benjamin163

I found that the lever of my Tektro hydraulic disk brake was going further and further to the bar until the brake wasn't engaging whatsoever so I thought I'd perform a bleed.

It seemed very successful. The lever only needed slight depression and it would engage the pads on the disk.

But after a few days the same thing happened so I had another go.

World of pain.

Can anyone help?

I perform the bleed easily enough. And when the brake block is in, when I depress the lever it stops after a short time as the round things (sorry, don't know the .

However, when I take the block out and put the pads back in, the lever goes all the way down and there's no engagement.

So I'm thinking there's nothing wrong with the system itself but there's something wrong with what I'm doing.

I have tried depressing the lever to push the pistons out more before putting the wheel back on but that doesn't work.

I have changed the fluid a hundred times now. Same problem each time.

Is it me?

Is it a faulty part?

Any help gratefully received

trailangel

Are they new pads?

benjamin163

The pads were new, yes.
It just feels like when the blocks are in, everything is fine but when I take them out and put the pads back in followed by the wheel, suddenly the lever just goes all the way down.

trailangel

OK sorry. I mean how many miles/km are on the new pads? Are they the correct pads? Usually when the lever goes all the way, your pads are worn down.
Or is their a lever travel adjustment on the levers themselves?

Canker

Are you seeing air bubbles in the fluid when you bleed them again?

TiHabanero

Something during the bleed is not going correctly. I have bled Tektro many times and they work just fine afterwards. Either air is being introduced to the system once the bleed block is removed or it is happening during the bleed. Shimano is the solution. Have yet to encounter any issues with any of their hydro brakes.

benjamin163

Thanks for the reply,
No, all seems fine with the bleed. No muck. No air.

benjamin163

Thank you for the reply.
The pads are new.
I don't see a lever travel adjustment.

trailangel

Maybe look again. I don't have Tektro Hydraulic.
How do you adjust Tektro hydraulic disc brakes?
Adjusting Reach on Tektro Hydraulic Brake Levers

1. Step 1: Identify the reach adjustment screw. The reach adjustment screw is a setscrew located inside of the brake lever. ...
2. Step 2: Adjusting Reach. Use a 2mm hex key to adjust reach. ...
3. Step 3: Check Brake Performance. Whenever adjusting brakes, check to make sure the brakes function properly before the bike is ridden.

jp911

No experience with Tektro, but with Shimano you can correct an issue like this by adding fluid and pulling the lever several times after you've reinstalled the wheel, rotor, and pads. The width of the block is usually more than the pads + rotor, so there's more travel in the pistons (and lever) when you put everything back together.