help with hydraulic brakes.

[petriodet]

i have a set of hayes stroker ryde that came standard on my bike. my front brake hasn't even got enough power to do an endo/stoppie, the front lever feels firm while the rear feels spongyish (not as firm as the front) but the rear has brilliant stopping power. i have taken the front pads out and sanded the pads and washed the front disc helped a little but still rubbish power.
what else can i try? apart from bleeding and changing the pads.
i will be doing a bleed on friday when i've got a bit of time.
please don't say get some decent brakes thats next on my list.

 

[weescott]

Get some decent brakes

The rear brake always feels a bit more spongy than the front. It's normal. Try new pads and/or burning the disc with fire. This will eliminate the possibility of a contaminated braking surface.

 

[petriodet]

when you say burning the pads with fire are we talking blowtorch heat or lighter heat

 

[weescott]

Blowtorch or gas hob. And I mean the disc, not the pads, but that might work too.

 

[petriodet]

Blowtorch or gas hob. And I mean the disc, not the pads, but that might work too.

lol burning the pads had a quick look online and burning the pads will make them fall apart, i'll try burning the discs and sanding the pads see if that helps if not time for news pads i think.

 

[touch]

burning the pads will make them fall apart

No it wont. (Well, not unless you're being silly with it) Brake components get very hot during normal use anyway.

Also, if the lever is firm, you dont need to bleed them.

 

[petriodet]

No it wont. (Well, not unless you're being silly with it) Brake components are designed to get very hot during use.

oh yeah logically they shouldn't it's just i saw a post on a forum some guys used a blowtorch on his pads put them in braked hard from 20-25 mph and they fell apart, crumbled like a biscuit .