disk brake vibration

[Kurt]

I just put a a new avid hydraulic disk brake on the front of my bike but I seem to have an issue with it . The brake has no problem pulling the bike up even to the point of standing on the bike on the front wheel. The issue I have is under heavy braking I am getting a stuttering pulsing vibration.The brakes are clean and the rotor is straight. The calliper seems aligned to the rotor as well.

Why am I getting this harmonic shudder, is it because the pads are new ? The only thing I can think if is the design of the slots on the rotor seem kinda large- overkill ! and perhaps there to blame. Its the stock rotor that came with the kit so wouldn't think so. Headset and wheel is tight so its defiantly coming from the disk its self.

I guess I could make a video of it but kinda hard to brake heavy and hold a cam at the same time.

Kurt.

 

[lesspedal]

Kurt, do you have front suspension,
My front suspension vibrates when front braking, think it is worn..

 

[JEB]

With the new brake pads the Manufacture reccomended a break in period- I get pulseing once in a while if I drag them a little to long before pulling on full.
They work OK almost all the time.

 

[Kurt]

I do have front suspension but it all feels sturdy its a tripple clamp style fork so the sound dosnt feel like its coming from there. The noise is more like a fast clunk clunk clunk like the pads grabbing on and off like ABS.I was also thinking it could be the spokes flexing across each other as they load up under braking. its a brand new Shimano wheel and spokes feel tight but perhaps need retention.

I will take a video of it today and post it up .

Kurt.

 

[adrian_sm]

Sounds similar to the vibrations I get on my front v brakes when I don't have the toe in of the pads adjusted right. If it was me I would be tweaking the pads some how and see what happens.

Good luck,
Adrian

 

[Kurt]

I have tyred a couple of things to fix this issue. I took the rotor of the bike and resurfaced it and did the same to the pads. after a couple of stops from around 30kmh the brakes started to bight hard and brake well with no noise at all. I then continued to ride the bike and towards the end of the ride I tryed some real heavy braking and they performed well to the point where the back wheel came off the ground. But after a couple of heavy stopes the vibration and noise cam back now even light braking can brink on this noise and chattering again.

What I am thinking is perhaps I am braking them in to hard and getting tough on them to early in the brake in period and they are glazing over .Once this happens the pads just chatter over the rotor. I will try the process one more time and this time try taking it real easy on the brakes for a longer brake in time. I am just concerned if this doesn't help what are my options ? Is there pads that are less prone to glazing over ? I am running the standard avid juicy pads.

Anyhow this is a link is a short U tube video of how the pads are chattering across the rotor now you can hear the chattering on the last stop in the vid.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7w0C8NgFc-U

Kurt.

 

[Mark_A_W]

I've had similar issues with shitty pads.


The best-bang-for-buck ones I've found are the discobrakes $30ish ceramic ones.

Stay away from Torpedo7 $17 pads. They are crap.

 

[Kurt]

Thanks for that tip Mark,
I just had my first look at Disco brakes webpage. looks like a good online shop for anything disk brake related in Australia. Free deliver is a +. I think I will go with a pair of there Ulitimate Red Ceramic comp triple life pads for $26 .

There 203mm ss rotor for $25 and $12 adaptor could do the trick. I will try the ceramic pads first with my 160mm rotors.

Im sure the manufactures of mtb disk brakes design there calipers so there is only enough space to slot in pads with about 3mm of friction material so you need to buy them every 3 weeks :lol: Shame they don;t have more meat on them.

I guess its like pc printers sell the printer for cheap and make up for it with expensive ink cartages that run out fast.

Kurt.