MTB disc brakes question

My elixir 3's sound like shit but stop me pretty well

My elixir 3's sound like shit but stop me pretty well

so not happening

ski racing exps are the priority in the household currently

after taking the bike back to the shop becusae the f-ing front brakes are squishy again we are now replacing them with shimano

Avid sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Brakes are one of the only things that I have not had to replace on my rig in well over 10 years of fairly heavy use.  I think they are the Hayes 7s. I've replaced pads numerous times and the rotors once but nothing else.  And they still have great feel.  

Coach - you probably could have rebuilt the calipers and/or master cylinder with new seals and piston for a lot less than new Shimano brakes. Basically the rubber parts wear out as the fluid gets old. Avid brakes take DOT fluid (most types of which absorb water), and there is such a TINY amount of fluid in a MTB brake system that it goes bad more quickly than it would in a car.

If you plan to service your Shimano brakes in the future it's very easy to do. There is a shimano kit you need that consists of a cup that screw into the master cylinder, and a syringe. You can bleed and refill both brakes in 15 minutes. Just remember to use Shimano mineral oil.