Lately i've noticed the rear brakes aren't as good and having to press the brake pedal very far down to get any stopping power..

I took a quick inspection at the pads and disc and am a bit confused- one pad is fine but the other pad is loose- you can move it with your finger there seems to be a gap between it and the disc. When you press the brake pedal it is hardly even making contact with the disc.

I cant see how there is that much of a gap on that one pad? Is it just a case of needing a new set of pads or does it sound like something else is amiss..

There shouldn't be much travel in the pedal before it acts on the disc. Maybe only one side is working and 2 of the pistons are stuck.
Whip the caliper off and see if pistons are all free.

pf85, you need to strip the caliper down and service it as it's become siezed, it will need cleaning up, freeing off and grease as well as new pads to replace.

Cheers for the replies yes it does sound like the pistons are stuck- if I get the time over the weekend ill strip the calliper down and see if I can free it up

Stripped down the caliper last night and freed it up, cleaned it and put some copper grease on it. It seems to be working fine now..

I noticed one of the pads was well worn so i'll be ordering new pads for it- does anyone recommend any makes of pads or where to purchase them from?

pf85 wrote:Stripped down the caliper last night and freed it up, cleaned it and put some copper grease on it. It seems to be working fine now..

I noticed one of the pads was well worn so i'll be ordering new pads for it- does anyone recommend any makes of pads or where to purchase them from?

What did you put copper grease on?

I put some copper grease on the two bushings (not sure what exactly they are called..?) which allow the caliper to move. I know this is probably not needed but it may help to keep it from sticking again

mick.mh2racing wrote:There shouldn't be much travel in the pedal before it acts on the disc. Maybe only one side is working and 2 of the pistons are stuck.
Whip the caliper off and see if pistons are all free.

There are only pistons on the outside of the NC24 calipers. The inside pads are pulled by the caliper housing itself. Two pots on the front and a single pot on the rear.

Copper grease is an anti-sieze, not a lubricant though, which is why it shouldn't be used on moving brake parts.. it wears the brakes away.. as well as ruins any rubber seals... ( i came across somebody who had greased to brake pistons with copper grease before )

I'm having trouble visualising where you mean.

I hardly / never use the rear brake on the 24, apart from stopping it rolling back on a hill... there a single piston sliding caliper?

Do you mean the caliper slider pins? copper grease isn't the right grease to use on these..

Yes its a single piston in the caliper.

The caliper slider pins would probably be the correct name for what im talking about.. They are a fairly large pin a rubber housing.

Im interested in finding out do many people use the back brake much? I would tend to use it lightly when cornering. I find that when I brake very hard the rear wheel almost lifts off the road so there is very little traction for braking on the rear