Help with brakes
- Thread starter richo
- Start date
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Cycleops
Legendary Member
- Location
- Accra, Ghana
Hello richo and 
.
Do you mean the brake levers are loose on the handlebars? If so a 4 or 5mm Allen key should sort it.
Are the brakes not working well? 'Tightening' is not the answer and could be due to any manner of things, worn or contaminated pads, hydraulic leak or other issues.
Not wishing to be rude but you don't seem to have a grasp of mechanical issues so your best option may be to return it to Halfords and let them sort it, especially if the bike is near new as it'll be covered by a warranty.
.Do you mean the brake levers are loose on the handlebars? If so a 4 or 5mm Allen key should sort it.
Are the brakes not working well? 'Tightening' is not the answer and could be due to any manner of things, worn or contaminated pads, hydraulic leak or other issues.
Not wishing to be rude but you don't seem to have a grasp of mechanical issues so your best option may be to return it to Halfords and let them sort it, especially if the bike is near new as it'll be covered by a warranty.
Cycleops
Legendary Member
- Location
- Accra, Ghana
I understand but you need to be well versed in trouble shooting problems on disc brakes with a well equipped workshop and specialist tools, that's why IMHO it's better to let Halfords tackle it.
If you're determined to dothings yourself check out the videos on YouTube:
View: https://youtu.be/FArL-T4Oyaw
If you're determined to dothings yourself check out the videos on YouTube:
View: https://youtu.be/FArL-T4Oyaw
Last edited:
sevenfourate
Devotee of OCD
- Location
- Lowestoft, Suffolk
Your compassion, interest and concern was going so well until this point
Some are good of course. Personally; i would take the bike to a Cycle shop where they only carry out cycle repairs and might (?) be slightly more expensive; but i think overall you're much more likely to achieve a successful repair first time.....
sleuthey
Legendary Member
- Location
- South Gloucestershire
There are people here who may be able to help you but you need to help them first by supplying more detail. Can you put a video of the brakes on YouTube and paste a link?
vickster
Legendary Member
Is the bike new or well used? When were the brakes last adjusted or serviced or had new pads do you know?
Cycleops
Legendary Member
- Location
- Accra, Ghana
I was only recommending Halfords as the OP may have recently purchased it there and might still be under warranty.Your compassion, interest and concern was going so well until this point
Some are good of course. Personally; i would take the bike to a Cycle shop where they only carry out cycle repairs and might (?) be slightly more expensive; but i think overall you're much more likely to achieve a successful repair first time.....
sevenfourate
Devotee of OCD
- Location
- Lowestoft, Suffolk
Jody
Stubborn git
Hydraulic brakes so there is little you can do as I don't think the lower models have bite point adjustment (which I assume is what you are wanting to "tighten" or have less lever travel)
Brakes not working well can be anything from pad contamination, air having entered the system, pads getting towards wear limit, bent disc forcing the pistons back...
You need to be more specific about "not braking right" and "tightening". Are the levers spongy, long in travel, pulling on full but not having much effect etc
I'd agree with Cyclops in this instance that if you don't fully understand them, take it to someone who does.
Brakes not working well can be anything from pad contamination, air having entered the system, pads getting towards wear limit, bent disc forcing the pistons back...
You need to be more specific about "not braking right" and "tightening". Are the levers spongy, long in travel, pulling on full but not having much effect etc
I'd agree with Cyclops in this instance that if you don't fully understand them, take it to someone who does.
Alex321
Guru
- Location
- South Wales
You don't need to tighten them. That is not a thing with disc brakes, certainly not with hydraulic. They are self-adjusting until the point where the pads are worn out.
Whatever the issue with the brakes, that is not it.
If the bike is quite new, then the most likely issue would be air in the hydraulic lines, or contamination of the pads/rotors. If they feel spongy, the former is more likely. If they feel firm but just don't work, or squeal badly even in the dry, then the latter is more likely.
If the bike is older, then worn pads is also a likely reason for them not working well.
If the issue is that the pull is too long before they bite, then that bike has Clark Clout brakes, and there should be an adjustment screw to adjust the reach, found on the inside of the lever.
Jody
Stubborn git
Reach isn't the same as bite point adjustment. Lever travel will be the same regardless of it's start point
