Hydraulic Brakes Failure on Trail

[DirtymikeTDB]

Well, I can think of one thing that would be causing this...... Look at the side of your caliper..... There it is, It says Shimano.... replace that problems solved!!!!!



Seriously though, this is a fairly freak happening, and there really isnt anything you can do on the trail to fix it up aside from keeping a bleed kit with you. And as others have said, its just not practical.

[schleppp]

Originally Posted by superwow

I really was contemplating switching out to mechanicals, but . . . .

I say don't listen to these so called experts!! GO MECHANICAL!!!

And sell me those untrust worthy XTRs REAL CHEAP!!!

That's what I would do anyway!!

[faded1004]

yea, no need to change... just make sure you clean everything up... and ride again... unless you want to get a new system... like those pink hopes? someon has them on here... they look very nice...

btw, i use the avid bb7... if i had a nice big budget... i would so get pinks or mono 6 brakes for the bling... thy are very pretty...

[92se-r]

LOL, that's pimp. It held air? I was just giving an example. You could crack your frame too and be catastrophic and have to walk home.

Originally Posted by un-kola

Why walk home with a taco'd wheel?Once ran into a guy at Turnbull Cyn.who taco'd his front wheel so bad that it wouldn't roll past his fork leg.We took it off and then I slammed the bent section into the ground.Turned it over and did the same.Then the same again a little easier the next few times.We were able to get the wheel straight enough to roll (with just a slight wobble),and save him a 5mi.hike back to his car.- Lloyd

[un-kola]

Originally Posted by 92se-r

LOL, that's pimp. It held air? I was just giving an example. You could crack your frame too and be catastrophic and have to walk home.

Yea,it was a tubed tire and the rim wasn't cracked.After I told him what I was about to do,he figured he didn't have anything to loose,and it was better then walking.I did ride back with him to the trailhead at 7th ave.and reminded him not to ride too fast.If I cracked my frame 10mi.down the trail,I'd take it easy and still ride it out,unless it was completely broken in half!- Lloyd

[Abui]

Originally Posted by superwow

Hi,

I need your advice/help.

I was riding yesterday in the San Gabriels. After climbing about 3000ft, we started to descend. Then, about 1/2 mile into the descent, my rear hydraulic brakes failed. I looked back and there was brake fluid on the Shimano XTR brakes, and the fluid had leaked out. The screw was loose, and fluid poured out as I tried to "pump it." (Dumb decision on my part is it squeezed more fluid out. I should have tightened the screw after 1st noticing.)

So, here's the questions: what do you do in the event of a hydraulic brake failure while on a trail? As a preventative: Do you bring fluid with you? Are there instructions on how to add fluid in the middle of a trail?

(I did do a pre-ride check with the brakes and it was fine. But it seems to have come loose during the ride. I don't usually check the torque on bolts before I ride, but may I should? Ahh, now I'm contemplating switching out to mechanical brakes.)

Thank you for your help!!!

On long rides carry a mechanical brake as a spare. Better yet, replace the rear brake now with a mechanical.

Instead of carrying brake fluid and a bleed kit(!), carry brake wire (no spill worries) and spare pads.

(Former hydraulic brake owner)

[office]

Originally Posted by Abui

Better yet, replace the rear brake now with a mechanical.

Instead of carrying brake fluid and a bleed kit(!), carry brake wire (no spill worries) and spare pads.

(Former hydraulic brake owner)

What kind of brakes do you have on your car?

jk...jk

[chanca]

One thing superwow failed to mention was that the trail he was riding on was Middle Merrill. There are some trails that you can get by with one brake, but the Merrills is definitely not one of them.

In my years of riding I've had numerous mechanical failures (mostly because my last bike was 6 yrs old and beat up), and each one provides a lesson to be learned.

[Abui]

Originally Posted by office

What kind of brakes do you have on your car?

jk...jk

A parking brake for one. I think it uses wire for reliability.

[Fired Yo Momma]

Originally Posted by un-kola

Why walk home with a taco'd wheel?Once ran into a guy at Turnbull Cyn.who taco'd his front wheel so bad that it wouldn't roll past his fork leg.We took it off and then I slammed the bent section into the ground.Turned it over and did the same.Then the same again a little easier the next few times.We were able to get the wheel straight enough to roll (with just a slight wobble),and save him a 5mi.hike back to his car.- Lloyd

Is that how you guys do it at BP? If the screw don't fit get a hammer I will make it fit

[chongoblanco]

switch to hope better bang for your buck! even though they are around the same price.

[onegymrat]

I ride Avid BB7s and they are just fine and dandy, absolutely no reason to change them up. However, on my next build I will most definitely put on some hydraulics. I've ridden with them once and the fact that the feel is smoother and the calipers self-adjust are enough for me to buy.

As for your situation, be very thankful that you discovered the problem when you did and not getting hurt because of it.

[Red Ryder]

Originally Posted by 92se-r

Like others said, you can also taco a wheel and have to walk home.

My brother in law taco-ed a wheel about 5 miles up Harding. He broke his collar bone too. Myself and his friend jumped up and down on the wheel to get it straight enough to roll. No brakes though, but it was a slow ride down. For his collar bone we used duct tape to hold his shoulder together enough to be somewhat comfortable. It was a long five miles, especially for him, but we got out on our own. You do what you can on the trails.

[BoingBoing]

Originally Posted by osmarandsara

i agree mechanicals are not bomb-proof either..........once my mechanical rear brake went out because the cable had frayed where it exits the cable housing and attaches to the caliper...

That happened to me on my front (because I didn't change pads when I should have). But I just replaced the brake cable on the trail and finished my ride. I was glad I was prepared!

Now my main ride has hydros. I'm glad this thread is here to give me food for thought!