shudder/noise Avid Juicy 3 Hydraulic Disk Brakes

[RudoJ]

OK, so I got my Spez Rockhopper 3 weeks ago...(what an awesome bike btw)

1st ride race went very well. Thereafter the brakes started with their issues

 

Front: Sounds almost like its metal on metal and if the pads and calipers arent aligned properly with the rotor

 

Back: Shudders awhen braking and sounds like a buffalo on heat

 

Went into an LBS around Centurion, they applied disc brake cleaner, checked alignment, even "cooked" the pads to make sure there are no impurities (dirt)

 

still the problems persisted. So I ended up taking the bike back to "The Sports Basement" in Woodmead. The response I got there was that the pads of most of the Spez bikes they sold somehow got oxidized during the transport process or whatever. I was told that organic pads are most likely to solve the problems/issues I have.

 

They are still waiting for the order of brake pads to be delivered. The workshop Manager there just called me and said that he is working on a similar issue on another bike.

 

I dont mind waiting a while, just as long as the problemsare rectified. But it got me thinking: what are the most likely causes of brake related noise/shudder

 

So far Ive come up with, pads/calipers not aligned, dirt in pads and on rotors, pads oxidised, rotor not running true. Whata else am I missing?

 

Possible remedies are what the LBS here in Centurion did, other type of brake pads, a copper strip/paste at the back of the pads, true rotors etc. Once again. what else am I missing?

 

And yes, I know that some of you might say change to Shimano, Hayes, Magura and that the Juicy 3's are kuk, so any advice/comments are welcome

 

Thanks

[Robrider]

There quite a few topics on this already, if you do a search you will find them.

 

I had this problem and it was so bad that the shudder would induce my whole bike to shudder. I found cleaning and sanding the pads helped for about 5km's.

 

In the end I swapped from metal sintered pads to resin (organic?) pads and it solved the problem, never had a days problem since.

 

Mine was XT brakes with XTR pads.

 

Good luck

[covie]

avids do make a noise especially when wet, firstly can i ask if you bedded in the brakes or if you just went for a ride as is?

[RudoJ]

avids do make a noise especially when wet, firstly can i ask if you bedded in the brakes or if you just went for a ride as is?

The brakes where bled in according instructions from LBS. I dont mind a little noise, but sheez, when the guy in front of you "skriks" when you brake, you know you have issues.

 

Will do a search here on Hub as well, for future reference

[covie]

The brakes where bled in according instructions from LBS. I dont mind a little noise, but sheez, when the guy in front of you "skriks" when you brake, you know you have issues.

 

Will do a search here on Hub as well, for future reference

 

Rudo bedding in brakes is the process where you first take your off road machine onto a nice peace of flat clean tarmac, you cycle up to 15kmh and hit your brakes as hard as you can 15-20 times, you then go up to 30kmh and do the same, you follow this process twice i.e. same steps for front/rear brakes.

 

When this is completed you get of your bike and dont touch it till the next day.

 

This heats up the pads, "moulds" them to your rotors and hardens the pads.

[RudoJ]

Thanks Covie, i did this, sort of, only 7 times per wheel and not up to 30kmh...hmmm ok then

[King_Crispy]

Avids are ***. So are their rotors. Change the pads to resin and get Alligator Windcutter rotors and they transform into ok (still not great) brakes. Just been through the episode with Juicy Ultimates and juicy 3.5's

Edited February 8, 2012 by King_Crispy