Hydraulic Brake Problem...

[Mark Taylor]

I've noticed that my Hydraulic brakes have 'lost' adjustment and are only
needing a very small amount of pull on the brake levers to apply them. The
brake levers are freely moving and there are no problems there..The brake
system is the 'Giant MPH system and is on a Giant XTC 840 Cross Country
mountain bike. The bike is about a 2002 model I think, however I've only had
the bike from new about a year.

One thing I've done which might(?) have affected the set up is to change the
handlebars, hence move the positioning of the brake levers. This problem is
causing a concern as in hot weather, if the bike is left in direct sunlight,
the brakes tend to apply themselves which is resolved by leaving the bike in
the shade.

The system has an adjustment wheel on each of the brake levers to open or
close the spacing between the disk and the pads, but I'm only getting no
more than half a turn off each adjustment wheel when I used to get several.

I (in my layman capacity!) wonder if me moving the levers has upset the
system..???

If anyone can help me it would be appreciated as I'm having a cycling
holiday in 2 weeks and really want to get it sorted before I go..!!

Mark Taylor

 

[John Wilton]

"Mark Taylor" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I've noticed that my Hydraulic brakes have 'lost' adjustment and are only
> needing a very small amount of pull on the brake levers to apply them. The
> brake levers are freely moving and there are no problems there..The brake
> system is the 'Giant MPH system and is on a Giant XTC 840 Cross Country
> mountain bike. The bike is about a 2002 model I think, however I've only
> had the bike from new about a year.
>
> One thing I've done which might(?) have affected the set up is to change
> the handlebars, hence move the positioning of the brake levers. This
> problem is causing a concern as in hot weather, if the bike is left in
> direct sunlight, the brakes tend to apply themselves which is resolved by
> leaving the bike in the shade.
>
> The system has an adjustment wheel on each of the brake levers to open or
> close the spacing between the disk and the pads, but I'm only getting no
> more than half a turn off each adjustment wheel when I used to get
> several.
>
> I (in my layman capacity!) wonder if me moving the levers has upset the
> system..???
>
> If anyone can help me it would be appreciated as I'm having a cycling
> holiday in 2 weeks and really want to get it sorted before I go..!!
>
> Mark Taylor
>

Mark,

I have had a similar problem with my Giant MPH brakes - an inability to
'back-off' the adjuster enough in hot weather. It was resolved by removing
a small amount of brake fluid from the reservoir.

John Wilton

 

[Mark Taylor]

Thanks John,

Was this a difficult thing to do? If it is a simple task, maybe you could
describe the process?

Thanks,

Mark

"John Wilton" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Mark Taylor" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> I've noticed that my Hydraulic brakes have 'lost' adjustment and are only
>> needing a very small amount of pull on the brake levers to apply them.
>> The brake levers are freely moving and there are no problems there..The
>> brake system is the 'Giant MPH system and is on a Giant XTC 840 Cross
>> Country mountain bike. The bike is about a 2002 model I think, however
>> I've only had the bike from new about a year.
>>
>> One thing I've done which might(?) have affected the set up is to change
>> the handlebars, hence move the positioning of the brake levers. This
>> problem is causing a concern as in hot weather, if the bike is left in
>> direct sunlight, the brakes tend to apply themselves which is resolved by
>> leaving the bike in the shade.
>>
>> The system has an adjustment wheel on each of the brake levers to open or
>> close the spacing between the disk and the pads, but I'm only getting no
>> more than half a turn off each adjustment wheel when I used to get
>> several.
>>
>> I (in my layman capacity!) wonder if me moving the levers has upset the
>> system..???
>>
>> If anyone can help me it would be appreciated as I'm having a cycling
>> holiday in 2 weeks and really want to get it sorted before I go..!!
>>
>> Mark Taylor
>>
>
> Mark,
>
> I have had a similar problem with my Giant MPH brakes - an inability to
> 'back-off' the adjuster enough in hot weather. It was resolved by
> removing a small amount of brake fluid from the reservoir.
>
> John Wilton
>

 

[John Wilton]

