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BRAKE SERVICE GUIDE
SERVICING YOUR SRAM BRAKES
Keep your brakes working like new with regular maintenance. Your service intervals will vary based on riding conditions, how much you ride, and what type of brake you have.
BLEEDING YOUR BRAKES
To ensure optimum braking performance, brake bleeds push fluid through your hydraulic brake system to ensure all air bubbles and moisture are purged while the fluid is refreshed. For DOT fluid brakes, you should perform a bleed at least once a year. Mineral oil brakes take longer to absorb moisture and only require bleeds once every two years. If you ride frequently or on aggressive terrain that requires heavy braking, bleeds may be needed more regularly.
TECH TIP: Every time you install new brake pads and rotors, bed-in must be repeated. Skipping bed-in will reduce your system’s power and increase the chance of brake noise.
CHECKING PADS AND ROTORS FOR WEAR
We recommend inspecting your brake pads for wear every month. It’s an easy habit to get into when removing your wheels. If you tend to ride in really wet or muddy conditions, check more frequently. When the thickness of the backing plate and pad material is 3 mm or less, it’s time to replace.
TECH TIP: New Maven brakes and brake pads ship with a tool to measure your pads and rotors for wear. The included black pad spacers have slots for your pads and rotors. Choose the appropriate slot, slide the pad or rotor inside, and replace the parts if they fit into the slots.
While you’re measuring your pads, why not do the same for your rotors? Change your rotors when the thickness is less than the minimum stated on the rotor: 1.55 mm for 1.85 mm rotors and 1.7 mm for 2 mm thick rotors.
TECH TIP: If you switch brake pad compounds, be sure to use new rotors. Introducing a new pad compound on a used rotor may create noise and reduce brake performance.
MAXIMIZING AND MAINTAINING YOUR BRAKES
When your brakes aren’t working or sounding exactly the way you want, familiarize yourself with some simple best practices for brake maintenance:
CLEANING
Noisy brakes? If your new brakes have been bedded in but you’re still experiencing unwanted brake noise, your rotors could be contaminated. Try cleaning them before resorting to replacement.
PISTON MASSAGE
Still dealing with excessive lever throw? As your pads wear down, your caliper pistons may need a little extra massage. Don’t we all? Follow these steps to get your pistons moving happily again:
TRAILSIDE PAD ADVANCE
Are your levers hitting the bar when you brake? If there’s no visible fluid leaking from your lever, your caliper pistons probably just need a little push. Pull over to the side of the trail, adjust your reach all the way out, pull hard on the lever five times, and readjust the reach to your desired position.
TECH TIP: Do not lubricate the pistons. Lubricant reduces the friction between the pistons and the square seals that pull them back into the caliper for consistent pad retraction.
If troubleshooting doesn’t get your brakes feeling like new, it’s probably time for some service.
