What have I done....

[stuarttunstall]

I suspect I know the answer and it is a "newbie pilot error" and I have let the brakes get a little warm...

If so can the rear rotor be cleaned up or is that there to stay?

I did this on the 2nd day out and I did ride down a very long slop but used the rear brake only quite a lot which I suspect was wrong... I have now been advised to use both brakes and "feather" them to allow them to cool...

The first image is the front brake which is still like this, the other two are the rear which has not, or should I does not appear to have got any worse...

 

[Levo-Lon]

It will be fine.
The pads may need a light scuff up with a bit of fine sand paper to remove the heat glaze.

You can do this by simply removing the wheel and slotting a bit of sand paper between the pads.

And as said use the front as well.
Braking should be 75/25 front /rear or there abouts or 50/50 for light applications

 

[DCBassman]

Does look a bit overheated. I've no experience with disc brakes, so whether this is going to be a problem beyond this point, I'm not sure.
The trick us also learning to use the always-more-effective front brake as well, without death-gripping it and causing problems.

 

[Heltor Chasca]

I’m not even sure there’s anything that seems wrong with the rotors unless I am missing something. They will wear and also it you will have a film of brake pad residue on the rotor. It all helps with the breaking in process and ultimately keeps the brakes quiet and efficient. personally I would leave the pads alone and see how you go. I have ‘interfered’ too early in the past and made things worse.

The only thing I would say is find another position to put your front quick release lever. It sometimes doesn’t close properly if it against the fork or frame and it is also harder to get your fingers behind it to release it.

EDIT: To add, my Shimano rotors are shiny like yours in comparison to my Avid and TRP rotors which look more matt (my description) Seems normal.

 

[stuarttunstall]

Thank you both... That is what I have been told by a couple of people... as it stands they do all work as they should just looks a bid of a mess lol ... not an expensive replacement and I have learnt by my mistake...

 

[stuarttunstall]

I’m not even sure there’s anything that seems wrong with the rotors unless I am missing something. They will wear and also it you will have a film of brake pad residue on the rotor. It all helps with the breaking in process and ultimately keeps the brakes quiet and efficient.

The only thing I would say is find another position to put your front quick release lever. It sometimes doesn’t close properly if it against the fork or frame and it is also harder to get your fingers behind it to release it.

The rear one was silver like the front until, like an idiot I seemed to have used the rear for a long period downhill on the 2nd day so it is now discoloured

I put the leaver there when I replaced the wheel when I collected the bike from the shop, thank you for the advice, I will move it round a little

 

[DCBassman]

If it is just contamination from over-enthusiasm, it will probably wear shiny again. What made me think 'heat' is that the edges have bronzed also.

 

[stuarttunstall]

If it is just contamination from over-enthusiasm, it will probably wear shiny again. What made me think 'heat' is that the edges have bronzed also.

Soon as I noticed it when I got back home I thought "Oh crap" I had made the mistake of just using the rear brake rather than both, then a cycling friend of mine agreed and said use both rather than just the rear and "feather" them to allow then to cool a little

 

[stuarttunstall]

[QUOTE 5258986, member: 9609"]they couldn't have been too hot, that sticky label hasn't melted.

[/QUOTE]

Now that s a little warm lol

 

[Heltor Chasca]

The rear one was silver like the front until, like an idiot I seemed to have used the rear for a long period downhill on the 2nd day so it is now discoloured

I put the leaver there when I replaced the wheel when I collected the bike from the shop, thank you for the advice, I will move it round a little

Lots of advice and differing thoughts on breaking your pads and rotors in on line and YouTube. They mainly advise against heavy braking down hill. I live at the top of a 9% hill and breaking in my cargo bike wth a passenger has always meant creeping down hill. I also was told not to actually stop dead with the brakes locked when you are bedding in pads. Gentle coast then feet down or carry on.

 

[I like Skol]

Looks fine to me. The discs do get wear marks on them in use and after a while even wear out.

See THIS POST for a picture of a rear disc I recently replaced after 18,000 miles.

 

[Pale Rider]

Aren't you in York?

If there is any hill anywhere in this country that could badly overheat a bike disc, which I doubt, it certainly won't be anywhere near where you live.

I'm not sure what you mean by 'feather', but if you are doing a long, steep descent, the best way to look after the brakes is to pull the speed down to slower than you want to descend, release, let the speed build to as fast as you dare, then repeat.

Constant light braking - which some would describe as feathering - is not a good idea.

 

[I like Skol]

Oh yeah, take the orange label off (careful not to get greasy fingers in the rotor), you wouldn't wear clothes with the tags still on would you?

 

[stuarttunstall]

Looks fine to me. The discs do get wear marks on them in use and after a while even wear out.

See THIS POST for a picture of a rear disc I recently replaced after 18,000 miles.

That was worn lol .... I think due to my own inexperience of discs I did keep the rear on for way too long and not use the front which discoloured the disc... I had only done about 3 miles on the bike to get it like that

 

[stuarttunstall]

Aren't you in York?

If there is any hill anywhere in this country that could badly overheat a bike disc, which I doubt, it certainly won't be anywhere near where you live.

I'm not sure what you mean by 'feather', but if you are doing a long, steep descent, the best way to look after the brakes is to pull the speed down to slower than you want to descend, release, let the speed build to as fast as you dare, then repeat.

Constant light braking - which some would describe as feathering - is not a good idea.

I live on the Yorkshire Wolds, at the top of Garrowby Hill...

When I did this it was not a major hill, it was just that it was very long downward slope...

That is what I meant by "feather the brakes"...

Thank you all for the advice, yet more excellent stuff to put into practice