Not my experience with any modern disc brakes (SRAM or Shimano). The only time I’ve seen lever travel increase with pad wear is when there is some air in the system and a bleed is required (which can get exposed when pads wear down and the calipers hold more volume). The way the caliper piston is designed, the travel is basically fixed for a given lever pull, but the starting point for the travel changes as the pad wears. That’s why you have to force the pistons back out to the original starting point when putting in new pads (ie - the calipers self adjusted as the pads wore down).
I am not speaking in absolutes, only my own experience with three different SRAM groups among 2 generations. I leave my levers at stock settings so lever gap or stroke is at its maximum and in each case as the pads wear the levers will gradually get closer to the bars until they bottom out. I do not usually need to push the pistons back into the caliper to replace pads either and it hard to believe it’s a problem with the equipment across 6 different calipers but possibly. It does take quite a number of miles to get to the point where I need to correct for pad wear but it has been consistent enough that I suspect it to be normal. I am glad neither of you experience what I do but it is a small thing I have learned how to fix.
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Yep, I get it that your experience is different and I don’t doubt you are having issues. I’m just saying that my experience doesn’t match yours and I’ve run most flavors of SRAM and Shimano braking for many years. And what you are experiencing is definitely not the way the brakes are designed to operate. Sounds like it’s happening to you, but certainly not normal. I don’t know if it’s the conditions you ride in or what else might be going on. I kind of abuse my bikes and they are lucky to get washed a few times per year and spend a lot of time in the muck. I will clean the pads/pistons and re-bleed when I do an annual tear down, but I’m not messing with brakes beside replacing pads other than that. The only thing I could think of that would cause the issues you are describing is some air in the system. Not sure if you do your own maintenance, but my experience (seeing friends’ bikes with brake issues), is that some shops are very lazy about proper brake bleeding.
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Just to be clear, my response wasn’t meant to be a “You’re wrong./You’re doing it wrong./You are using it wrong.” post. Indeed, I was wondering whether I have a similar issue, but I haven’t noticed it, because my hands and brain auto adjust. Also, like @grwoolf I haven’t had this issue with hydraulic Shimano brakes (MTB and drop bar).
If I had to hazard a guess, maybe it is due to improper brake bleeds? I will have my breaks bled/bleed my brakes roughly once to twice per year. On my road bike that suffices as most of the time it sits on my trainer. For my mountain bike, which doubles as my commuter, I bleed the brakes myself, following the ParkTool video. (I tried a simpler procedure first, but had problems with air in the hydraulic lines. The ParkTool video’s procedure fixed that, though. Do it once, but properly.)
PS Just as before, I’m brainstorming to see whether your issues may be fixed. I don’t think the hydraulic lines on three different groupsets have been incorrectly installed. The shop/person bleeding the brakes may be the common denominator.
Gone from a Canyon Ultimate to sl8 pro, Canyon since sat unused. Brakes only issue I had was learning not to drag them which caused a load of honking. Apart from that, perfection, no ting ting, not once. Easier to maintain than my sram red etap rim brakes for sure which often need recentering.
Using Ultegra calipers with Dura Ace rotors.
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No worries Oreo, no offense was taken. I do not think bleeding is the case because an improper bleed would leave air. In the fluid causing either spongy lever or one with little to no brake power, neither of which I have. My lever feel is very firm and linear. The bleed process is different for my Apex XPLR vs the Red D1 or E1 both of which are Bleeding Edge while the Apex is not and actually easier to bleed it in either case I have many thousands of miles on the three systems and this consistent between all three with pad wear and its effect on lever travel.
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Anyone get any disc rub when out of the saddle on the SL8 and sprinting/climbing?
I’m 75kg if that makes a difference.
Not once.
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