Juicy's - New Mount or Loctite?

[vitale232]

I've been having a bit of an issue with the rear brake ever since building up some new wheels. I didn't want to invest in a truing stand, so I was truing the wheels in the bike. When the spokes were loose, this required removing the rear caliper to avoid smackage.

Ever since then, the caliper doesn't want to stay lined up. I fiddle with it to get it just right, and halfway through a ride it shifts over and rubs obnoxiously. With all of the dust in there, the noise is horrendous on climbs.

The blots feel like they aren't engaging very smooth. When I loosen them back up, it's just a big release of tension then they're free. I seem to remember a more gradual release of pressure when they were newer.

My question - would a little blue loctite take care of this? Or should I just go ahead and replace all of the hardware? It's 4 years old at this point. Avid definitely has something on the bolts when they ship them. Is that loctite? Either way, I'm going to have to buy something, as I don't have any loctite. So I guess I'd like to get it right - student budget and all.

Thanks guys!

[006_007]

I wonder if you have managed to strip the threads in the adaptor? If the caliper is moving during the ride then either it is not being tightened enough, or the threads are stripped and it will not hold the caliper in place.

Remove the caliper - take a real close look at the threads on the adaptor as well as the threads of the bolts that mount the caliper.

As for loctite, sure you can use it - but I think there is something else going on.

[vitale232]

Remove the caliper - take a real close look at the threads on the adaptor as well as the threads of the bolts that mount the caliper.
.

When you say the adapter, do you mean the IS tabs on the frame or the Avid hardware?

[Wishful Tomcat]

Brakes aren't a place to jury rig to save money, buy some new bolts and if needed an adapter.

[smilinsteve]

Locktite doesn't fix stripped threads. The brake is coming loose and the threads don't feel right when you turn them. This is a simple fix.

Brakes aren't a place to jury rig to save money, buy some new bolts and if needed an adapter.

Yep.

[vitale232]

Stopped by the LBS and grabbed a new
bracket and bolts. The wrench had never seen this. Perhaps he doesn't strip screws. It's a gift.

But I was thinking (yes, it hurt a little)...

This doesn't sound like sticky piston behavior, right? That would result in dragging practically every time you pull the lever?

[vitale232]

Just went to put the new hardware on. The new bolts are significantly shorter than the old ones. Looks like only 3-4 threads are seating in the IS adapter. This is bad? Or is it ok?

[smilinsteve]

The bolts should go completely through

[Pedalphile]

This doesn't sound like sticky piston behavior, right? That would result in dragging practically every time you pull the lever?

No, it doesn't sound like sticky piston behavior. I think you'll be in good shape once you have some suffciently long bolts to use with the new adapter.

Good luck,
Pete