Extreme heat/hydro brakes

Discussion in 'Brakes' started by 45acpguy, Jul 7, 2018.


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  1. 45acpguy

    45acpguy Member

    Location:
    Granada Hills, CA
    Name:
    Dave
    Current Bike:
    Intense Tracer Enduro
    Question... with the extreme heat we’re experiencing here in So Cal, I noticed that my new Specialized Camber Comp’s brakes felt rock hard and after applying the brakes, the lever wouldn’t return to its normal “return position”. Anyone else experience similar issues while having thier bike stored in higher temperatures?

    The bike has been hanging on my mechanics bike stand in the graage this past week. However, even with the side door open and a shop fan running, inside temp is probably reaching 100-105 deg (if not higher).
     
  2. mtnbikej

    mtnbikej J-Zilla

    Location:
    Orange
    Name:
    J
    Current Bike:
    SC Chameleon SS, SC Hightower
    Depends on which brakes they are.......SRAM Guides have had well documented issues about bad master cylinders that go really bad in the heat.
     
    Mikie, Danmtchl, Faust29 and 5 others like this.
  3. 45acpguy

    45acpguy Member

    Location:
    Granada Hills, CA
    Name:
    Dave
    Current Bike:
    Intense Tracer Enduro
    They’re SRAM Level TL. As of this morning (much cooler temp in the garage) everything is back to normal...
     
    Mikie, Danmtchl, DangerDirtyD and 2 others like this.
  4. LLPoolJ

    LLPoolJ iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    Moreno Valley
    Name:
    James Johnson
    Current Bike:
    Specy Epic, Stumpu and Enduro
    My guides do that. I changed the plungers last week hoping for a good result.
     
    45acpguy, Mikie, Danmtchl and 4 others like this.
  5. UPSed

    UPSed iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Simi Valley
    Name:
    Ed
    Current Bike:
    Niner Jet 9 RDO
    Did those plungers come with a set of XT brakes?
     
    AKAKTM, 45acpguy, Mikie and 11 others like this.
  6. mtbMike

    mtbMike iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    PRESCOTT!!!
    Name:
    Mike
    Current Bike:
    Ibis HD5, Ripley & Mojo 4
    These were absolutely the worst brakes I ever owned. I question whether they were actually brakes since stopping me seemed a low priority for them
     
    Mikie, Danimal, Cyclotourist and 7 others like this.
  7. LLPoolJ

    LLPoolJ iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    Moreno Valley
    Name:
    James Johnson
    Current Bike:
    Specy Epic, Stumpu and Enduro
    Had XT on my Scalpel. Werent much better except the plunger issue.
     
    45acpguy, Mikie, Cyclotourist and 5 others like this.
  8. 45acpguy

    45acpguy Member

    Location:
    Granada Hills, CA
    Name:
    Dave
    Current Bike:
    Intense Tracer Enduro
    I guess experiences with MTB components is very similar to the old Ford vs Chevy debate... certain components work for some, and not for others. I’ve read several reviews on the Level TL, some great, some not so great...
     
    AKAKTM, Mikie, Cyclotourist and 6 others like this.
  9. Faust29

    Faust29 Moderator

    Location:
    irgendwo
    Name:
    B. Bunny
    Current Bike:
    I gots some bikes.
    I have XT brakes (compliments of @UPSed ) on the Chameleon. I like the feel, and the maintenance is unbelievably simple. They also work with just about any rotor and pad combo.

    I have Level TLs on the Highball. I love them when they work, but they are a lot more finicky to keep working smoothly... I experimented with different pads and rotors, settling on organic pads and Shimano rotors. The semi-metallic pads and AVID rotors were a nightmare combo for me. Other trail users could hear me coming a mile away...
     
    AKAKTM, 45acpguy, Mikie and 7 others like this.
  10. mtnbikej

    mtnbikej J-Zilla

    Location:
    Orange
    Name:
    J
    Current Bike:
    SC Chameleon SS, SC Hightower
    I solve the brakes debate by just not using them that much.

    With that said, I have run the gamut with Avid/Sram brakes over the years....Juicy's(great), Elixir's(horrific), X.0 Trails(awesome) and now Guides(great so far).

    I have also done the same with Shimano over the years....XT 756(spectacular), XT785(good but went through 2 sets in 4 years), SLX 7000(good so far, starting to shows signs of leaking from MC).
     
    stevers, 45acpguy, Mikie and 7 others like this.
  11. Voodoo Tom

    Voodoo Tom MTB Addict

    Location:
    Castaic
    Name:
    Tom Kokkinakis
    Current Bike:
    Mango one, black one, Ti one
    Sounds like the easiest solution would be to just bring the bike in the house with you and let it enjoy some cool AC.:cool:

    Had a set of XT’s do what you’re describing once but a good bleeding fixed it.
     
