vibrating brakes

[konakc]

hey all,
my pivot literally broke down... now in the shop for a few weeks.. recuperating ..

Riding the older bike.. I changed the front pads...vibrating when braking.. squeezed the lever and tightened the bolts... still not set so did it again.. doesn't touch the disc but now when I brake it vibrates...

any suggestions on how to fix?
thanks all!

 

[mtnbikej]

Axle, QR tight?

play in the hub?

disc brake adapter tight?

rotor bolts tight?

sometimes it’s as simple as seating the new pads into the old rotor.

 

[konakc]

I will double check...

 

[SnakeCharmer]

Also could be:

*Warped rotor(s)
*Contaminated rotor
*Contaminated brake pads

 

[no worries]

I had this issue recently. Felt like pulsating when I'd brake, much stronger than normal modulation and would actually start the fork popping up and down.

Turned out to be a contaminated rotor and pads. I had tried sanding and cleaning them, but eventually had to replace them to get it fixed.

 

[Grego]

Clean the rotors with rubbing alcohol. Clean the pads with dish soap. Works for me.

 

[BonsaiNut]

Clean the rotors with rubbing alcohol. Clean the pads with dish soap. Works for me.

Or just clean both with WD40. The first half of your ride will be twice as fun!

 

[Faust29]

Aw, come on... Nobody has asked the obvious. Are these SRAM brakes we're talking about? If so, the vibration is a feature.

 

[konakc]

SLX shimano! I heard WD 40 makes the squeaking noise go away.....

 

[Danmtchl]

Clean the rotors with rubbing alcohol. Clean the pads with dish soap. Works for me.

Clean the rotors with ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL, never use rubbing alcohol.

 

[UPSed]

Clean the rotors with ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL, never use rubbing alcohol.

^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Whenever my pads get glazed for whatever reason I take them out and grind the pad surface on a smooth section of concrete until the glaze is gone. I clean the rotors as described above. Full power and quietness restored.

 

[DangerDirtyD]

hey all,
my pivot literally broke down... now in the shop for a few weeks.. recuperating ..

Riding the older bike.. I changed the front pads...vibrating when braking.. squeezed the lever and tightened the bolts... still not set so did it again.. doesn't touch the disc but now when I brake it vibrates...

any suggestions on how to fix?
thanks all!

Try Bombing a steep hill at 40mph, lean waaaay back, and apply mostly front brake (with just enough rear brake to keep the bike on two wheels) until you come to a stop.

If that doesn’t work, Swap you pads front to rear, rear to front and bed them in again.

If that doesn’t work. spray your front caliper/rotor with water from a handy water bottle while riding and bed the pads in again. Spray, stop. Spray, stop. Spray, stop.

Good luck!

 

[Runs with Scissors]

hey all,
my pivot literally broke down... now in the shop for a few weeks.. recuperating ..

Riding the older bike.. I changed the front pads...vibrating when braking.. squeezed the lever and tightened the bolts... still not set so did it again.. doesn't touch the disc but now when I brake it vibrates...

any suggestions on how to fix?
thanks all!

Obviously the only solution is to get a new bike.

 

[herzalot]

hey all,
my pivot literally broke down... now in the shop for a few weeks.. recuperating ..

Riding the older bike.. I changed the front pads...vibrating when braking.. squeezed the lever and tightened the bolts... still not set so did it again.. doesn't touch the disc but now when I brake it vibrates...

any suggestions on how to fix?
thanks all!

You received good answers for your brake issue, but as a new Pivot owner, I am more interested in what what wrong with your Pivot. Do tell.

 

[konakc]

Vibrating breaks all good.. u right just needed bedding... Vib went away after a couple of downhills at oaks today.
Man oaks on a croxcountry bike is a whole new oaks... It was like new trails ..new bike fun...

 

[konakc]

My pivot 429 trail is four o five years old.. forks and shocks sent to factory for service.. was degraded over time..
Love the bike.. no issues.. just getting old..

 

[herzalot]

My pivot 429 trail is four o five years old.. forks and shocks sent to factory for service.. was degraded over time..
Love the bike.. no issues.. just getting old..

Ahhh. Not a bike problem at all. I was worried it suffered one of those catastrophic failures that a certain favorite brand around here is known for... or the pivots had stopped pivoting. Suspension service is essential - but independent of bike brand.