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Old 01-30-10 | 03:22 PM
  #8  
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BCRider
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,559
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From: The 'Wack, BC, Canada

Bikes: Norco (2), Miyata, Canondale, Soma, Redline

Rotor to caliper mismatches are fine as long as the pads are fully contacting the rotors.

So you need to check the rotors for any kinks or localized warping. One way to do this without a dial guage is a good quality 6 inch machinist's ruler. Offer the straight edge up to both faces of the rotor and look for signs of any see saw like movement in the ruler. With care you can easily detect a localized warp, kink or other damage that will show up while riding. With the ruler on the concave side of the damage it'll seem fine because it's bridging the area. When on the opposite side it'll pivot on the high point. It's the pivoting that you'll feel so it's important to check both sides with the ruler aligned in a lot of different angles and on a lot of spots. Light pressure should be used since a rotor is easily flexed.

Another form of damage that'll catch the pads and cause some grabbiness is a dent that raises a burr along the edge or in one of the ventilation holes. Again you can use the edge of the ruler to check for that by lighly dragging it over the swept faces of the rotor and feel for any snags. If you get one it's a simple matter to dress the spot down with a file or Dremel.
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