Stop! When was the last time you gave your brakes some love? If your brakes have been rubbing, squealing or not feeling quite as good as they once did, chances are they need a little bit of attention. Brake experts Magura are here to help with some pointers on how to keep your brakes working at their best.

BEDDING-IN BRAKE PADS

Fresh brake pads require bedding-in to work at their best and although it’s tempting to just go out for a ride, methodical bedding-in means you’ll get maximum bite, achieve even wear and reduce brake squeal.

Here’s how to properly bed in your new pads. Find a flat, low-traffic street and accelerate up to 25-30 km/h. Brake gently but firmly, until you come to a standstill. Do this 30 times to achieve maximum braking performance. Consider it training.

To keep your brakes in tip-top condition, repeat this process at regular intervals.

BRAKE RUB

If you’ve ever had brake pads that rub on the disc you’ll know how annoying it is. Most of the time, it’s an easy fix.

1. Remove the brake pads from the caliper.
2. Spin the wheel and check that the rotor runs centrally in the caliper.
3. If the caliper is slightly misaligned, slightly loosen the bolts mounting it to the frame or fork and reposition it. Noticed the rotor is warped or bent? If it’s just a slight wobble you can bend it back to shape with a rotor straightening tool. If that doesn’t work you’ll need a new rotor.
4. Fit the pads back into the caliper. Use the pad spacer that came with your brakes to push the pads and pistons back into the caliper.
5. Squeeze the brake lever and make sure each piston moves in and out smoothly. There is no need to clean the pistons! They are self-lubricating and solvents can damage the seals.

NOISE!

Now let's talk about something that every rider dreads: BRAKE NOISE!

Squeals, screeches and howls from your brakes can make it embarrassing to even pull the brake levers. Every brake produces some noise in use, however, if there's excessive noise or a sound that’s out of the ordinary this can be really frustrating, or a sign that something is wrong.

A good start is to clean the bike and make sure dirt isn’t caught in the pads. Check the hubs, headset, suspension and any bolts that connect to the calipers. Make sure the rotor is running centrally in the caliper and the brake pads are in good condition.

Always be careful with bike cleaners and oil when servicing your bike. Clean your rotors regularly with isopropyl alcohol to keep your pad free of contamination and optimize brake performance.

BLEEDING

Over time air can get into the system, reducing power and feel. A quick bleed removes the air and gets performance and control back to how they should be.

1. With the bike in a workstand, rotate the brake master cylinder so it’s horizontal.
2. Open the bleed port screw on the top of the master cylinder.
3. Fill a 30 ml syringe with 20 ml of Magura mineral oil and 5 ml of air.
4. Attach the syringe to the bleed port.
5. Hold the handlebar firmly so it doesn’t move and push and pull the plunger on the syringe a couple of times.
6. Pull the plunger to the 30 ml mark and let the fluid settle.
7. Push the plunger down.
8. Remove the syringe and reinstall the bleed port screw.
9. Wipe up any spilt mineral oil and rotate the master cylinder back to its original position.