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Uneven brake pads wear

Old 04-27-21, 11:26 AM
  #1  
utoner34
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Uneven brake pads wear

I have mechanical disk breaks. My breaks work fine and this has never happened before. But I ended up with one break pads worn more towards one side (so it looks like a triangle looking from the top side). Meanwhile I removed them so I dont really remember what was their original position. I can just replace them with new pads but these (even worn out side) still has some more meat to loose. I am wondering in which direction should I turn my pads so that the pad which ended up with uneven wear now wears from the other side (which has more meat). Shoudl I turn them like in picture or the other way around?

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Old 04-27-21, 11:31 AM
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Brakes.

I would try to fix the problem rather than just rotate the pads, because right now you have sub-optimal braking, and it will likely be the same or worse if you rotate them (assuming they are symmetric and you can -- mine aren't).

The most likely problem is a stuck piston (left one stuck at the bottom). The second most likely problem is the rotor and/or caliper is mis-aligned.
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Old 04-27-21, 02:15 PM
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Originally Posted by utoner34
I have mechanical disk breaks.
No. you have mechanical disc brakes. The reply above explained what you need to check. It'd be easier to narrow it down further if you told us what brakes (calipers, specifically) you have.
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Old 04-27-21, 04:26 PM
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My brakes are TRP Spyre MD-C610C, Flat Mount (160/160)
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Old 04-27-21, 04:37 PM
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This thread should be in 'bicycle mechanics' not GD.
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Old 04-27-21, 05:00 PM
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Originally Posted by utoner34
My brakes are TRP Spyre MD-C610C, Flat Mount (160/160)
You aren't going to like this, but I finally sawed off my TRP calipers in frustration and replaced them with Shimano. But check what I suggested above before you do anything that drastic.
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Old 04-27-21, 07:15 PM
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I don't have problems with Spyres they have worked well for me for years. I wonder if the rotor isn't true or the pads have been installed wrong? I do like the MSPaint instead of actual useful pictures of everything it is creative. Your local bike shop can take a look at it for you just remember they are BRAKES not "breaks"
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Old 04-27-21, 07:35 PM
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Fixed typo in thread title and moved thread to Mechanics.
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Old 04-29-21, 05:39 AM
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Originally Posted by utoner34
My brakes are TRP Spyre MD-C610C, Flat Mount (160/160)
These are a dual piston design, meaning both pads are being moved by a piston, a bit easier to set up in my opinion.

Your rotors may not be true, but the wear your drawing depicts wouldn't be caused by that. It never hurts to check them, and if they aren't too buggered, get them straightened.

As stated a few replies up, it's either a stuck piston (dismount the caliper, and clean it and work it manually to get it moving smoothly again) or misaligned caliper (easily fixed by simply getting the bolts almost to the point where the caliper cannot be moved by hand, then pull the brake lever and tighten the mounting bolts so the caliper stays in place, then torque them down).

I think you should put on a new pad set as well.
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Old 04-29-21, 06:30 AM
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1. after you clean pistons with isopropyl alcohol, do you need to lube something in there?

2. I inserted new pads just to be clear to see whats happening.

both pistons are adjusted as far outwards as they can be (with the screws on the outside of the pistons)

here is the video:

you can see from the video that the left one is not vertically straight. right one is straight (more or less). Not sure if this is meant to be but with such behavior it seems to me that bottom of the pads are going to be more wear.
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Old 04-29-21, 08:22 AM
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Looks like time for an overhaul. A couple of tutorials here. PSA - TRP Spyre rebuild guide | Singletrack Magazine Forum (singletrackworld.com) .....
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Old 04-29-21, 12:09 PM
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overhaul? I only have it for 6 months. I was under impression that this is a factory built intolerance. I dont remember honestly if this was present or not when the bike was new..
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Old 04-29-21, 03:27 PM
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Originally Posted by utoner34
overhaul? I only have it for 6 months. I was under impression that this is a factory built intolerance. I dont remember honestly if this was present or not when the bike was new..
Doesn't matter how long you've had it, it's not working properly now. Take it apart and see what's going on. Possibly this could be covered by warranty so check that out first.

Edit: When I said 'overhaul' it meant taking it apart for just a good clean and lube rather than having to replace parts which may or may not be needed.

Last edited by Crankycrank; 04-30-21 at 07:49 AM.
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Old 04-30-21, 12:04 AM
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Originally Posted by utoner34
overhaul? I only have it for 6 months. I was under impression that this is a factory built intolerance. I dont remember honestly if this was present or not when the bike was new..
Stuff can fail. 6 months sounds like a potential for warranty replacement (if the caliper can be had). What do you mean "factory intolerance?" I'd be shocked if TRP was selling a brake caliper that "intolerant." It's either dirty and needs to be cleaned, or something is damaged and it needs to be overhauled (and at 6 months age, sounds like a potential warranty issue...wait, I already said that...).
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Old 04-30-21, 06:42 AM
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Originally Posted by Crankycrank
Looks like time for an overhaul. A couple of tutorials here
OMG!! I replaced my spyre pads recently and thought I cleaned it ok. But now that I've seen this, my cleaning was clearly superficial and I have a great urge to take the whole damn thing apart No doubt I will lose one of those ball bearings into the great parts wilderness that is my basement floor. That this person did it in woolen gloves is bewildering. Pardon my levity, thank you for showing this.

Last edited by IPassGas; 04-30-21 at 06:46 AM.
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