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I imagine I was washing off the layer of pad material that had gone onto the rotor
The way I understand it is that the layer of pad material that transfers on to the rotor during bed in process is almost microscopic and sort of baked on to the surface. I'm not sure it could be removed from the rotor with a hose even close up.
For what it's worth, I wash my bikes with the garden hose after every ride and never had it cause braking issues. Is it a pressure washer you're using?
I think pad contamination is the likely culprit. Indeed even a tiny amount of chain lube etc will ruin the pads. It's also worth looking in at the pistons to check there's no small leak causing brake fluid to contaminate the pads.
I bled a set of brakes numerous times, changed pads, sanded rotors and cleaned with disc break cleaner only to realise a leaky piston was the problem.I'd buy new sets of pads and even after the rotors have been through the dish washer still give them a clean with muc off disc brake cleaner. I'm not convinced the dishwasher won't have left a residue on the rotors.
TotalShanner-
I think pad contamination is the likely culprit. Indeed even a tiny amount of chain lube etc will ruin the pads. It's also worth looking in at the pistons to check there's no small leak causing brake fluid to contaminate the pads.
Well, both bikes will have brand new pads and freshly scrubbed rotors, lets see if that works or whether Tarty Bikes was correct and once used with contaminated pads you should bin the rotors and start totally from new.
Dammit
They did seem to, but I've not ridden either of the bikes since so I don't know if it's cured the issue.
Basically the braking went to shit whenever I hosed the bike down, and it's never returned to what it was like before winter on either bike. I imagine I was washing off the layer of pad material that had gone onto the rotor, and maybe spreading wet-lube from the chain onto the pads from the hose. IDK, but it's annoying and I'm determined to fix it.