BB5 Biting but Slipping

[simonB2014]

So I've taken possession of a second hand Tricross with BB5s.
Both front & rear were appallingly set up so I've googled, studied and managed to do my best on them.

The front brake is now solid, maybe too much so !
The rear is still giving me trouble.
It spins without rub, and I've got the pads to bite the rotor well before my brake lever meets the bars.
Yet despite the pads biting the rotor, the wheel still turns, even at parking lot speeds.
Stopping is an experience less like 'braking' and more like 'riding into a puddle of custard'.

I read on a forum here about grease/oil contamination, so I used meths (all I had to hand) to clean both the pads and rotor, but to no avail.... it still slips.

What am I missing ?
At this stage I'm on the edge of just ordering some new pads and praying.

Any advice ?


Many Thanks

 

[jack smith]

A new pad wouldn't do any harm!

 

[NormanD]

Scour the brake disc with rough emery paper to take the brake shine off the disc, will help the pads bite a lot better ...also reface the pads by doing the same on a flat surface

 

[Globalti]

Wash the pads in the dishwasher - there's nothing hotter or more caustic for degreasing.

Oil contamination will make the brake squawk and judder just as the bike stops.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Do you have inline adjusters on your brake cables?

 

[simonB2014]

Thanks chaps, I'll pop out this p.m. and get some emery paper.
Guess a combo of a hot 'caustic' wash, a scrub with emery.. then see where we stand.

Yes I have inline adjusters, but tbh I don't think it's an issue to do with cables.
Like I say, the pads are reaching the rotor.

 

[simonB2014]

Update :
Washed and scrubbed with emery - no improvement.

Now waiting for new pads to arrive.

 

[Tom B]

Can you swap pads/rotor front to back to eliminate?

 

[simonB2014]

Belatedly tying off this thread, sorry I haven't provided feedback until now !

I didn't want to swap front/back in case I also transferred contaminant with the pads .. not sure how likely that would be, but !

So new pads, cleaned out dirt from inside/around the pad housing and it's now working like a dream.

No idea what was wrong with the old pads or if they are porous and able to 'soak up' contaminant ..... but for now, they are just 'binned'.

Thanks for the advice given, even if it didn't work this time, some tricks to try on another occasion

 

[McBrian]

My BB5's worked great on my hybrid since I got the bike last year with a free service as part of the deal.

Rode it all last year and a few times during the winter when weather permitted and decided to use my free service recently so the bike would be good to go for this year.
On getting the bike back from by dealer the brakes have been, lets say troublesome, the front brake could put me over the bars if I'm not careful while the back brake is useless under load. I've had it back to the shop a couple of times and each time they say it's fixed I find it's just as useless as it was when I gave it back to them so they can sing for my business now.

Stopping is an experience less like 'braking' and more like 'riding into a puddle of custard'.

I had a go at fixing thing today with most of the above suggestions but don't think I've made any difference, have come to the conclusion that the pads have been contaminated so I'm going to follow Simon and order some new pads and hopefully that will be that.