Specialized Turbo Vado SL: An Incredible E-Bike (User Club)

[stompandgo]

No, none of this is normal, acceptable, or "the way it is". A good shop won't mess around with brakes, they will keep it until it's 100% right. It's a liability issue.

The soft front brake is most likely a bleed issue. Assuming the rotor is true, the unequal wear is most likely a dirty or stuck caliper piston. I'd return to the dealer and request an overhaul, front and rear, and a complete brake fluid flush, front and rear. This should include the following:

Disassembly and inspection. Look for leaks, partial hose insertion, bad olives or barbs.
Caliper rebuilds. Disassemble, clean and inspect. New pistons where needed, new seals everywhere. Check the hose threads for engagement.
Replace hoses if needed.
Flush and bleed.

If the front is still soft, the lever cylinder needs to be rebuilt, if possible, or replaced. They should have checked the rear caliper piston engagement after the rebuild so the uneven wear won't return. If it does, the caliper needs to be replaced.

It seems like they were pecking at these problems to save you money. Sometimes a shop has to eat service costs to get it right if it can't be warrantied. That's how it works in this business.

They may choose a different approach, i.e. complete brake replacement, if Specialized approves it. 5 trips to the shop is 4 too many.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

No, none of this is normal, acceptable, or "the way it is". A good shop won't mess around with brakes, they will keep it until it's 100% right. It's a liability issue.

The soft front brake is most likely a bleed issue. Assuming the rotor is true, the unequal wear is most likely a dirty or stuck caliper piston. I'd return to the dealer and request an overhaul, front and rear, and a complete brake fluid flush, front and rear. This should include the following:

Disassembly and inspection. Look for leaks, partial hose insertion, bad olives or barbs.
Caliper rebuilds. Disassemble, clean and inspect. New pistons where needed, new seals everywhere. Check the hose threads for engagement.
Replace hoses if needed.
Flush and bleed.

If the front is still soft, the lever cylinder needs to be rebuilt, if possible, or replaced. They should have checked the rear caliper piston engagement after the rebuild so the uneven wear won't return. If it does, the caliper needs to be replaced.

It seems like they were pecking at these problems to save you money. Sometimes a shop has to eat service costs to get it right if it can't be warrantied. That's how it works in this business.

They may choose a different approach, i.e. complete brake replacement, if Specialized approves it. 5 trips to the shop is 4 too many.

Many thanks! This will be a HUGE help when I talk to the mechanic later this morning.

Yes, I think they were pecking at the brake problems till now.

But I think they'll escalate appropriately this time. This is my favorite local shop and authorized Specialized dealer, with a great service reputation. And I have my friend Gary on the inside, who said he'd push the mechanic for a warranty overhaul at the very least.

Thanks again!

 

[stompandgo]

No problem. Let me know what they end up doing. Hopefully that doesn't include "WTF is that guy talking about".

 

[BioWheel]

So the brakes are leaking fluid and that's happened twice. Wow. I've been lucky.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

So the brakes are leaking fluid and that's happened twice. Wow. I've been lucky.

No, no evidence of fluid leaks in this saga.

 

[BioWheel]

No, no evidence of fluid leaks in this saga.

So what caused the saggy brakes? I mean - if it's got fluid and you press the handle where does the energy go? And you said it's with new pads. I don't get it. Feel bad for you and Specy in a way, since they don't make the component but reflects bad on them to have 5 problems on the same system.

 

[Stefan Mikes]

The brakes on my Vado SL are the most reliable of what I've ever got.

 

[2wheelsgood]

I remain super impressed with my Shimano XT brake upgrade.

One finger operation, lovely feel, they were better than I expected and give me a warm fuzzy feeling every time I need to use them

 

[BakedPringles]

Are they really that much better than the Tektros? I didn't upgrade mine and I'm really happy with them. I like them better than the Shimano brakes on my Trek.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

So what caused the saggy brakes? I mean - if it's got fluid and you press the handle where does the energy go?

I don't understand it, either. But I believe my mechanic when he says no leaks were detected on previous visits. He's generally pretty thorough.

And you said it's with new pads.

Not exactly. The pads were worn in every case, and the rears unevenly, but no pads were ever worn beyond service limits.

Feel bad for you and Specy in a way, since they don't make the component but reflects bad on them to have 5 problems on the same system.

My mechanic, who routinely works on high-end road bikes costing 2-3 times an SL, says Specialized cut some costs on the SL 1's brakes. "Not the best" in his words.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

I remain super impressed with my Shimano XT brake upgrade.

One finger operation, lovely feel, they were better than I expected and give me a warm fuzzy feeling every time I need to use them

More about that upgrade, please! Total cost parts and labor?

Based on my mechanic's less than glowing assessment of the SL 1's stock brakes, that could well be my long-term solution.

 

[Rás Cnoic]

More about that upgrade, please! Total cost parts and labor?

Based on my mechanic's less than glowing assessment of the SL 1's stock brakes, that could well be my long-term solution.

On the steep hills here having 180mm rotors (with similar Tektro) on an ebike (Cairn Brave)that is around 10ths heavier than my Vado SL was a revelation. It's the gradual, controlled modulation on 15-25% down hill roads. So even though the bike is heavier and weighed down, braking is much easier on the hands.

2Wheels - which model XTs did you get? and what size rotors? Might look up eBay for those. Tons of XT around thanks to our mtb friends.