Isn’t it always good to learn from your mistakes, but even better than that is to avoid any kind of possible mistakes? When it comes to bicycle disc brakes there are few mistakes that pop up every now and then. Bicycle disc brakes are exclusively found on mountain bikes and are available in all types and at different prices. Disc brake provides an amazing stopping power, great speed regulation and all-weather performance than conventional rim brakes. But these brakes at times can be very difficult to maintain.
But don’t let that halt you from purchasing one for yourself as it is a great investment for your mountain trips and rides. Here are some major mistakes that you must avoid if you have a disc brake or in case you are going to purchase it soon.
- Avoid Touching The Rotor Brake Surface
After continuous ride rotors tend to get very hot so touching one can be distressing and uncomfortable. Also, the oils from your fingers can tarnish the rotors and make the brake less effective and noisy. This must be avoided in case you want a smooth and swift bicycle ride.
- Wrong Brake Fluid
Nowadays there are mostly two types of fluid that are used in mountain bikes- DOT fluid and mineral oil. Do not experiment with these fluids. Use the fluid that was basically designed for your disc brake to shun any kind of inconvenience.
- Remember To Check The Thickness of Brake Pads
Disc brakes are low maintenance but mostly the pads do tend to wear out with time and frequent ridings. As soon as the brake surface material gets thinner than 2.5 mm, make sure to replace the pads. You can easily buy best quality bicycle disc brake pads online at most affordable prices.
- Avoid Getting The Degreaser, Lube or Brake Fluid on the Rotor or Disc Brake Pads
Most of the brake power issues are caused due to accident spilling of these fluids either on the rotor or on the brake pads. Just in case you accidentally slopped any of these fluids, immediately wash the rotor with isopropyl alcohol with the help of a clean cloth. And in case you got the fluid on the disc brake pads, it is always a good option to replace them. You can save them for the time being by sanding off the top layer but with time the seeped in oil or fluid will start damaging the rotor, ultimately hampering the ability of the brakes.
- Over-filling the Disc Brake System
Over-filling the disc brake system with brake fluid can make replacing the brake pads next to impossible. The extra fluid in the brake system will hamper you from pushing the piston back into the rest position, an important step required to fit the new disc brake pads.
