Bicycle Mechanics - issue mounting disc brakes

Okay well i just built myself a new wheelset, disc specific. To compliment it i got disc brakes :). I got hte avid mechanical's and when i mount the brake to the fork using hte included adapter, and the wheel into place, the rotor will not go between the pads of the brake without bending, The brake unit is probably 2-3mm too far to the right. I have DT swiss Hayes hub. Can this be solved or am i screwed?

it can be solved, you just have to space the caliper properly. After inserting the fixing bolt through the fork adapter, put a washer on the bolt so that it sits between the caliper and the adapter.you may have to put a couple on, but you should have been given some when you got the brakes.

nice brakes btw, i like avid mechanicals

loosen the mounting bolt for the brake itself (the ones that attach the brake to the fork). considering i build bikes all day long i would have to say that would be the easiest way to fix it. if the pads themselves are touching just unwind the small dial all the way out.

As Beachbum suggested, mount the bracket to the fork fairly solidly, but leave the bolts attaching the caliper to the bracket loose. Unscrew the red inboard (Large) & outboard (Small) dials and carefully slip the hub/rotor into the drop-outs & caliper. Then follow the instructions that came with the brakes to complete the adjustment. Please note that in my experience, additional washers are not needed to properly mount and adjust the Avid Mechanical brakes (I've installed a couple dozen sets of them on various models of all the four major brands of forks with good results). Good luck!

THanks for your advice! It is veyr much appreciated, also how do i use avids CPS thing. Isnt that suppposed to center the rotor or something?

CPS = Caliper Postioning System didn't you get instructions with those? If not here's the link
http://www.sram.com/_media/pdf/avid/discbrakes/bbdb-mtn-165-install.pdf

I got mine with my bike and got no such manuals.. however, I was curious about the CPS and looked at the manual awhile back myself. Ended up adjusting my brakes more to my liking than the shop had.

I didnt really get any instruction at all, just a little paper with some crappy instruction. I have mounted disc brakes in the past so i dont really pay much attention but i dont see how the CPS thing is very differnet from regular centering,

I didnt really get any instruction at all, just a little paper with some crappy instruction. I have mounted disc brakes in the past so i dont really pay much attention but i dont see how the CPS thing is very differnet from regular centering,
The "crappy" instructions I provided show EXACTLY how to center your brakes. Perhaps you need to learn to follow them. One more thing, for as many questions as you've been asking about disc brakes in general I doubt you've installed as many as you say.

seriously - if its out by 3mm, even when the pads are fully withdrawn, you havent spaced the caliper properly

umm raiyan i didnt say i installed many. Ive installed two with no difficulty, i just dont totally understand what the CPS actually does for you. Ive never had this issue before, when i mount all and put on the wheel the actual brake itself seems ot get in the rotors way, the rotor isnt even making it into the gap between the pads

Follow the directions. Bottom line you wouldn't be having these problems if you followed them in the first place. I could train a chimp to do it and I'm not talking a NASA braniac chimp neither I'm talking a throwing poo at kids at the zoo type.

Follow the directions. Bottom line you wouldn't be having these problems if you followed them in the first place. I could train a chimp to do it and I'm not talking a NASA braniac chimp neither I'm talking a throwing poo at kids at the zoo type.

Rayin speaks truth here. Read the directions at the link he provided you from start to finish. Remove your work and start over, starting with step one and proceeding to the last step. I tell my co-workers this all the time. Don't be impatient and take short cuts; they just make the job take longer.

The late, great Pennsylvania Dutch sprint car driver, Tommy Hinner****z, always said, "Make haste slowly." That is very sound advice when dealing with mechanical things.

I am not being preachy or condescending; I'm trying to give you the benefit of my many years of making these mistakes. :rolleyes:

Doc

I just bought a used Kona Blast with Avid mechs. This is my first expierence with disc brakes. They are a little loose and have some lateral movement. THis does not seem right to me. Do they need to be tightened or not. If so what would I need to without breaking them.

I just bought a used Kona Blast with Avid mechs. This is my first expierence with disc brakes. They are a little loose and have some lateral movement. THis does not seem right to me. Do they need to be tightened or not. If so what would I need to without breaking them.
You just bought the bike...right? Go back to the LBS and explain it to them. They should take care of it for you. Also ask them to show you how to adjust them yourself.

Unfortunately, I can't tell you what the problem is without a better description. This is just one of my limitations I can't make a diagnosis over the phone either though people always seem to want me to try