    45acpguy, Mikie, Cyclotourist and 6 others like this.
  12. DangerDirtyD

    DangerDirtyD iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    CA
    Name:
    Chicken Nugget
    Current Bike:
    2018 Guerrilla Gravity SMASH
    Need a set of Avid XOtrail? I’ll trade you for maintenance work.

    I used them for a few miles at 113* and they worked normal.
     
    45acpguy, Mikie, Cyclotourist and 4 others like this.
  13. SnakeCharmer

    SnakeCharmer iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Front Range, San Gabes
    Name:
    Mike, aka "Ssnake"
    Current Bike:
    YT Izzo
    Everyone I know that has tried Hope brakes say that they are the best of the best and that they are never going back to any other brand. I hear that they are a PITA to set up and adjust but once you are through that madness, no problems from that point on, year after year.
     
    45acpguy, Mikie, Danimal and 4 others like this.
  14. mtbMike

    mtbMike iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    PRESCOTT!!!
    Name:
    Mike
    Current Bike:
    Ibis HD5, Ripley & Mojo 4
    The mechanic I use stated told me this part when I asked him about Hopes. I know Magura also has many fans that won’t use anything else.
     
    45acpguy, Mikie, Cyclotourist and 3 others like this.
  15. mtnbikej

    mtnbikej J-Zilla

    Location:
    Orange
    Name:
    J
    Current Bike:
    SC Chameleon SS, SC Hightower

    We have an old pair of Magura Gustav's on the tandem....can't say they are all that great. Granted they look like they came off a 250 dirtbike.....they do have a lot of power, but they feel like crap.
     
    45acpguy, Mikie, Cyclotourist and 3 others like this.
  16. mtbMike

    mtbMike iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    PRESCOTT!!!
    Name:
    Mike
    Current Bike:
    Ibis HD5, Ripley & Mojo 4
    I’m a Shimano fanboy and they are so easy to work on that someone with my mechanical skills would be foolish to mess with ease of success. The one SRAM product that worked good for me were the original XO Trails. Never tried Hopes or Magura myself.
     
    45acpguy, Mikie, Cyclotourist and 5 others like this.
  17. mtnbikej

    mtnbikej J-Zilla

    Location:
    Orange
    Name:
    J
    Current Bike:
    SC Chameleon SS, SC Hightower
    I'm finding that SRAM really are not all that hard to bleed. The main thing to remember is to use a fresh bottle of fluid. I've done it a few times recently.....once with the Bleeding Edge tool and once without.
     
    45acpguy, Mikie, Cyclotourist and 3 others like this.
  18. SnakeCharmer

    SnakeCharmer iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Front Range, San Gabes
    Name:
    Mike, aka "Ssnake"
    Current Bike:
    YT Izzo
    I have a set of 2010 Magura Marta SL brakes (red MCs/calipers) in case anyone wants to take them off my hands for cheap. Lots and lots of parts will be included with them. These are powerful brakes but they do not modulate well. More on/off.

    Oops, derail!!! :laugh:
     
    45acpguy, Mikie, Cyclotourist and 4 others like this.
  19. Runs with Scissors

    Runs with Scissors iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    West Anaheim
    Name:
    Mark Whitaker
    Current Bike:
    Giant XTC with pedals
    I gotta say that the SLX brakes that came stock on the XTC have worked flawlessly. The one time they fizzled out on me was my own fault...way overdue to replace the mineral oil.
     
    Faust29, 45acpguy, Mikie and 2 others like this.
  20. sir crashalot

    sir crashalot iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    laguna beach
    Name:
    gary fishman
    Current Bike:
    2018 banshee rune
    the TRP Quadiems are killer. Modulation of sram and power/consistency of Saints, mineral oil, easy to bleed.
     
    Faust29, 45acpguy, Mikie and 6 others like this.
  21. herzalot

    herzalot iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Laguna Beach
    Name:
    Chris
    Current Bike:
    2020 Revel Rail,Yeti SB 130 LR
    Faust29, 45acpguy, Sidewalk and 4 others like this.
  22. 45acpguy

    45acpguy Member

    Location:
    Granada Hills, CA
    Name:
    Dave
    Current Bike:
    Intense Tracer Enduro
    the shop that sold me the bike is gonna look over the brake system and see what they can find. At the very least, they will bleed the system for me.
     
