Problem - Warranty claim on MTB rear brakes - advice pls
Discussion
Hi Chaps,
I purchased a Trek Fuel EX6 on the ride to work scheme from a shop that rhymes with Heavens.
I have had the bike for less than 6 months when a fault occurred on the rear brakes; the fronts and rears are Avid Elixir 5's.
After a long, hard fight with the shop and to be honest, some of the worst customer service I've ever experienced, after threatening to write to the MD of the company they finally agreed to replace the rear brakes with Avid Elixir 7's under warranty.
Although it's taken 2 months to get to this point and I am relieved to be getting my bike back, won't there be a discrepancy in performance from front to rear? Should I not ask for the full system to be replaced.
I have quizzed the shop on this and they say the only difference is on the modulation.
What would any of you do in my position?
Just to add, because of the original fault I lost out on 2 day's riding in the Alps (under the warranty conditions apparently I am not allowed to tamper with the brakes apart from a simple bleed, which we did, 4 times!). They've also had my bike for nearly 2 months as they were trying to source Elixir 5's and would not give me a delivery/repair date until I threatened to take the problem to the MD. In addition to all the above they tried to charge me £50 just to look at the brakes in the first place and said because I and another mechanic on the race in the Alps had bled them, the warranty was invalid!
Thanks
I purchased a Trek Fuel EX6 on the ride to work scheme from a shop that rhymes with Heavens.
I have had the bike for less than 6 months when a fault occurred on the rear brakes; the fronts and rears are Avid Elixir 5's.
After a long, hard fight with the shop and to be honest, some of the worst customer service I've ever experienced, after threatening to write to the MD of the company they finally agreed to replace the rear brakes with Avid Elixir 7's under warranty.
Although it's taken 2 months to get to this point and I am relieved to be getting my bike back, won't there be a discrepancy in performance from front to rear? Should I not ask for the full system to be replaced.
I have quizzed the shop on this and they say the only difference is on the modulation.
What would any of you do in my position?
Just to add, because of the original fault I lost out on 2 day's riding in the Alps (under the warranty conditions apparently I am not allowed to tamper with the brakes apart from a simple bleed, which we did, 4 times!). They've also had my bike for nearly 2 months as they were trying to source Elixir 5's and would not give me a delivery/repair date until I threatened to take the problem to the MD. In addition to all the above they tried to charge me £50 just to look at the brakes in the first place and said because I and another mechanic on the race in the Alps had bled them, the warranty was invalid!
Thanks
Sounds like the same shop who sold my aunt a new bike and the front caliper fell off. Also the same chain that 'warranteed' a pair of Look pedals for a mate, who after 3 weeks, hadn't actually sent them off.
As said, its not said what was wrong with them, although they are known to be problematic and an arse to bleed and keep them working, as I know having just bled the wifes ones. If you aren't mechanically minded and want problem free, I would bin them and swop for Deores and sell them on ebay.
As said, its not said what was wrong with them, although they are known to be problematic and an arse to bleed and keep them working, as I know having just bled the wifes ones. If you aren't mechanically minded and want problem free, I would bin them and swop for Deores and sell them on ebay.
They have not given my any specifics, just eventually admitted there was a fault and that they were going to replace the rears under warranty. This is after they said they had 'fixed' it.
The problem was that after 30 minutes hard riding and braking the brake lever could be depressed flat to the handle bar and would not lock the brake at all. The pads were hardly worn. We bled the brakes and re-pumped the handle and after another 30 minutes same problem.
When we originally bled the brakes there was a lot of air in them and this problem continued everytime we bled and rode again, so I'm guessing a leak.
When they said they had 'fixed' the problem and had riden around for an hour testing the brakes, I purposely didn't collect the bike for 24 hours and low and behold, I could pull the lever straight to the bar with limited stopping power.
The problem was that after 30 minutes hard riding and braking the brake lever could be depressed flat to the handle bar and would not lock the brake at all. The pads were hardly worn. We bled the brakes and re-pumped the handle and after another 30 minutes same problem.
When we originally bled the brakes there was a lot of air in them and this problem continued everytime we bled and rode again, so I'm guessing a leak.
When they said they had 'fixed' the problem and had riden around for an hour testing the brakes, I purposely didn't collect the bike for 24 hours and low and behold, I could pull the lever straight to the bar with limited stopping power.
