I have a Pro Rider E Tourer bike that's now about 2 years old. I have a problem with an excessive screeching noise from the rear brake when the brake is applied. It really is ear shattering! It also seems to be very "grabby" in the sense that it's now very easy to lock up the wheel with modest pressure on the break handle. The problem is compounded by the fact that the only wording on the brake assembly is in Chinese characters so I don't even know what kind of brake I'm dealing with.Can anyone help with some advice on what the problem might be and how to take the brake apart for repair/maintenance? A link to a YouTube video would also be appreciated as I can't seem to find one.
E Tourer rear brake maintenance
- Thread starter richard63
- Start date
J.R.
Member Since 2014
- Region
- USA
Start by removing the brake pads and inspect them for wear or contamination from dirt, oils, road grime. Pads are so cheap it isn't worth your time and effort to attempt cleaning suspect pads. When in doubt replace. If you don't know what to buy, take them to your local bike shop. The rotors (discs) should be cleaned and de-glazed. You can start by cleaning with an old tee shirt with isopropyl alcohol. *Only while the pads are off! Then de-glaze using a clean Scotchbrite pad, once more with a clean rag and alcohol. Install new pads. 1/2 hour for all.
There are fancier more expensive means, but unnecessary though. If this is more than you care to do, any regular bike shop can preform the task for a reasonable charge.
This all maybe wasted. I just searched your bike and saw it on Amazon. It doesn't appear this bike has disc brakes does it? Maybe take a few pics and upload them for a more defined answer to your question.
There are fancier more expensive means, but unnecessary though. If this is more than you care to do, any regular bike shop can preform the task for a reasonable charge.
This all maybe wasted. I just searched your bike and saw it on Amazon. It doesn't appear this bike has disc brakes does it? Maybe take a few pics and upload them for a more defined answer to your question.
J.R. many thanks for your prompt response to my problem. Unfortunately, you're right, it isn't a disc brake and,, although I have no experience of bike disc brakes, I do have experience of car disc brakes so feel confident that I could have dealt with it had it been so. However, I have no experience with a brake like this and, as I said, I don't even know what kind it is let alone how to deal with it. Of course, I could take it into my local Halfords but my last experience of them wasn't great and I'd like to learn how to maintain it myself.
Anyway, in response to your suggestion, here's a few pictures of the offending beast, if the perspective looks a little odd in some of them it's due to the fact that I turned the bike upside down for the best shot. I also notice that in image 002, there is the name(?) Dia-Compe stamped on the casing:
Anyway, in response to your suggestion, here's a few pictures of the offending beast, if the perspective looks a little odd in some of them it's due to the fact that I turned the bike upside down for the best shot. I also notice that in image 002, there is the name(?) Dia-Compe stamped on the casing:
Attachments
It's a ROLLER brake. Hideous design, when you consider the efficiency of rim or disc versions. My only guess is that it was offered to approach the braking force of hydraulic disc brakes with only a cable actuated shoe. The ventilated flange is to dissipate heat. Why do I use the word HIDEOUS? Note the line in the link where it states "only works in one direction". So it won't work if for any reason you're rolling backwards. The designer must have lived on the salt flats.
See here: http://volto.co.nz/docs/Diacompe_Service.pdf
See here: http://volto.co.nz/docs/Diacompe_Service.pdf
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Many thanks Sonoboy, the link is very clear and exactly what I needed. I must admit, with the benefit of hindsight, that the shriek from it does sound more like a dry metal bearing or something similar rather than the squeal you can get from dirty brake pads. I'll order some grease and put another posting up later to let you know if it cures the problem.
I take your point about it not working in reverse and that's something I wasn't aware of or is mentioned in the User Manual that comes with the bike. Personally, I think that that's disappointing as anything that could relate to safety when riding should be in the Manual.
Thanks again.
I take your point about it not working in reverse and that's something I wasn't aware of or is mentioned in the User Manual that comes with the bike. Personally, I think that that's disappointing as anything that could relate to safety when riding should be in the Manual.
Thanks again.
Ok so it took a few days for the grease to get here but a judicious application of it has solved the problem. The brake is now absolutely silent and is firm, but not fierce, in braking mode. In fact it's as good as new.
What I also found interesting is that it clearly states on the leaflet that came with the grease that grease should be applied "if the brake is noisy" or "if the braking is fierce". Both of these symptoms I reported to Halfords when I took it in to them and was charged for "cleaning the brake out". There was no mention of adding grease and, although it was quieter for about a month, it wasn't totally quiet and became very noisy and fierce. It really does make you wonder if their mechanic really knew what he was doing. Anyway, it just makes me more determined to learn how to do my own maintenance. I always used to maintain my bikes so no reason why I shouldn't in the future.
Thanks again to the both of you that contributed to a solution. It';s possible I'll be back with some more questions!
What I also found interesting is that it clearly states on the leaflet that came with the grease that grease should be applied "if the brake is noisy" or "if the braking is fierce". Both of these symptoms I reported to Halfords when I took it in to them and was charged for "cleaning the brake out". There was no mention of adding grease and, although it was quieter for about a month, it wasn't totally quiet and became very noisy and fierce. It really does make you wonder if their mechanic really knew what he was doing. Anyway, it just makes me more determined to learn how to do my own maintenance. I always used to maintain my bikes so no reason why I shouldn't in the future.
Thanks again to the both of you that contributed to a solution. It';s possible I'll be back with some more questions!
I'm thinking of replacing the Dia Compe (roller) rear brake on my Pro Rider. I did a search and this raised a few questions
1) a Dia Compe MLB-50 is available (from Japan - postage to UK doubles the cost ) but is that the correct unit for the E-Voyager Pro-Rider ?
2) does the replacement have to be Dia Compe or is there a generic alternative (e.g there are some "servo 90" units on Ebay that look similar and are much cheaper) ?
1) a Dia Compe MLB-50 is available (from Japan - postage to UK doubles the cost ) but is that the correct unit for the E-Voyager Pro-Rider ?
2) does the replacement have to be Dia Compe or is there a generic alternative (e.g there are some "servo 90" units on Ebay that look similar and are much cheaper) ?
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