Bicycle Mechanics - How do i stop my disc breaks from rubbing?

I just installed hayes hydraulic brakes, and i can't get them to stop rubbing. Any suggestions?? If i tighten the screws all the way on my fork it rubs. So how do i tighten it enough without getting it to rub, i am confused!!!

Are you mounting this brake to a Manitou fork?

I don't know about these new bike brakes but on a cat the pad "floats on the disk" at all times.

Originally posted by Mambwe
I just installed hayes hydraulic brakes, and i can't get them to stop rubbing. Any suggestions?? If i tighten the screws all the way on my fork it rubs. So how do i tighten it enough without getting it to rub, i am confused!!!

You have to tinker with them a bit before you can get them to stop rubbing. First, loosen the screws just enough so when you pull the brake, the caliper will move. Then pull the brake and while holding the brake, tighten the screws. If that dosent work then you could get a flashlight and physically look at where its rubbing, and adjust.

I've owned 2 bikes with Hayes Hydraulics on them... and to get them to that "mecca of no rubbing" is definitely a challenge the first time around.


I've found that the "hold the brake and then tighten the screws" SOMTIMES works.


I've found that the best way to do it is to:

Loosen up both bolts holding the Caliper to the mount. (just enough so that the caliper can wiggle.)

Next look down inside of the caliper, and hold the caliper in the position that there is about a paper-width gap between the rotor and the pad on each side. CAREFULLY & SLOWLY tighten down the bolt(s) while holding it there. Problem solved.

You have to be real delicate when tightening them back down because the torque will want to "pull" the caliper with the bolt direction... so just HOLD THAT SUCKA TIGHT! heh.


Hope that helps man.

if not...

here's another one for ya:

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Loosen both bolts on the caliper mount
Push the pistons all the way back into the bores with a box-end wrench, BE CAREFUL NOT TO TOUCH the little post!
Re-Install the brake pads onto their specific sides of the caliper
put a PLAYING CARD or a BUSINESS CARD on each side of the rotor, and then insert them BOTH into the caliper
PULL THE BRAKE, with the "cards" still inserted into the caliper, and re-tighten the bolts.
That should "seat" the pistons into their "correct" position, and that's where they'll stay
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Good luck!

One thing not mentioned yet, shims.
I have yet to find a fork and brake combo that you do not need to shim to get a perfect fit. The brakes should have come with shims for this very reason. If they did not you can get them from your LBS. Get a few .2mm and .5mm shims. That should help you out.
I have set up brakes on some forks that require 5mm spacers so they would fit.

One other suggestion. try to center the rotor between the caliper and not the pads. If the pistons on one side are farther out then the other and you center it with them you run the chance of the rotor rubbing on the caliper.

If the rotor is centered in the caliper you still might get some rubbing of the pads but that will go away after a couple of rides.

Good luck.

Slainte:beer:

The Hayes manual pretty much spells this out. The secret is to use shims between the pad and disc while you torgue the fasteners down.