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Questions tagged [brakes]

Disc/rim/drum/coaster brakes; braking technique, maintaining brakes, anything else about stopping a bike.

14 votes
5 answers
7k views

Do brake cables become more elastic with time?

I bought a used bike a few months ago, and I've noticed a drastic reduction in brake power. At first, I was easily able to lock-up the rear wheel while squeezing the brake lever only half-way to the ...
user229044's user avatar
  • 3,606
14 votes
3 answers
4k views

Can't get enough braking power after lots of adjustment

Hi :) I just bought a 2015 Specialized Diverge A1 with almost completely stock components. With some adjustments everything seems to work well except for the disc brakes. This bike has a Shimano ...
Juliana's user avatar
  • 141
14 votes
6 answers
4k views

Alternating brakes on descents: is it really useful?

I heard from many sources (some of them on this site, e.g. on answers to this question here) that you should be alternating the use of your front and rear brakes. Most people give as a reason that ...
fgysin's user avatar
  • 398
14 votes
3 answers
74k views

How do I stop my brake from sticking?

The rear brake (calliper) on my road bike sticks. When I pull the brake it pulls down but only half springs back and there's then slack in the leavers. This is causing rubbing on the rim. It's a ...
James Hay's user avatar
  • 717
14 votes
3 answers
11k views

Why are there metal shavings in my brake pads?

I have several brake pads on my cantilever brakes that have several small metal shavings embedded in the pad. Is this normal? What should I do about it?
Benzo's user avatar
  • 18.3k
13 votes
8 answers
1k views

Are there devices to moderate speed on mountain descents without braking?

In my neck of the woods there are some mountain descents that are pretty substantial: say 600 meters vertically averaging 7% grade, with lots of curves and other obstacles like potholes. Typically the ...
Reid's user avatar
  • 1,558
13 votes
3 answers
10k views

Brakes not stopping my bike

I am new to cycling. I just brought a new single speed fixie, Takara Sugiyama. It's for commuting (commute include hills). When I went down a hill, the rim brakes couldn't stop the bike at all. It was ...
Fred's user avatar
  • 131
13 votes
7 answers
96k views

brake lever will not return

My friend has a mountain bike that survived last years Queensland's floods (Australia, that is), but is all battered and bruised after not being ridden for a year. With my beginner's repair skills, I ...
Nikos J's user avatar
  • 131
13 votes
4 answers
14k views

What is the recommended type of tire for riding on wet pavement?

I am commuting in rainy Seattle, and the rain has started. Right now I have Continental Gatorskin tires on my commuter, but yesterday I noticed I was braking to stop the wheels and skidding quite a ...
Ash Machine's user avatar
13 votes
5 answers
9k views

What causes and how to fix wandering bite point on Shimano hydraulic brakes?

For the last two months and less than 600 km of riding I have been using a pair of new Shimano SLX BR-M7120 "high power" 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes. Yesterday I have noticed that the bite point of ...
Mick's user avatar
  • 746
13 votes
4 answers
5k views

does anyone sell bicycle trailers with brakes?

I recently was involved in a wreck, because I was unable to slow my trailer. I am thinking about building a refit kit to install brakes on a trailer, but I don't want to reinvent the wheel.
hildred's user avatar
  • 440
13 votes
4 answers
19k views

Do I need to replace hydraulic fluid in my brakes?

I've had my bike (GT Avalanche 1) for maybe four or five years now. I've changed the pads once, removed and cleaned all parts on the bike a few times now, but I've never touched the brake fluid. ...
Mick Sear's user avatar
  • 479
13 votes
4 answers
18k views

Can storing bicycles upside-down damage hydraulic brakes?

I usually store our bikes for the winter hanging upside down by the wheels from the rafters. I would assume that I can't do this with a hydraulic disc brake bike: am I correct?
Wayne's user avatar
  • 131
13 votes
3 answers
3k views

Are brake calipers directional?

I'm interested in putting a discs brake on the right side of a bicycle. The goal is to have dual front discs, similar to how motorcycles often use double front brake discs. I can buy or make a custom ...
BetterSense's user avatar
  • 3,456
13 votes
7 answers
16k views

What is the equivalent for Shimano Roller Brake grease?

I'd like to regrease my roller brakes, because it started to squeak. There is dedicated Shimano Roller Brake grease available, but I'm curious what kind of grease it is really like, what it is made ...
krzyski's user avatar
  • 2,721

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