BrandonF_ Posted January 30, 2016 Posted January 30, 2016 Greetings Hubbers, So this morning I've lined up for the Ashburton Meerendal Marathon, and 4km's into the event, I experienced something I have never experienced, never crossed my mind happening, and had no reference to the terrifying, helpless feeling it would be, should it happen... It was fairly hot already, and as we've summited the first climb, a long steep fairly rocky jeep track descend, with thick fynbos (thank God), on both side, followed. About 200m down, feathering here and there, my brakes suddenly had no braking ability at all, I started speeding down this jeep track, with nothing else to stop me, but sticking my leg out in the fynbos at 37km/h,..and take the "calculated" OTB,..luckily into fynbos.... My brake set-up is 2016 XT8000, two KCNC Razors 160mm rotors, and Alligator metal pads. I've used the KCNC Razors/Metal pad set-up for quite a while, and never had issues before... So I'm confused as to what could've caused this, and should I rather change my set-up, to avoid this happening again.. I came off light, considering the possibilities, with only a gash in my left hand, needing 3 stitches. ThxBrandon
Meezo Posted January 30, 2016 Posted January 30, 2016 Unlucky bud, was hoping to see you there! All the best with the recovery. As for the explanation, well there are many factors, remember the recent doper in his "best" year ever, had fallen with the same no brakes! Then it came down to degradation, as this was right in the beginning assuming it was the heat and an air bubble in the system that on the trigger at that time there was nothing... Did you pomp them and still nothing?
popcorn_skollie Posted January 30, 2016 Posted January 30, 2016 Glad you ok man. Things could have gone ALOT worse. If anything your experience is a lesson for how to hand a situation like this. Stay calm. Don't panic and calculate your options. As for the brakes itself could be any one of 100 issues. Are the levers pap?
BrandonF_ Posted January 30, 2016 Author Posted January 30, 2016 Both front and rear failed?Both front and rear, nothing. The downhill was very dusty, that's all I can think of to affect performance, but that don't make a lot of sense either..
Firozfx Posted January 30, 2016 Posted January 30, 2016 For both front and rear to fail on independent lines is strange. Unless they were both bled recently and the wrong mineral oil used. Or the rotors or pads go contaminated
BrandonF_ Posted January 30, 2016 Author Posted January 30, 2016 Unlucky bud, was hoping to see you there! All the best with the recovery. As for the explanation, well there are many factors, remember the recent doper in his "best" year ever, had fallen with the same no brakes! Then it came down to degradation, as this was right in the beginning assuming it was the heat and an air bubble in the system that on the trigger at that time there was nothing... Did you pomp them and still nothing?Did that Meezo, that's when I realised I have to try something else,..like sticking my left leg into fynbos
DJR Posted January 30, 2016 Posted January 30, 2016 Did your brakes come right all by themselves afterwards? Are they functioning fine now?
johannrissik Posted January 30, 2016 Posted January 30, 2016 Greetings Hubbers, So this morning I've lined up for the Ashburton Meerendal Marathon, and 4km's into the event, I experienced something I have never experienced, never crossed my mind happening, and had no reference to the terrifying, helpless feeling it would be, should it happen... It was fairly hot already, and as we've summited the first climb, a long steep fairly rocky jeep track descend, with thick fynbos (thank God), on both side, followed. About 200m down, feathering here and there, my brakes suddenly had no braking ability at all, I started speeding down this jeep track, with nothing else to stop me, but sticking my leg out in the fynbos at 37km/h,..and take the "calculated" OTB,..luckily into fynbos.... My brake set-up is 2016 XT8000, two KCNC Razors 160mm rotors, and Alligator metal pads. I've used the KCNC Razors/Metal pad set-up for quite a while, and never had issues before... So I'm confused as to what could've caused this, and should I rather change my set-up, to avoid this happening again.. I came off light, considering the possibilities, with only a gash in my left hand, needing 3 stitches. ThxBrandon WP_20160130_07_39_00_Pro.jpg
Captain Fastbastard Mayhem Posted January 30, 2016 Posted January 30, 2016 Could be a number of factors Heat buildup (fixed by using better rotors and pads)Contaminated pads and / or rotors (oil, dishwashing liquid, brake fluid etc)Air bubbles (not likely given that both failed) Had you recently washed your bike? Did you rinse it off properly? What did you use to clean it? Were the brakes recently bled, and if so did you remove pads before doing it? Many different things could have influenced it, but I'd go with contamination given that both failed...
BrandonF_ Posted January 30, 2016 Author Posted January 30, 2016 Glad you ok man. Things could have gone ALOT worse. If anything your experience is a lesson for how to hand a situation like this. Stay calm. Don't panic and calculate your options. As for the brakes itself could be any one of 100 issues. Are the levers pap?Thx bud, not at all, lever feel is perfectly fine. Rotors and pads have +-200kms on them, etc etc.
Captain Fastbastard Mayhem Posted January 30, 2016 Posted January 30, 2016 Just had a look at the rotors online. Jeepers, bro - there's hardly any material there!!! With a buildup of heat, no wonder they failed. Nowhere for the pads to bite. http://coresites-cdn.factorymedia.com/bikemagic_new/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/1-IMG_5613.jpg
Paul Ruinaard Posted January 30, 2016 Posted January 30, 2016 Sorry bud that looks nasty. For both to fail... - very unlikely. That is what surprises me.Did you change anything recently? Track back from what has been done to them recently.Also were they normal on the last ride etc etc. I know its all obvious but on this the devil lies in the detail. Was everything normal after the accident and failure i.e. wheels tight etc....
johannrissik Posted January 30, 2016 Posted January 30, 2016 Scary, glad you're OK. I've only once heard of a dual hydraulic brake failure. On a KTM (motorcycle) and it was caused by the owner's son very helpfully cleaning the discs with....disc brake fluid. I'll be keen to hear the outcome as I'm about put the older XT's on our tandem. Edit : With Hayes and Shimano 203 rotors !!!
BrandonF_ Posted January 30, 2016 Author Posted January 30, 2016 Did your brakes come right all by themselves afterwards? Are they functioning fine now?It did function back down Dorsberg down to Meerendal, although I did go down very slow
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