WTF, my hydro brakes have just cooked/clamped shut in 44 degrees/111 Fahrenheit heat?

[Tone's]

Its the hottest day here in Sydney for years.

44 degrees here, that is 111.2 fahrenheit, i took my bike out for a run up the street, within 3 minutes my Avid hydros heated up without me even using them and both brakes clamped shut on my rotors so bad i couldnt even pedal, i had to carry the bike.

There was no give in the brake levers, it was like the brake fluid over cooked and expanded, ive never had this happen before, has anybody ever heard about this or had it happen to them.

I mean it is like an oven outside,. plants are dying even ones with wet soil, they are just cooking, its damn hot.

But i wasnt even using my brakes, they just cooked, amazing stuff, it never occured to me that this could happen with hydros in the heat?

[DIRTJUNKIE]

That's some crazy shlt brother. No I've never heard of it happening. But like you said it's obviously an issue of expansion. You did say that right?
Are you running Dot 4 Brake fluid or mineral oil. I'm sure they both have different boiling points. Not sure but probably the mineral oil is lower. I don't know I'm as as you.

[Tone's]

That's some crazy shlt brother. No I've never heard of it happening. But like you said it's obviously an issue of expansion. You did say that right?
Are you running Dot 4 Brake fluid or mineral oil. I'm sure they both have different boiling points. Not sure but probably the mineral oil is lower. I don't know I'm as as you.

Im just running stock Avid Elixers that came on my 2012 reign, ive never bled them so im not sure whats in them, it could be a bit hotter than 44 where i am but it just came over the TV that the city is 44 degrees, im in the city but we all know how temp varies.

I just cant believe it, i never even thought of it before.

Now that my bikes been back inside now the front wheel is turning but the back wheel is still rubbing a bit.

It was amazing, about 200m from my place they both cooked, i couldnt even push my bike, the levers would not move a mm, just amazing stuff, ive never heard of it before, but this is the hottest january day here for years.

[Metamorphic]

What? There's no cold beer and shade down under?

[Brewtality]

Something odd going on here. Your brakes should have no problems working in temperatures well over 110*f. Ever touched a rotor after a hard decent? It will burn you.
When was the last time you flushed and bled the hydraulic systems?


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[Tone's]

What? There's no cold beer and shade down under?

LOL, Its dead set hot in the shade here today, the heat is unescapable , i dont drink mate, but i have a few nice icy cold cans of coke in the fridge and nice lemon juice
Not all us Aussies are drinkers, im in the 1% that doesnt
cheers mate

[Brewtality]

Just saw your new post. Flush and bleed the hydraulics. Built up water in the hydraulic systems is expanding and pushing the pads out.


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[Tone's]

Something odd going on here. Your brakes should have no problems working in temperatures well over 110*f. Ever touched a rotor after a hard decent? It will burn you.
When was the last time you flushed and bled the hydraulic systems?


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Brewtality, i think the oil in the brake lines has overheated and expanded just enough to make them clamp up.
Since my bike has been inside they are coming good.

I havnt bled the brakes since i got the bike new a year ago, but they have had no problems in this regard since i got it.

I have got my rotors and pads really hot before, that no prob, nor should it have ant effect on the oil in the line.

I didnt even use them before this happened today, they both at the same time over about 3 minutes just locked up, but i cant express how hot it is its almost hot on your lungs to breath, its a hot country here in oz in the summer, but today is extra ordinary.

I put my fingers on the break lines and they were hot to touch, im tipping the oil has expanded, now that im in a cool house they have cooled down and the levers are starting to work again and the wheels starting to turn, unbelievable.

[Grinderz]

Technically speaking I think you have water in your hydro's.
BUT my street smarts are telling me you just need to try riding it harder and post many vids of your progress. I am sure many people will find entertainment value in watching the infamous Tones face butting his front bar a couple of times when they seize/unseize/seize again.

[Tone's]

Just saw your new post. Flush and bleed the hydraulics. Built up water in the hydraulic systems is expanding and pushing the pads out.


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AAh, good call, water in the lines, but how could there be water in the brake lines, im confused

[Tone's]

Technically speaking I think you have water in your hydro's.
BUT my street smarts are telling me you just need to try riding it harder and post many vids of your progress. I am sure many people will find entertainment value in watching the infamous Tones face butting his front bar a couple of times when they seize/unseize/seize again.

LOL, i couldnt ride the bike, the brakes clamped shut, i must have water in them, i dont know how water gets in the lines but i'll take your guys advise and bleed them, the water must have expanded inside the lines, amazing.

[Grinderz]

AAh, good call, water in the lines, but how could there be water in the brake lines, im confused

Brake fluid absorbs moisture

[007]

If you've never bled them, Avid's are notorious for crap bleeds right out of the box, and there may very well be water in the lines. Plus, Avid's use DOT 5.1, which is very absorbant. It's extremely unlikely that just the DOT fluid is expanding. I've ridden DOT 5.1 (Avid's fluid no less) in my Hope's when its been 100+ out and had no problems with expansion.

Get yourself the bleed kit (its worth the coin for the "professional" kit with the hard plastic syringes) and get to it.

