Hydraulic Disc Brakes

[NachOne]

Hello Everyone,
I am requesting some assistance on a hydraulic disc brake on my new Aventon Aventure. After receiving the bike, I had a bit of a struggle mounting the front wheel due to the fact that the brake pads were so close together. Ultimately, I was able to separate the pads enough to allow the disc to seat into the caliper. However, I subsequently found that there is no play/travel in the front brake lever; the moment you begin to squeeze the brake lever, the front brake engages immediately and bite, unlike the rear brake (or the brakes on my other Aventon) which have what I would describe as a more common amount of travel before you feel the brake engaging. This issue makes it difficult to apply light braking to the front brake because of the lack of travel with the lever. There are no other issues with the brakes. I contacted Aventon customer support which thankfully advised that they would cover the expense of having the bike shop adjust the front brakes. They indicated that it might be air in the brake line and a brake bleed would hopefully resolve the issue. Although Aventon will cover the expense, I was wondering if there was an easy adjustment that I could make to the front brake myself rather than having to haul the bike to the bike shop for a couple of days. If bleeding is required to resolve the issue, that is something that I would not try myself and would take it to the bike shop for sure. For info, the brakes are BENGAL ARES 3. Thanks in advance.

 

[MartsEbike]

It does sound like they need bleeding again. Maybe too much fluid in the system.

You can buy a kit online for little money. Just google Bengal Ares 3 bleed kit and you'll find something.

If not its a trip to the bike shop..

As this is a new bike, I'd say do what Aventon are advising - take it to a shop at their expense, and then if the problem persists, you'll have better standing when making a later warranty claim. (They've done all the work - you've not touched it)

 

[fooferdoggie]

first take the wheel off and using a tire lever A clean plastic one push the pads in as far as they will go. the put the wheel back I hand test it several times. see if it is improving.

 

[NachOne]

Good advice. I didn't consider any potential warranty issues. Thanks!

 

[NachOne]

UPDATE: I attempted fooferdoggie's recommendation. It seemed easy enough so I went ahead and removed the front tire and carefully pushed the brake pads in as far as they would go using a plastic shim. That did the trick as there is now the same amount of travel on the front brake as the back brake, making it easier to manage the front braking. Thanks again for the assistance. I assume there are no oil pressure issues when manually pushing the pads into the piston.

 

[fooferdoggie]

I found the trick with hydraulic brakes if you want to move the pads in a little bit so you don't have to pull as far if you take the pads out and squeeze just a little bit you can extend the pistons out a tiny bit then install them back. but it can be tricky too far and you have to bleed the brakes. so you had that problem.

 

[fooferdoggie]

Doesn't it have reach adjustment?

on hydraulic brakes that wont effect how far they move. jsut what position they are in.

 

[fooferdoggie]

Ohh okay, so the sensitivity will still be the same.

yep. not so on manual brakes. I use that adjustment to make having one finger rest on the lever feel good. I change it when wearing winter gloves.

 

[john peck]

Hello Everyone,
I am requesting some assistance on a hydraulic disc brake on my new Aventon Aventure. After receiving the bike, I had a bit of a struggle mounting the front wheel due to the fact that the brake pads were so close together. Ultimately, I was able to separate the pads enough to allow the disc to seat into the caliper. However, I subsequently found that there is no play/travel in the front brake lever; the moment you begin to squeeze the brake lever, the front brake engages immediately and bite, unlike the rear brake (or the brakes on my other Aventon) which have what I would describe as a more common amount of travel before you feel the brake engaging. This issue makes it difficult to apply light braking to the front brake because of the lack of travel with the lever. There are no other issues with the brakes. I contacted Aventon customer support which thankfully advised that they would cover the expense of having the bike shop adjust the front brakes. They indicated that it might be air in the brake line and a brake bleed would hopefully resolve the issue. Although Aventon will cover the expense, I was wondering if there was an easy adjustment that I could make to the front brake myself rather than having to haul the bike to the bike shop for a couple of days. If bleeding is required to resolve the issue, that is something that I would not try myself and would take it to the bike shop for sure. For info, the brakes are BENGAL ARES 3. Thanks in advance.

If you grasped the brake lever when the wheel was off, they will self-adjust & be too tight to easily mount
the wheel. Simply loosen the circular adjustment on the inside of the brake & readjust once the wheel
is seated. With a rear hub motor you may need to remove the brake mounting screws & adjust with the brake
cradled in your hand, then remount the brake. Bleeding should not necessary, no need to tamper with the fluid!
To adjust the mounted position slightly loosen the 2 screws with rhe dish shaped washers & maneuver
the brake until you can feel no drag vibration when the wheel is spun, then tighten.