Avid Elixer 5

[Guest]

will changing my standard rotors to the new shimano xt ones with resin pads improve the stopping power

wot is the problem with avids.

also why every time when i remove the front wheel do i have to re align the caliper.

this is now my second bike with this stuff and its really getting on my nerves now.

my wifes bike has Slx on it. its always right, every time never needs adjusting and fidling with, and theres lots of brakes all the time every time.

 

is there a way to get the Avids hassle free

[Capricorn]

i've removed my front wheel I dunno how many times, and I've NEVER had to realign the caliper. NO rubbing/brake drag or other such nonsense afterward.

I'm beginning to think that i must be luckiest owner of Avid brakes on thehub (juicy brakes up to Elixir CRs).

 

The one occasion I had to realign was going from a 185mm disc to a 203mm disc which required a different caliper mount. took me all of 1 min, so not a big deal really.

 

Alec: you right, the organic pads to have more initial bite. but they wear quicker, and not the best in the wet. But what size discs are u running? If you want more stopping power, increase the disc size rather.

[ChUkKy]

I have elixir 5's on my bike and they annoy the hell out of me, if they not binding from simply removing a wheel everyone within a 100m radius knows I am using them when a touch the rear brake... They have done this from the day I took it out the shop, Ive tried all I know how to stop them from howling, the next step is a fire.

 

Ive tried re-aligning the calipers, switching front pads with the rear alternating pads... I give up, any suggestions other than a fire would be much appreciated.

 

Alectwowheels, I feel your pain

[Capricorn]

SeanN: which pads and what disc you using? just asking outta interest, cos i've used both the G2 and G3 rotors on both the J5s and the E-CRs, and the only time i've had some brake-squeal is when i've just hit a dusty patch and hit the brakes, or when the disc/pads are wet. Once they've warmed over, presumably evaporating the water, it's squeal free. Similarly once i've started braking, and i again presume the dust is mostly gone, the squealing stops.

 

I dunno, maybe i'm just lucky I can imagine the irritation of a constantly squealing brake.

[wapad]

SeanN: which pads and what disc you using? just asking outta interest, cos i've used both the G2 and G3 rotors on both the J5s and the E-CRs, and the only time i've had some brake-squeal is when i've just hit a dusty patch and hit the brakes, or when the disc/pads are wet. Once they've warmed over, presumably evaporating the water, it's squeal free. Similarly once i've started braking, and i again presume the dust is mostly gone, the squealing stops.

 

I dunno, maybe i'm just lucky I can imagine the irritation of a constantly squealing brake.

 

Also love my avids never have to re-align I think sometimes people tighten their QR's to tight in the excitement and that can cause the alignment problem

 

usually you find that when you replace your wheel without tightening the QR then there is no contact its when you tension up that the problem occurrs

 

but this problem is not unique to Avid I changed from XT with similar problems

[Johan Bornman]

is there a way to get the Avids hassle free

 

Yes, swap them for Shimano, preferrably SLX.

 

I see that lots of people are happy with their Avids but I see far too many of them giving big hassles. Usually one of the two calliper pistons freezes up or develops more friction than the other, and this causes the constant re-alignment issues. The solution is to fit a new piston and quad-ring. However, on some of the Avids it is a difficult operation since some of the callipers don't split. I hate that job.

 

The piston damage is quite evident, the piston becomes visibly rough and pitted.

 

Recently I changed a set of pesky Avids for a set of el-cheapo Shimano levers and callipers - the low-end non-series model and the bike's owner was very satisfied. I saw her again the other day after about one year. She says she's never given her brakes another moment's thought ever again.

 

I do think there is merit in brakes working with oil rather than DOT fluid. The former is a much better lubricant and in such small devices with small tolerances, the extra mobility of the piston makes a big difference.

 

I still want to experiment with converting either Hope or Avid brakes to mineral oil. One day when I have time...

Edited May 22, 2011 by Johan Bornman

[Guest]

Hi Johan

im not complaining about brakes i abused or used for many years, these are new on a 96. 3 weeks old.

i now bought a bike rack this morning, so now i dont have to remove the front wheel to transport the bike.

But you still haven't said if i can ditch the G3 rotors and replace them with the new XT floating ones

[Johan Bornman]

Hi Johan

im not complaining about brakes i abused or used for many years, these are new on a 96. 3 weeks old.

i now bought a bike rack this morning, so now i dont have to remove the front wheel to transport the bike.

But you still haven't said if i can ditch the G3 rotors and replace them with the new XT floating ones

 

 

I feel honoured, the last time someone asked me for permission to do something, I was still a desk jockey in the corporate world.

 

Yes, you may ditch the G3s and replace with XTs. But better check with your wife as well.

 

Seriously now. I think the problem is with the callipers, not the discs. I havent seen the XT floating ones yet but I'm familiar with the concept. On motorbikes the disc really floats but on something like Hope discs, the float is imagined. Besides, real float comes with noises of its own.

[ChUkKy]

SeanN: which pads and what disc you using? just asking outta interest, cos i've used both the G2 and G3 rotors on both the J5s and the E-CRs, and the only time i've had some brake-squeal is when i've just hit a dusty patch and hit the brakes, or when the disc/pads are wet. Once they've warmed over, presumably evaporating the water, it's squeal free. Similarly once i've started braking, and i again presume the dust is mostly gone, the squealing stops.

 

I dunno, maybe i'm just lucky I can imagine the irritation of a constantly squealing brake.

 

Hi Jarek,

Im not so sure what disk and pads they are specifically, basically the brakes are still the stock ones that the bike came with Avid Elixir 5 on a 2010 Giant Trance X2... I would have a look but the bike is still at Cajees getting a rear shock issue sorted out, the propedal lever does nothing when its flipped either way but thats another story altogether on another post of mine.

[Guest]

i have since replaced:

Rotors from Avid G3 to Shimano XT floating rotor

Avid Sintered to Avid Organic...

 

Wow....i now have stopping power