Poor brake performance ?

[cyberknight]

The new build has sram apex shifters and the braking power is terrible
new cables , 3 different sets of calipers, new pads, different wheels and its still very poor .
When you put the brakes on when stopped the wheels dont turn but braking at any speed is more a case of omfg am i going to stop ?

Bit stumped TBH

 

[bikingdad90]

Have you toed the pads in at the front?

Also try making the shifter slightly closer to the bar so that the cable is taughter and see if makes a difference. If it does this points to slack in the system. Failing that try some compressionless brakeouters

 

[slowmotion]

Degrease the wheel rims?

 

[ColinJ]

Degrease the wheel rims?

Seconded!

Okay, I was wrong about my Aksiums braking performance!

I took a rag and a lot of degreaser to the rims yesterday and gave them a real good scrub. There must have been some kind of oily film on them because the rag ended up filthy. I did some braking tests with the clean rims.

Previously, on fast downhills I had to exert a death grip on the brake levers which resulted in a lot of screeching but nowhere near enough braking.

After cleaning, I could generate enough braking force from the hoods to bring myself to a very rapid halt from 40 mph. From the drops, I could brake easily using just my right hand index finger, just as I could with my previous wheels in fact.

So, folks - keep those wheel rims clean!

This is what I removed...

 

[slowmotion]

I use IPA, isopropyl alcohol, and get similar results. It's amazing what comes off a wheel rim that doesn't even look particularly dirty.

 

[cyberknight]

Tried different rim's already that's not the issue

 

[T4tomo]

I use IPA, isopropyl alcohol, and get similar results. It's amazing what comes off a wheel rim that doesn't even look particularly dirty.

I like a pint or two of IPA, I'm sure I could spare a bit for wheel cleaning duties.

 

[Paulus]

I like a pint or two of IPA, I'm sure I could spare a bit for wheel cleaning duties.

What a waste

 

[iluvmybike]

This has got to be down to poor brake set-up or dirty pads/rims. Hve you got any photos of how they are set up

 

[vickster]

Personally never had an issue with Apex brakes on stock pads

 

[fossyant]

Go clean the pads again, and both sets of wheels. Washing up liquid and a good scrub.

 

[fossyant]

What calipers have you been using - I'm assuming not SRAM ?

 

[T4tomo]

given the OP has tried several different wheels (which cant all be greasy rimmed surely) and different pads and calipers, the issue must be a defect in the levers somewhere? Apex is decent kit.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I like a pint or two of IPA, I'm sure I could spare a bit for wheel cleaning duties.

Lager is best saved for wheels 😂

 

[Gunk]

I’ve been suffering poor braking performance on my Van Nicholas, new Swisstop shoes have helped slightly, but this thread got my thinking about the rims.

So I cleaned them with kitchen towel and brake cleaner.

A quick run around the block and they bite so much better now, the film of old rubber and grease was obviously the problem.