjusted?

Cheers, in advance.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

wheel out, use suitable lever to push the pistons back? squeeze the lever, with something between the pads just in case, lever back, repeat several times until you are sure both pistons are moving back and forth. At that point the rubbing usually stops, until next time.

 

[PK99]

Does anyone out there have any experience with these?

I've just bought a bike with these fitted and am getting a slight rub of pad on disc.
My old HDB's had an allen key adjuster for pad protusion. Can't see anything similar on these though!

Does anyone have any links to technical docs or any advice that my help me to get them adjusted?

Cheers, in advance.

If a piston is stuck take it back to the shop.

If it is just an alignment issue, the tha manuf web site says:

Tri-Align™ Caliper Positioning System™Another original Avid technology making your life better—there’s never been an easier brake to install and adjust. With Avid’s Tri-Align™Caliper Positioning System™, aligning the caliper to the rotor literally takes seconds. Just loosen the CPS™ bolts a little, and then squeeze the brake lever while re-tightening the bolts. Perfect caliper alignment—just like that.

 

[SquareDaff]

Cheers for both of these suggestions - will get the bike on the stand tonight and give both methods a whirl

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Cheers for both of these suggestions - will get the bike on the stand tonight and give both methods a whirl

If it is a new bike yep go back the the shop if the piston is stuck, or if they are not moving equally.

Ignore what the Avid site says. Their instructions for brake setup are near useless.

There are some hope videos on youtube that tell you what you really need to know about caliper/pad setup and you can apply it to Avid brakes. The Avid 'loosen the bolts then slam the brake on a few times to center everything' may work on an perfectly machined brand new bike but in the real world a little more care is needed.

(I've Avid Elixir R on one bike and BB7 on another so have some experience.

 

[Cubist]

I have Elixir R on my commuter, and they were a nightmare when new, rubbing and singing (though not actually causing much drag at all) . However, a bit of persistence will pay off as they bed in. All you need to do is centre the discs. Don't slam them on! As Greg says, slamming is counterproductive. Loosen the caliper mounting bolts and apply the brake. Tighten the bolts to finger tight, then let go of the brake, spin the wheel to check the disc doesn't rub now. If it doesn't, apply the brake again and tighten each bolt up a quarter turn at a time. Be subtle, because if you are hamfisted you'll put it all out of true again. You don't need to do them up very tight either, just handtight with a standard allen key plus a little nip for luck should do it.

If they still rub when you've done this it'll most likely be only on one part of the rotor, which will show signs of run-out. In this case get so that you can see the light between the pads and the disc, spin the wheel and note where the rotor gets closer to the pad. Again, with an eye on subtlety, use the jaws of an adjustable spanner or long pair of grips to tweak the rotor back into shape. They will bend, but will take a bit of trial and error.

By the way, hydraulic brakes don't have wear compensators like BB actuated ones, because the pistons move both pads an equal distance, and self-centre once bedded in.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I have Elixir R on my commuter, and they were a nightmare when new, rubbing and singing (though not actually causing much drag at all) .

That is freakin' hilarious. Mine were brilliant when new. Silent. No drag at all on my lightly used Boardman for about a year. Then post Spain, after riding it down some real mountains in the wet, it must be the Spanish dirt, they started chirruping, then the rear started screeching REALLY LOUDLY all the time. It was embarrassing to ride the bike to be honest. Then, suddenly, loads of drag from the rear. Bit of fettling a la the Hope video's and they've shut up (for now) except when I roll the bike backwards when the front brake emits a Chewbacca-like wail.

 

[SquareDaff]

Thanks for all the advice yesterday.
Looked at the bike yesterday evening and managed to remove the "singing". Ride this morning was quiet with no binding and therefore a much more pleasant experience. Good job too - it was a headwind!!