Hydraulic Brakes Failure on Trail

[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!!!

[thephat]

You can have unforseen failures on mechanical brakes too.

This kind of situation is pretty uncommon. Check all of you bolts and screws frequently, and inspect the lines.

[CalEpic]

That's a freak thing. I've never had it happen before so I wouldn't worry about it happening again once it's fixed.

Not really a trailside fix unless you carry a bleed kit with you so I wouldn't bother bringing fluid with me.

[dstepper]

You can prepare for a lot but you can not prepare for everything. Loose of brake fluid is not one of the things I prepare for because I have two brakes and would just finish the ride slower and with one brake.

Dean

[OMR]

It is time to sell that bike and buy a new one...

Problem solved!

[superwow]

Thanks, Tani. I'll be bringing it into the shop in a few days.

[Ladd Jasper]

I've heard tales of people using chain lube as emergency brake fluid, but that may just be urban legend. Seems plausible enough, I guess, but you'd definitely want to give the system a serious flush on returning to civilization.

Somebody get MythBusters on the line!

[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...

[project_d]

You could always bring extra brake pads, brake fluid, and a bleed kit with you on every ride, but that's not too practical.

Truth is, there are just some things that are going to happen on their own. Even if you check all bolts and such, things will just happen. I checked all my pivot bolts on my DH bike literally right before we did at Tunnel run in SB, and half way though it, one of the bolts were gone!

[J_Sims]

All the brake fluid in the world will not help when both the pads and rotor are covered in the slippery stuff. Time for New Pads and I even ended up with a new rotor when this happened to me.....

[Edog]

Ya that just sucks, I spilt my hose (sounds painful!) last weekend. You just have to clean it up & stop the fluid from spreading & limp home. I knew this hose was on the way out so it was my bad. I'm just glad it didn't fail on the weekend before because I was at the Hurkey Creek campout!
I'm glad I switched over to mineral oil brakes too so I didn't have to worry about peeling my paint off

[faded1004]

yea, i agree... any type of system will have its weaknesses and fluke failures. just gotta keep an eye and check all the main points. i personally like the mechanical, because of cost and maintinance procedures (woudl rather change cables then bleed brakes). i think the modulation on the hydros are better? not sure... but i have been happy with mine.

i agree, you can only prepare for a few failures... just clean and check the bolts and refill with fluid... i think you will be okay...

[dutch]

Originally Posted by Edog

I spilt my hose ... just ... clean it up & stop the fluid from spreading & limp

teehee.

[92se-r]

Like others said, you can also taco a wheel and have to walk home. This is freak accident that will cause you to walk home, not a common maintenance thing or a nuance with hydraulic brakes. IMO, hydraulic brakes are not less reliable than mechanical rim brakes or mechanical disc brakes.



Why new rotor? It's not like you can saturate a rotor with brake fluid. Some brake cleaner should have taken it right off. Just curious.

Originally Posted by J_Sims

All the brake fluid in the world will not help when both the pads and rotor are covered in the slippery stuff. Time for New Pads and I even ended up with a new rotor when this happened to me.....

[kanga]

Sux when it happens, but I always ride with a spare brake... attached to the other wheel

I went through a period of brake problems a few months ago when both front and rear master cylinder seals blew within a few weeks of each other. I still rode some of the steepest trails (brand ski chute, merrils/sunset/prieto with front brake only, cannell plunge, with rear brake only) without problem, and never hiked anything. I've since completely replaced both front and rear brakes.

A brake issue shouldn't have you hiking out, unless both brakes have a catastrophic failure... highly unlikely (though anything is possible). You just have to control your speed and be a lot more conservative to get down safely with one brake.

Mechanicals happen, and you can be prepared for a lot, but not everything.

[Shu]

Originally Posted by OMR

It is time to sell that bike and buy a new one...

Problem solved!

Best advice right there...Build a NEW RIDE

[mtnbikerfred]

I crashed on the San Juan/Chiquita Falls ride a few months ago and smacked my front brake lever on a rock, thus blowing up my master cylinder without ever leaking a drop of fluid. The only solution for this type of problem I could come up with is to carry a spare.


If I ever take up multi-day epic adventures. I'll just carry an extra pre-bled, brake long enough to work on the front or the rear.

[un-kola]

Originally Posted by 92se-r

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

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

[faded1004]

yea, i think i would take it off and try to make it straight again rather then walk home... if it is bent, i am sure it will still hold air... unless the impact was so hard the tire blew up... hahahhaa... then you are game over...

[superwow]

Thank you everyone for your input and help! I didn't expect to get such help and advice (and humor). STR is awesome.

I really was contemplating switching out to mechanicals, but . . . y'all are right. Things happen, and you can't prepare for everything.