Disc brakes - query

[Pickle]

My Avalanche is fitted with Avid Juicy 3 disc brakes that, without reading the service manual, I know nothing about as it’s the first time I have owned a bike with discs.

I have noticed that when I ride in wet or muddy conditions, they tend to be a magnet for grit etc that leads to an awful gritty scratching sound.

So, does anyone know the best way to clean them? After my last ride out, I have cleaned my bike, but noticed that there is still a faint gritty sound coming from the caliper area when wheeling my bike into the shed.

Is this a simple Muc-Off of job? Is it a caliper apart job?

Help appreciated guys!

Thanks

 

[scant]

generally clean em. occasionally take the pads out & lightly sand. the mountains where I live are sandstone capped in places so I get this a lot. hard, espically extended braking will effectively clean the pads.
I wouldnt go near them with cleaning solvents, maybe purely on the rotor.
1 of the best parts about discs is the general lack of maintenance required. change pads & bleed 1 or twice a year. i'm doing around 22hrs a week a.t.m & aside from cleaning them I havent had need to touch them
if you're getting a lot of draggy noises, check the caliper is properly aligned or the rotors not slightly warped (easy to bend back)

 

[Pickle]

Thanks Mike.
What solvent would/do you use for cleaning if required? A bit of a blind stab in the dark here, but I have some special fluid for cleaning brake dust off my car alloys, would this be useful?

 

[scant]

Thanks Mike.
What solvent would/do you use for cleaning if required? A bit of a blind stab in the dark here, but I have some special fluid for cleaning brake dust off my car alloys, would this be useful?

nice avatar dude, shes off scrubs yeh?

I cant remember the name of it, but yeh specific brake cleaner that doesnt hurt the seals.
to be honest i give the rotors a quick scrub with a bristled brush & dowse with water.
other thing to check is for occasional sticky piston. again pretty rare. but gives the same effect of draggy brake/ scrapey rotor noise/feel

 

[Pickle]

nice avatar dude, shes off scrubs yeh?

I cant remember the name of it, but yeh specific brake cleaner that doesnt hurt the seals.
to be honest i give the rotors a quick scrub with a bristled brush & dowse with water.
other thing to check is for occasional sticky piston. again pretty rare. but gives the same effect of draggy brake/ scrapey rotor noise/feel

Great, thanks.

And yea, Sarah Chalke off Scrubs......she's lurrrrrrvly!

 

[REKIBorter]

I'm using Hope Mono M4's, Muc-Off disk brake cleaner does the job for me. The brakes howl afterwards the first time you use them but after that smooth and quiet. Otherwise take the pads out of the calipers and brush off the accumulated crud before soaking them in the brake cleaner, give the rotor a blast as well this will remove any grease on it.

 

[Pickle]

Otherwise take the pads out of the calipers

How do you do this?

 

[orange71]

usually a split pin holds them in. not sure about avids though

 

[REKIBorter]

http://www.sram.com/_media/techdocs/95.5013.109.000_A Juicy 3 5.pdf

Fill yur boots

 

[Pickle]

http://www.sram.com/_media/techdocs/95.5013.109.000_A Juicy 3 5.pdf

Fill yur boots

Cheers. I'll print off and have a shufty over a coffee tonight