I'd prefer to keep my brakes matching personally. Don't see why you can't ride with a mis-match though as they're not linked, just might take some getting used to.
I have Elixir 5's, they were pretty crap tbh, I swapped them for (supposedly inferior price point wise) Shimano Deore's. My bike it is older though, and I know when it's under warranty you shouldn't have to, but the swap cost £70 - in terms of just getting on and enjoying the bike I think it's worth considering.
I have Elixir 5's, they were pretty crap tbh, I swapped them for (supposedly inferior price point wise) Shimano Deore's. My bike it is older though, and I know when it's under warranty you shouldn't have to, but the swap cost £70 - in terms of just getting on and enjoying the bike I think it's worth considering.
Calipers are the same for Elixirs with the possible exception of the 7s having a banjo bolt and the 5s not. I wouldn't bother changing them, and given that they've upgraded one instead of a straight swap I'd be happy.
I'd be willing to bet that it's the lever reservoir that's faulty. The first time the brake will have been bled (like when they built the bike up), fluid may have been forced past the seals tearing the lever reservoir slightly (when you draw the last of the bubbles out of the lever). A lever rebuild kit (about £15) would have resolved it instead of continual bleeding.
I'd be willing to bet that it's the lever reservoir that's faulty. The first time the brake will have been bled (like when they built the bike up), fluid may have been forced past the seals tearing the lever reservoir slightly (when you draw the last of the bubbles out of the lever). A lever rebuild kit (about £15) would have resolved it instead of continual bleeding.
crispyshark said:
Hi Chaps,
I purchased a Trek Fuel EX6 on the ride to work scheme from a shop that rhymes with Heavens.
I have had the bike for less than 6 months when a fault occurred on the rear brakes; the fronts and rears are Avid Elixir 5's.
After a long, hard fight with the shop and to be honest, some of the worst customer service I've ever experienced, after threatening to write to the MD of the company they finally agreed to replace the rear brakes with Avid Elixir 7's under warranty.
Although it's taken 2 months to get to this point and I am relieved to be getting my bike back, won't there be a discrepancy in performance from front to rear? Should I not ask for the full system to be replaced.
I have quizzed the shop on this and they say the only difference is on the modulation.
What would any of you do in my position?
Just to add, because of the original fault I lost out on 2 day's riding in the Alps (under the warranty conditions apparently I am not allowed to tamper with the brakes apart from a simple bleed, which we did, 4 times!). They've also had my bike for nearly 2 months as they were trying to source Elixir 5's and would not give me a delivery/repair date until I threatened to take the problem to the MD. In addition to all the above they tried to charge me £50 just to look at the brakes in the first place and said because I and another mechanic on the race in the Alps had bled them, the warranty was invalid!
Thanks
This happened to me on my Stump Jumper with Avids.I purchased a Trek Fuel EX6 on the ride to work scheme from a shop that rhymes with Heavens.
I have had the bike for less than 6 months when a fault occurred on the rear brakes; the fronts and rears are Avid Elixir 5's.
After a long, hard fight with the shop and to be honest, some of the worst customer service I've ever experienced, after threatening to write to the MD of the company they finally agreed to replace the rear brakes with Avid Elixir 7's under warranty.
Although it's taken 2 months to get to this point and I am relieved to be getting my bike back, won't there be a discrepancy in performance from front to rear? Should I not ask for the full system to be replaced.
I have quizzed the shop on this and they say the only difference is on the modulation.
What would any of you do in my position?
Just to add, because of the original fault I lost out on 2 day's riding in the Alps (under the warranty conditions apparently I am not allowed to tamper with the brakes apart from a simple bleed, which we did, 4 times!). They've also had my bike for nearly 2 months as they were trying to source Elixir 5's and would not give me a delivery/repair date until I threatened to take the problem to the MD. In addition to all the above they tried to charge me £50 just to look at the brakes in the first place and said because I and another mechanic on the race in the Alps had bled them, the warranty was invalid!
Thanks
I was flying down a trail at Afan Forest when my rear brake lever had nothing there and touched the handle bar!! This resulted in a big off, broken collar bone and a couple of ribs!!
It's worrying to think it might be a common problem!
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