"Mark Taylor" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news%[email protected]...
> Thanks John,
>
> Was this a difficult thing to do? If it is a simple task, maybe you could
> describe the process?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Mark
>
> "John Wilton" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>>
>> "Mark Taylor" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]...
>>> I've noticed that my Hydraulic brakes have 'lost' adjustment and are
>>> only needing a very small amount of pull on the brake levers to apply
>>> them. The brake levers are freely moving and there are no problems
>>> there..The brake system is the 'Giant MPH system and is on a Giant XTC
>>> 840 Cross Country mountain bike. The bike is about a 2002 model I think,
>>> however I've only had the bike from new about a year.
>>>
>>> One thing I've done which might(?) have affected the set up is to change
>>> the handlebars, hence move the positioning of the brake levers. This
>>> problem is causing a concern as in hot weather, if the bike is left in
>>> direct sunlight, the brakes tend to apply themselves which is resolved
>>> by leaving the bike in the shade.
>>>
>>> The system has an adjustment wheel on each of the brake levers to open
>>> or close the spacing between the disk and the pads, but I'm only getting
>>> no more than half a turn off each adjustment wheel when I used to get
>>> several.
>>>
>>> I (in my layman capacity!) wonder if me moving the levers has upset the
>>> system..???
>>>
>>> If anyone can help me it would be appreciated as I'm having a cycling
>>> holiday in 2 weeks and really want to get it sorted before I go..!!
>>>
>>> Mark Taylor
>>>
>>
>> Mark,
>>
>> I have had a similar problem with my Giant MPH brakes - an inability to
>> 'back-off' the adjuster enough in hot weather. It was resolved by
>> removing a small amount of brake fluid from the reservoir.
>>
>> John Wilton
>>
>
>

Mark,

NB My brakes are MPH-3 not sure whether yours are the same but...

It was some time ago but I seem to remember simply removing the plug on the
top of the reservoir , removing some fluid, reinserting the plug - job
done. Looking at the manual I wonder whether it would be better to just
crack the bleed nipple on the caliper, squeeze some fluid out then retighten
the nipple .

John

 

[Mark Taylor]

John,

Job done indeed..!!

Just loosened the plugs and allowed a couple of drops of fluid to leak out -
it seemed that the system was under pressure even with the adjustment wheel
fully open and without touching the caliper.

Everything's fine now and I've got full adjustment on both brakes.....
Hurrah..!!

Thanks for the help John - now I can go on this trip without the worrry of
the praked being fully locked up when I want to ride..!!

Mark Taylor



"John Wilton" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Mark Taylor" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news%[email protected]...
>> Thanks John,
>>
>> Was this a difficult thing to do? If it is a simple task, maybe you could
>> describe the process?
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Mark
>>
>> "John Wilton" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]...
>>>
>>> "Mark Taylor" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>> news:[email protected]...
>>>> I've noticed that my Hydraulic brakes have 'lost' adjustment and are
>>>> only needing a very small amount of pull on the brake levers to apply
>>>> them. The brake levers are freely moving and there are no problems
>>>> there..The brake system is the 'Giant MPH system and is on a Giant XTC
>>>> 840 Cross Country mountain bike. The bike is about a 2002 model I
>>>> think, however I've only had the bike from new about a year.
>>>>
>>>> One thing I've done which might(?) have affected the set up is to
>>>> change the handlebars, hence move the positioning of the brake levers.
>>>> This problem is causing a concern as in hot weather, if the bike is
>>>> left in direct sunlight, the brakes tend to apply themselves which is
>>>> resolved by leaving the bike in the shade.
>>>>
>>>> The system has an adjustment wheel on each of the brake levers to open
>>>> or close the spacing between the disk and the pads, but I'm only
>>>> getting no more than half a turn off each adjustment wheel when I used
>>>> to get several.
>>>>
>>>> I (in my layman capacity!) wonder if me moving the levers has upset the
>>>> system..???
>>>>
>>>> If anyone can help me it would be appreciated as I'm having a cycling
>>>> holiday in 2 weeks and really want to get it sorted before I go..!!
>>>>
>>>> Mark Taylor
>>>>
>>>
>>> Mark,
>>>
>>> I have had a similar problem with my Giant MPH brakes - an inability to
>>> 'back-off' the adjuster enough in hot weather. It was resolved by
>>> removing a small amount of brake fluid from the reservoir.
>>>
>>> John Wilton
>>>
>>
>>
>
> Mark,
>
> NB My brakes are MPH-3 not sure whether yours are the same but...
>
> It was some time ago but I seem to remember simply removing the plug on
> the top of the reservoir , removing some fluid, reinserting the plug -
> job done. Looking at the manual I wonder whether it would be better to
> just crack the bleed nipple on the caliper, squeeze some fluid out then
> retighten the nipple .
>
> John
>