    Faust29, herzalot, Danmtchl and 2 others like this.
  23. Mikie

    Mikie Admin/iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    NW Arkansas
    Name:
    Mikie Watson
    Current Bike:
    Ibis DV9 / SC Hightower
    :eek:BAM!
    One for the XT Lovers of the world!:inlove:

    Edit: Just funnin'
    @45acpguy my 2018 Santa Cruz Hightower came with SRAM Brakes and Eagle Drive Train.
    I have never experienced a better designed drive train! The engineering, the buttery smooth shifting on a 1X12 transmission is awesome.

    However the SRAM brakes left me with a lot to desire. They made this horrid Turkey Warble sound and although they had a good brake modulation (in fact better than Shimano XT's), the noise drove me crazy. They also use DOT Brake Fluid which I am not a fan of. Shimano uses mineral oil. It's true the Shimano's have somewhat an either on or off feel to them, they are super easy to work on and to adjust.

    So I went on Jenson's Website and bought a front and rear brake set of Shimano XT Ice Tech brakes for like $175 bucks and replaced my SRAM's. I also added the Ice Tech Rotors. I have been in braking bliss ever since!

    https://www.jensonusa.com/Shimano-XT-BR-M8000-Disc-Brake
    https://www.jensonusa.com/Shimano-XT-SM-RT86-6-Bolt-Ice-Tech-Rotor?_br_psugg_q=ice+tech+rotor
     
    Faust29, Danmtchl, 45acpguy and 4 others like this.
  24. HBkites

    HBkites Well-Known Member

    Location:
    Huntington Beach
    Name:
    Sharone
    Current Bike:
    Why S7, Revel Rascal, Spark RC
    I have a few SRAM brake-sets, and I found out that most of the current Guide/Level have an issue with the plungers sticking.

    Personally, I found that spending 15-30 minutes fixing the issue is way less aggravating vs. waiting for a warranty replacement.


    I ended up "fixing" them successfully after watching a few youtube videos Like this one:




    I like how this one using the drill to sand the OD on the plunger:
     
  25. doublewide

    doublewide iMTB Rockstah

    Name:
    Mark
    Current Bike:
    Santa Cruz Tallcan
    I saw some of those vids..... My favorite one was the guy sanding it down. Classic.

    I just sent mine back to SRAM, all three sets! Oh but one was swapped out at a race in Oregon at the SRAM booth.
     
    Faust29, herzalot, mtnbikej and 5 others like this.
  26. Sidewalk

    Sidewalk iMTB Rockstah

    Location:
    The road is where I call home
    Name:
    Josh
    Current Bike:
    N+1
    I've only had to fix 1 out of 4 Guide's so far. But I just did the sand the plunger trick.
     
    Faust29, herzalot, mtnbikej and 4 others like this.
  27. Old&InTheWay

    Old&InTheWay Well-Known Member

    Location:
    Orange, Ca.
    Name:
    Steve
    Current Bike:
    2017 Intense Primer Pro
    My 2017 Intense Primer came with Sram Level TLM Brakes. During the first three months of usage I was having problems with them, but after replacing the recalled master cylinders they haven't had any issues for the last 9 months.
     
    Danmtchl, Faust29, mtnbikej and 3 others like this.
  28. 45acpguy

    45acpguy Member

    Location:
    Granada Hills, CA
    Name:
    Dave
    Current Bike:
    Intense Tracer Enduro
    So... just received a call from the service dept at my LBS. SRAM is replacing my Level TL’s with thier most recent production components. Supposedly, the issue with “sticky” plungers has been rectified. My LBS has made this issue a priority and placed a rush order with SRAM, so my parts should be here in 2-3 days and the shop will install them that same day.
     
    Danmtchl, pperrelle, Faust29 and 10 others like this.
  29. Mikie

    Mikie Admin/iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    NW Arkansas
    Name:
    Mikie Watson
    Current Bike:
    Ibis DV9 / SC Hightower
    Awesome!
    So glad to hear !
     
    Danmtchl, Faust29, herzalot and 2 others like this.
  30. herzalot

    herzalot iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Laguna Beach
    Name:
    Chris
    Current Bike:
    2020 Revel Rail,Yeti SB 130 LR
    People talk about on/off feel and no modulation with XTs or XTRs. I don't get it. I have absolutely no issue feathering the brakes with precision and feel. They never feel grabby to me. On the contrary, the Guides that I have tried just feel mushy and weak. I guess that's the modulation people are talking about.

    To each his own.

    But I am right, of course. :whistling:
     
    Danmtchl, Mikie, DangerDirtyD and 8 others like this.


As a former Amazon Associate I continue to get screwed trying to stay qualified as an Amazon Affiliate. So I quit!


Want to donate to imtbtrails?