Disc Brake Tutorial?
04-01-09, 08:52 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 20
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Disc Brake Tutorial?
Was curious if anyone knew any sites that give you steps on how to adjust them. Bicycletutor.com is great but they havent put that up there yet. Seems every time i put my front tire on after changing it the pads rub and needs adjusting and the local bike shop isnt local. The brakes are Tektro IO-X cable-actuated disc brakes, 6” wavy rotor, with Shimano alloy levers. Thanks for any feedback.
04-03-09, 05:09 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 349
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
The biggest cause of your problem is not seating the wheel properly in the dropouts. Tighten the QR while the bike is on the ground, preferably while you are pushing down on the top of the stem to press the wheel into the dropout. Try to tighten the QR the same amount each time and put the lever in the same orientation.
It's not logical to assume that the brake is going out of alignment when you take the wheel off, considering how much more likely it is that the axle is just in a different part of the dropout when you put it back on.
Parktools.com is the premier site for bicycle adjustments followed by Sheldon Brown's page.
It's not logical to assume that the brake is going out of alignment when you take the wheel off, considering how much more likely it is that the axle is just in a different part of the dropout when you put it back on.
Parktools.com is the premier site for bicycle adjustments followed by Sheldon Brown's page.
04-04-09, 12:07 AM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 208
Bikes: Giant XTC Team Custom XC bike, Nashbar tourer custom commuter
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
At least with mounting my BB7s, there was a lot to be said for the alignment of the mount of the caliper. I don't know how common it is, but they have a set of curved washers that let it tilt somewhat on the mounts. The process described in their instructions works pretty well, adjust the brake so the pads are fairly centered, then clamp them down on the rotor while the wheel is mounted properly. Then tighten the two sets of curved-washer mounting bolts and back the pads off the rotor. That way no matter how the mount may be in terms of alignment, it will be properly centered on the rotor and won't rub or brake unevenly.
The critical step for me in this process was being certain that the pads were centered when you do the initial clamp down, if they aren't then it gets aligned to a bad angle, and your brakes will always rub or will brake unevenly on each side.
This could explain why new pads would rub, but to be sure, take a look at the old ones to see if there is uneven wear or a slight angle to the pad face.
The critical step for me in this process was being certain that the pads were centered when you do the initial clamp down, if they aren't then it gets aligned to a bad angle, and your brakes will always rub or will brake unevenly on each side.
This could explain why new pads would rub, but to be sure, take a look at the old ones to see if there is uneven wear or a slight angle to the pad face.
