Brake Trouble.

[Shawnski]

My brakes on my Rover worked phenomenal for a few months, now my Rear doesnt get much stopping power, I squeeze the lever and it takes so long for it to slow down, The fronts have great stop8ng power but the rear has barely nothing.. No short stopping power at all, the pads are not worn down all the way either.. I ordered a new set to see if that will cure it... Any other suggestions.???
In advance Thank You all for your help... You are all great...

 

[mrgold35]

I had this issue with my original 2016 Radrover brakes. The cable can stretch over time and you need to take up the extra length at:
- brake handles adjustments, and/or
- twist the knob to shorten the cable near the brake calipers

Sometimes you might have to loosen the brake cable at the caliper and re-adjust the cable length if the other two adjustment are maxed out. There is also an adjustment that moves the brake pad in/out on the caliper you can adjust with a hex tool. I pretty much needed to adjusts my brakes every month or so to maintain my stopping power.

I eventually upgraded my brakes to TRP Spykes with Jagwire brake cables. Very quiet pads, they squeeze from both pads, much better stopping power with less effort, way less adjustments, and much improved emergency stopping power at max speed.

 

[Shawnski]

@mrgold35 mrgoldthe problem is not the levers or adjustment, I have plenty of it, the problem is I squeezebamd the pads bite but the bike doesnt slow down much, I squeeze the lever even harder and still no more stopping power, I squeeze even harder and nothing, it's as if the pads have no grip....

 

[mrgold35]

That was another reason I switched to TRP Spyke brakes. I'm around 270 lbs+70 lbs radrover+ 25 lbs with rack/tools/commuter stuff. My standard brakes were just OK for normal stops; but, didn't stop hard enough for emergency situations during my 18-23 mph work commutes (like when you stop when it raining). I think the pads we getting glazed over and not biting hard enough for emergency stops.

Zero issues with that feeling once I switched over to TRP Spykes. Upgrading the pads might also improve your braking. I don't know enough about emtb brake pads to know which ones to switch into.

 

[rich c]

Still worth the effort to check brake adjustment. Make sure the rotor is centered and you are not flexing them over during braking. Two aftermarket options for what you have. Switch to hydraulic brakes, or put on larger diameter rotors. It doesn't take a great change in diameter to make a huge difference. Hopefully you didn't order stock replacement pads. You can get ceramic pads for greater performance. I have no personal experience.

 

[Nova Haibike]

One possibility is that the rotor and pads got contaminated with oil/grease. You might try washing the pads in detergent and water, and cleaning the rotors with isopropyl alcohol.

 

[rich c]

One possibility is that the rotor and pads got contaminated with oil/grease. You might try washing the pads in detergent and water, and cleaning the rotors with isopropyl alcohol.

Good point. If the owner was overzealous with chain lube or some kind of spray lube, very likely an issue!

 

[MikeDD]

I adjusted the pads with the allen screw on the pad if that makes since. No picture.

 

[rich c]

I adjusted the pads with the allen screw on the pad if that makes since. No picture.

You have to adjust both pads. The allen is to bring the back pad to the correct distance from the pad, the cable adjusts the other pad. First major setup is to loosen the bolts on the bracket that holds the pads. Insert a business card between the rotor and pads on both sides, then squeeze the handle, hold it, and tighten the bolts back up. That centers the pads and brings them parallel to the rotor. Then tweek the back adjuster and cable. Usually just a little twist on the cable adjusters that care of that side. Pads that are not parallel to the rotor won't stop the bike well.

 

[AguassissiM]

My brakes on my Rover worked phenomenal for a few months, now my Rear doesnt get much stopping power, I squeeze the lever and it takes so long for it to slow down, The fronts have great stop8ng power but the rear has barely nothing.. No short stopping power at all, the pads are not worn down all the way either.. I ordered a new set to see if that will cure it... Any other suggestions.???
In advance Thank You all for your help... You are all great...

Just to make sure the brake is not glazed over have a look here, this solution works on any disc brakes.
Here is another link.