Originally Posted by
Andrew R Stewart
With a couple of exceptions most all the cable operated disk brakes only move one pad. For there to be no rubbing when not using the brake the other pad, often called the fixed pad, needs some gap between it and the rotor. So when the moving pad clamps against the rotor the rotor is pushed a tad and against the fixed pad.
Troul's comments are, in a perfect world, correct for a caliper where both pads are moved in during the braking action. But even with a dual moving pad caliper there is often a slight off center pad movement and a slight rotor pushing. Andy
i visually observe the rotor deflection from standing height distance to determine if the braking is adjusted to my satisfactory needs. If I can see rotor move inward when apply the brake, I'll adjust out the fixed pad until it is not doing so. Most of the time, the squealing brakes cancels out when improving the braking feel during the adjustment.
what works for me may not work for others.