[DIRTJUNKIE]

If you've never bled them, Avid's are notorious for crap bleeds right out of the box, and there may very well be water in the lines. Plus, Avid's use DOT 5.1, which is very absorbant. It's extremely unlikely that just the DOT fluid is expanding. I've ridden DOT 5.1 (Avid's fluid no less) in my Hope's when its been 100+ out and had no problems with expansion.

Get yourself the bleed kit (its worth the coin for the "professional" kit with the hard plastic syringes) and get to it.

I hear this about Avids a lot. Do you guys want to hear something crazy. I have been running a set of Hope mini hydros for 10 years. I have bled them twice in that time frame. They always work perfect and never fade or rub but rather stay in alignment with never any adjustments. I will never buy another brand they are amazing. I am reminded of how good they are when I read all the nightmares associated with other brands.

[rockerc]

Crazy Tone, I have never heard of that myself, and here in AZ we often get temps up that high. As we say, it's a dry heat tho! For me, over 105 degrees is getting a little silly, but I will still ride, just take a bunch of water. You must have absorbed a fair bit of H2O in your fluid to make such a difference so quick tho.

[Tone's]

Crazy Tone, I have never heard of that myself, and here in AZ we often get temps up that high. As we say, it's a dry heat tho! For me, over 105 degrees is getting a little silly, but I will still ride, just take a bunch of water. You must have absorbed a fair bit of H2O in your fluid to make such a difference so quick tho.

They must have water in them, i was like WTF is going on here, thanks to the great advise for all of you guys i now realise there must be water in there, i wouldnt have believed it unless i saw it myself lol, i was riding up the street and they just started clamping up, i was thinking, this is funny why is it so hard to ride today, i must be getting unfit, about 100m later i can hardly turn the pedals over them the back wheel locked up so i got off raised the back wheel n pushed the front then that one locked up, it was twilight zone stuff

[Trail Ninja]

How far did you have to carry your bike in that heat?

[shawnt2012]

Water in line. Already been said plenty but I am sure it's that.
Plenty of ways for moisture to get into lines.
Had an old YZ80 Yamaha (dirtbike) and the lines froze on that while bumping around in -28 weather...Not fun.

[shawnt2012]

How far did you have to carry your bike in that heat?

He didn't, He used his bush skills to train a dingo to carry it for him.

[PretendGentleman]

I wouldn't think water would expand enough around 110F to make such a difference. Air is much more apt to expand due to temp variation. Regardless, new fluid via a bleed is the way to go.

[Norman Clydesdale]

I have it on good authority that in Australia, Avid factory bleeds are the exact opposite of what they are in the USA.

In the USA, Avid puts extra air in the lines of their factory bleeds.
In Australia, Avid overfills their brakes with fluid.

Brakes need a bleed as they are likely overfilled.

The temporary fix is to open the bleed screw on the lever and push the pistons in the caliper apart. You should see a bit of fluid purged through the bleed screw. Button it up and go ride. Should cure the problem until you can get a proper bleed done.

[LittleBitey]

I have it on good authority that in Australia, Avid factory bleeds are the exact opposite of what they are in the USA.

In the USA, Avid puts extra air in the lines of their factory bleeds.
In Australia, Avid overfills their brakes with fluid.

Brakes need a bleed as they are likely overfilled.

The temporary fix is to open the bleed screw on the lever and push the pistons in the caliper apart. You should see a bit of fluid purged through the bleed screw. Button it up and go ride. Should cure the problem until you can get a proper bleed done.

And the toilet water swirls the other way too...

[PretendGentleman]

Brakes need a bleed as they are likely overfilled.

The temporary fix is to open the bleed screw on the lever and push the pistons in the caliper apart. You should see a bit of fluid purged through the bleed screw. Button it up and go ride. Should cure the problem until you can get a proper bleed done.

I must have recieved the australia version on my BD gravity elixir 3's!

When I put in new pads, the pistons would retract far enough. I gently squeezed the lever and backed off the bleed screw until a bit seeped out, then quickly reclosed the screw while maintaining light pressure on the lever to keep air from coming in. While I too suspected this would be temporary, its been over a year and they are still going strong. I have no doubt though that they brakes would feel better with a full fluid replacement and bleeding.

[Leopold Porkstacker]

Its the hottest day here in Sydney for years.

44 degrees here, that is 111.2 fahrenheit, i took my bike out for a run up the street, within 3 minutes my Avid hydros heated up without me even using them and both brakes clamped shut on my rotors so bad i couldnt even pedal, i had to carry the bike.

There was no give in the brake levers, it was like the brake fluid over cooked and expanded, ive never had this happen before, has anybody ever heard about this or had it happen to them.

I mean it is like an oven outside,. plants are dying even ones with wet soil, they are just cooking, its damn hot.

But i wasnt even using my brakes, they just cooked, amazing stuff, it never occured to me that this could happen with hydros in the heat?

Vapor lock, dude. Happens a lot in the porn industry.

[006_007]

Avids use DOT fluid which can absorb water which in turn has expanded in the extreme heat pushing out your pistons.

Do a new bleed with brand new fulid (from an unopened bottle - an open bottle could already be contaminated)