View Poll Results: Do you toe your brakes when you install/perform maintenance?

I usually or always toe the brake pads when setting up

56.96%

I never or rarely toe the brake pads when setting up

31.65%

It depends. Sometimes.

11.39%

Voters: 79. You may not vote on this poll

Do you toe or not toe?

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02-06-18 | 08:26 AM

#26

Kovkov

Full Member

Joined: Nov 2017

Posts: 390

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From: Switzerland

Bikes: 1957 Alpa Special, 1963 Condor Delta, 1967 Tigra Sprint, 1977 Oltenia, 1987 Mondia, 1965 Staco de luxe, 1969 Amberg

I'm running Weinmanns only and i'm affraid to break them while bending.

02-07-18 | 05:59 PM

#27

kcblair

Old Legs

Joined: Nov 2016

Posts: 1,212

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From: Mass.

Bikes: '80 Strayvaigin, '84 Ciocc Aelle-Shimano 105, '90 Concorde Astore /Campy Triple ,85 Bridgestone 500/Suntour, 2005 Jamis Quest, 2017 Raleigh Merit 1, Raleigh Carbon Clubman

Only had to toe-in my old DiaComp brakes, using an adjustable wrench. Other than that, never had a squealing brake.KB

02-07-18 | 07:53 PM

#28

evan326

Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2016

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From: RVA

Bikes: 2013 Cannondale Synapse 6 Tiagra + 2016 Cannondale CAAD 12 Dura Ace

Can we please use the proper wording? What you're referring to is toe in, the opposite would be toe out.
I was trying not to say anything, but I got to the bottom and couldn't help it. This is the mechanics forum after all.

Yes, I do toe in my pads. I used the credit card trick.

02-08-18 | 02:57 PM

#29

noglider

aka Tom Reingold

Joined: Jan 2009

Posts: 44,180

Likes: 6,418

From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA

Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem

[MENTION=137127]Papa Tom[/MENTION], the explanation for how they stay toed in is above.

[MENTION=473624]Kovkov[/MENTION], Weinmanns won't break when you toe them in. Other calipers will.

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Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.

02-08-18 | 03:01 PM

#30

CliffordK

Thread Starter

Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2014

Posts: 27,576

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From: Eugene, Oregon, USA

Quote:

Originally Posted by evan326

Yes, I do toe in my pads. I used the credit card trick.

Sorry, I should have asked the direction of toes too.

So, I assume the toes are at the front of the shoes (bike)? So, in vs out would be the direction in relation to the front of the bike?

02-08-18 | 03:16 PM

#31

harshbarj

Senior Member

Joined: May 2010

Posts: 506

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From: Omaha, Ne

Bikes: Trek Belleville, Workcycles opa, Schwinn

Depends on the brake. Most of the time, no. Sometimes I had to or have brake sequel. Yet another reason I gave up on rim brakes and went drum.

02-08-18 | 03:17 PM

#32

Papa Tom

Senior Member

Joined: Aug 2008

Posts: 4,441

Likes: 235

Quote:

Originally Posted by noglider

@Papa Tom, the explanation for how they stay toed in is above.

That's not what I mean, and it's probably not worth trying to explain. I just meant that when I move the pad around in its cut-out (the opening in which it slides up and down) and then toe it in, it manages to stay toed in. I don't see any kind of design feature that would even enable it to bend inward, let alone stay that way.

No big deal. It has always just been an enigma to me.

02-08-18 | 06:44 PM

#33

evan326

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Joined: Sep 2016

Posts: 514

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From: RVA

Bikes: 2013 Cannondale Synapse 6 Tiagra + 2016 Cannondale CAAD 12 Dura Ace

Quote:

Originally Posted by CliffordK

Sorry, I should have asked the direction of toes too.

So, I assume the toes are at the front of the shoes (bike)? So, in vs out would be the direction in relation to the front of the bike?

Quiet you....

02-08-18 | 06:45 PM

#34

evan326

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Joined: Sep 2016

Posts: 514

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From: RVA

Bikes: 2013 Cannondale Synapse 6 Tiagra + 2016 Cannondale CAAD 12 Dura Ace

Quote:

Originally Posted by harshbarj

Depends on the brake. Most of the time, no. Sometimes I had to or have brake sequel. Yet another reason I gave up on rim brakes and went drum.

Who makes drum brakes for a bike?!

02-08-18 | 07:41 PM

#35

noglider

aka Tom Reingold

Joined: Jan 2009

Posts: 44,180

Likes: 6,418

From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA

Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem

Quote:

Originally Posted by evan326

Who makes drum brakes for a bike?!

Sturmey Archer and Shimano, for two.

02-08-18 | 08:19 PM

#36

evan326

Senior Member

Joined: Sep 2016

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From: RVA

Bikes: 2013 Cannondale Synapse 6 Tiagra + 2016 Cannondale CAAD 12 Dura Ace

Wow, I have never heard of them

02-12-18 | 09:52 PM

#37

CliffordK

Thread Starter

Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2014

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From: Eugene, Oregon, USA

I just finished putting together my next bike project.

V-Brakes with Tektro RL520 levers.

Anyway, no toeing of the pads. And headed down the driveway... Ohh, what a squeal.

But, I figured I'd at least have pedestrians diving out of my way on the bike paths.

However, 5 miles down the road (I'm not sure if I even hit the brakes after my driveway), and not a sound from the brakes again.

Well, so much for alerting the pedestrians around me. Perhaps I had to wear a sheen off of the brakes or something. Or, perhaps those tricolor pads actually did something

02-15-18 | 04:17 PM

#38

zebede

Hello

Joined: Aug 2007

Posts: 937

Likes: 31

From: Suncoast, Florida

Bikes: n+1

Toe be OR not Toe be

That IS the question.

02-16-18 | 11:53 AM

#39

ThermionicScott

Senior Member

Joined: Aug 2011

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From: CID

Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)

Quote:

Originally Posted by zebede

Toe be OR not Toe be

That IS the question.

...whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The screech and squeal of untoed pads,
Or to take wrenches against the Arms,
And by opposing silence them: to toe, to squeal
No more;

02-16-18 | 01:35 PM

#40

NJgreyhead

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Joined: Sep 2010

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From: South Jersey near PHL

Bikes: Frequently

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThermionicScott

...whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The screech and squeal of untoed pads,
Or to take wrenches against the Arms,
And by opposing silence them: to toe, to squeal
No more;

Ah, there's the rub.

02-16-18 | 02:34 PM

#41

CliffordK

Thread Starter

Senior Member

Joined: Nov 2014

Posts: 27,576

Likes: 5,455

From: Eugene, Oregon, USA

Quote:

Originally Posted by NJgreyhead

Ah, there's the rub.

Just don't grease the squeaky wheel

02-17-18 | 01:29 AM

#42

Jax Rhapsody

Rhapsodic Laviathan

Joined: Jan 2013

Posts: 1,053

Likes: 144

From: Louisville KY

Bikes: Rideable; 83 Schwinn High Sierra. Two cruiser, bmx bike, one other mtb, three road frames, one citybike.

When I learned the merits I toed, but it made brake jobs extra tedious since I don't use any tools but an allen wrench.

02-17-18 | 08:25 AM

#43

zebede

Hello

Joined: Aug 2007

Posts: 937

Likes: 31

From: Suncoast, Florida

Bikes: n+1

Priceless

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThermionicScott

...whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The screech and squeal of untoed pads,
Or to take wrenches against the Arms,
And by opposing silence them: to toe, to squeal
No more;

Bravo