[RobsterCraw]

I'm not very maintenance minded, especially with brakes and suspension. After a year and some time of good yet skweaky riding on my Hope mono M4s, I've noticed a dramatic loss of stopping power. What is a normal maintenance and replacement timetable for your brakes?

I've just replaced the DOT fluid but my Front rotor looks like its been burt up, For whatever reason, I can't seen to get whatever it is off of the braking surface. I really think that it is burned in. I'm not sure what to do. I imagine that the pads ought to be replaced as well?

Any advice is helpful.
I'm also considering getting braided hoses if it ads a bit of stopping power.

 

[SteveUK]

Seals gone?

From your description, it sounds like the one of your piston seals has gone. That or the gasket ring between the caliper halves. The piston seals are the more likely, though. The 'stuff' on your rotor is brake fluid mixed with brake dust, under the heat of braking it gets 'cooked' onto the rotor. This, plus the DOT on the pads is why you have no braking power.
Rubbing alcohol (Isopropyl Alcohol) and a little elbow grease will sort the rotor out but if a seal/seals have gone you have no option but to replace them. Your pads will also have to be replaced.
You can check this yourself by removing the wheel and looking into the caliper body for signs of fluid. Take the pads out and inspect the rear of each. If one or both is wet, then you've found the culprit/s. Take care not to depress then brake lever when the rotor is not between the pads.
Peace,
Steve.

 

[RobsterCraw]

Thanks, I'll look into that. The lever for the front brake also makes a kind of creaking noise when it is pulled. I have no Idea what that could be either.

 

[SteveUK]

If the creak comes from the lever, work a small amount of thick grease into the lever assembly where the lever is bolted to the main body. I haven't figured out if it's the plastic bushes that contribute to this mildly irritating creak, or the lever against the brass adjuster barrel. Don't matter really, just lube it all up, wipe the excess and Bob may well be your uncle....

 

[Mike T.]

I've noticed a dramatic loss of stopping power........my Front rotor looks like its been burnt up, For whatever reason, I can't seen to get whatever it is off of the braking surface. I really think that it is burned in. I'm not sure what to do. I imagine that the pads ought to be replaced as well?

What you've got is glazed pads. Glazing comes from the molten surface of the pad material hardening on the disc. There's a good chance you won't get it off but what the heck try Isopropyl alcohol and even a sanding block & paper. Maybe a rotor and pad change is the cure.

 

[Ratt]

I'm not very maintenance minded, especially with brakes and suspension. After a year and some time of good yet skweaky riding on my Hope mono M4s, I've noticed a dramatic loss of stopping power. What is a normal maintenance and replacement timetable for your brakes?......

Do a search there are tons of receipes ranging from putting the rotor and pad in the dishwasher to cooking the pads in the oven at 350 for 20 minutes to burn off contaminates.

I like you don't do any regular maintenance till they bother me. Usually I will purposely "cook" the brakes on the bike then sand the glaze off the pads and scrub the rotors down with alcohol or brake cleaner, maybe even hit the pads with brake cleaner. Then do a careful "bedding in" of the pads. Works as well as the dishwasher or oven for me. If this doesn't work i buy new pads, making sure to scrub the rotors real well first.

You could also have air in the lines