[JJHACK]

I'm a Avid Mechanical Disc user. I think they are the best disc brake made when the right levers are used. I have used Hayes and Avids on several different bikes and My opinion is the Avids are superior with Speed dial levers or an equal lever.

Having said this and not wanting to come off a fanatical or thinking with my emotions and not good sound engineering I do see a problem with Avids lately. I have never had this happen up til now. I have about 2000 miles on this particular bike using Avids, and only now I'm seeing this bizzare condition.

The red pad adjustment knobs on the outside of the caliper only can get long grass between the knob and the body and it can turn the knob. I have not seen this with the inside adjustment, only the outside. About a week ago I felt my rear brake lever was way too tight. I lifted the bike and spun the tire but it was dragging on the disc. I turned out the pad and it was fine again. I also found sliding through deep rocks or around stumps will on occasion bump the adjustment and tighten it. Fortunately it does not loosen the adjustment when it's bumped or dragged along something.

This in itself is a non-issue for me but something to report because I'm trying to be unbiased in my opinions here. I still prefer the Avids even though this situation could not happen to Hayes brakes. I figure in over 2000 miles now this has happened 2-3 times. But the problem is there. If the adjustment was recessed and done with a coin or a screwdriver it would be solved, that simple! Unfortunately that's a lot of re-tooling for Avid I'm sure!

If your Avids seem tight out of the blue you probably rubed them against a trail obstical or had some long grass do a bit of tuning for you!

 

[Surly]

2-3 adjustments in TWO THOUSAND miles? That's great! How many sets of brake pads have you gone through? I've got Hayes, with nowhere near 2000 miles, and I've adjusted them about once a month for one thing or another.
Just curious, how many miles do you average in a week?

 

[JJHACK]

I see that the text here is a bit misleading. I don't mean to imply I only adjusted my brakes 3 times in the whole mileage total. I guess I should have been more clear. I have only had them come out of adjustment due to this bumping or long grass problem 3 times. I actually have to tweak them here and there about every month or maybe even every three weeks. Some of that may be due to getting bumped a single click and you don't notice it. Some is to compensate for normal wear. I was riding this bike about 200 miles a month. Everything from my workout rides to long XC rides, and going the 15 miles Round trip to rent a video in town every now and then.

Now that I have the Stinky Deelux I have not been riding the lighter XC bike very much. It's in semi Retirement. I have 337 miles on the stinky and it's 5 weeks since I put on the Cateye enduro computer on it. That's more then 200 miles a month so far but it's awsome biking weather now too. I'm sure the mileage will go down when the rain starts in October and the day light drops to 7-8 hours a day here in the PNW. The Stinky also has Avid Mechanicals. I traded out the Hayes for the Avids when I bought it.

 

[mtbikers]

The adjustment thing is nothing compared to having to realign Hayes brakes every so often which requires a 5mm allen wrench and 2 .015 " feelergauges. The Hayes Hydraulic are great but this is more tools that I have to carry compared to a Avid which only requires the 5mm wrench. Avid gives you more bang for the buck. But I'm still riding my Hayes Hydros. When the 8" rotor dh avids are more available that will be the way to go. Simplicity and function is Avids strength

 

[madbiker]

They have started using clips instead of magnets to hold the pads in place, something which I appreciate since my pads have fallen into the rotor and caused an unexpected nose wheelie and a near crash. Other than that, Avids are awesome and I haven't had any probs with them.

 

[bighitfsr]

Just the other week I locked out my buddies rear Avid disc by contacting my front tyre on the red pad adjustment on his rear Avid cable disc.
The second my wheel touched the red pad adjuster the rotation of my wheel fully extended the pad and locked his rear wheel.

 

[MikeD]

Any of you guys had to de-tune your avids any? I was always setting mine up for the least possible disc flex, and couldn't figure out why they were so grabby...they locked with just a touch.
Even Speed Dial levers were no help.

Now that I figured out how to make them less efficient, I'm much happier. Go figure...

MD

 

[Rustmouse]

Till the point where my XC bike got stolen, I pretty much figured that there was no point in spending any money more than those avids....

easy on, easy pad switch, easy off easy adjustment!

(specially on the trail!)

now i'm on a freerider, and the mechs might have still done the trick...