Bike brake so expensive

moneyuser

The pistons on my hayes stroker ryde brake have seized and the bike shop is unable to repair. A replacment caliper (not inc the brake handle,disc, mount) is £55. I wouldn't mind paying that but I don't trust this make anymore as I've had a lot problems with the pistons sticking.

I have been looking at alternatives and the prices are £100 for a decent one.:eek: I don't want to get a cheap one and then have to replace it again in 12mths. Not much on ebay and the hayes seem to be going for 60-70 anyway.

I've tried putting compressed air through the caliper but had no luck. Maybe I need a more powerful compressor?

So, anyone got any money saving advice for a good cheap brake?

custardy

what about a juicy?

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=22185

i have never run them so cant comment on performance

ran these on my old bike with no problems

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=20911

though i prefer a metal lever personally
when i first got them i had to cut the tubing down,on reassembly i had a leak
returned to magura and it turned out i had overtightened it
caliper replaced and back ot me in under a week all done at no charge!!

Coveredinbees!!!!

Can't you strip down the caliper and rebuild it with a seal kit? Dunno why a push bike needs a disc brake anyway but that's beside the point.

custardy

Coveredinbees!!!! wrote: »

Can't you strip down the caliper and rebuild it with a seal kit? Dunno why a push bike needs a disc brake anyway but that's beside the point.

rim brakes are heavily affected by mud/water
discs brakes dont suffer from this,also you can build the wheels to run as wheels and not wheels/brake surfaces
once you get used to the power of a disc brake you wont go back to rim brakes

naked

Also rim brakes wear out your rims over time (especially in muddy mountain biking conditions). It's a good excuse for a new set of wheels but it's a lot of money compared to just a new rotor.

You can get some half decent stuff second hand. I got a pair of second hand Avid Juicy 5s with 180mm rotors and Goodridge hoses for about £50 off someone I'd met once previously
You have to know what you're buying is any good though (i.e. not trashed or have stuck pistons).

Local MTB groups usually have a for sale noticeboard. Can also try Bike Radar, Singletrackworld etc.
Stuff does come up on eBay at reasonable prices occasionally. Pairs of Juicy 5s were going for between £100 and £200 when I was looking.

There's a column in this month's MBR on servicing Avid Juicy brake and it mentions rebuilding the caliper to fix a stuck piston.

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

Avid calipers need a special syringe kit to bleed them.

I use XT brakes, they need bleeding about every 2 months (just a pipe and a bottle of oil), but apart from that they've been no problem.

I don't see why your Hayes would seize. Have you tried soaking them in whatever mineral oil/brake fluid they use? Obviously keep the pads well away from that oil.

moneyuser

With the compressor I had I couldn't get it to move. I've give it to my dad who has a more powerful compressor at work and some dot fluid. Maybe he will have more luck.

In the meantime I've just gone for the budget option and gone for a juicy 3. Can't afford to get the hope tech x2 that I wanted, maybe next year Hopefully it'll be ok.