Brake caliper install
#1
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Brake caliper install

I’ve been mounting brake calipers are they were stuck and not turning. I found the rotor(avid) was running into the caliper. I was able to get the brakes working without rubbing by using 2 lockwashers(5mm) between the brake caliber and the adapter. Is this safe to run any washer on this brake shimano mt200? If that is ok, flat washer would be better right? If that is unsafe what options do I have, change rotor, adapter?
#2
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From: NW Oregon
Bikes: 1982 Trek 930R Custom, '91 Diamondback Ascent w/ XT, XTR updates, Fuji Team Pro CF road flyer, Specialized Sirrus Gravel Convert, '09 Comencal Meta 5.5 XC, '02 Marin MBX500, '84 Gitane Criterium bike
i use non-lock washers for shimming the caliper away from rubbing on the discs, and also to move the pads away from contacting the disc spiders when engaged.....
#4
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From: se MIch.
Bikes: 1938 claud butler,1983 Basso,teledyne titan,teocali super,nrs,1993 stumpjumper fsr,Paramountain,Paramount Buell(sold),4 banger,Zaskar LE,Colnago Master Ibex MTB,1987ish,.etc....
bolt rubbing/
if your talking about 1 washer per hole between the adapter & caliper then you may have a 165mm rotor on a 160mm adapter.
Last edited by '02 nrs; 02-23-26 at 10:20 AM.
#5
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From: NW Oregon
Bikes: 1982 Trek 930R Custom, '91 Diamondback Ascent w/ XT, XTR updates, Fuji Team Pro CF road flyer, Specialized Sirrus Gravel Convert, '09 Comencal Meta 5.5 XC, '02 Marin MBX500, '84 Gitane Criterium bike
those are Basic Avid rotors, and are not "too big".
the wavy circumference is to reduce squealing.
i have never seen a "165mm" rotor for bicycles, EVER.
there are 140, 160, 180, and 200mm rotors available, and i've seen a couple 203mm rotors too.... and there are some overkill 223mm rotors out there too...
the biggest things i see with caliper mounting errors are getting the adapter mounted in the correct orientation, and trying to use the wrong mount, entirely.
sidenote: RIM brakes on bikes are actually Really Large diameter DISC brakes.
the wavy circumference is to reduce squealing.
i have never seen a "165mm" rotor for bicycles, EVER.
there are 140, 160, 180, and 200mm rotors available, and i've seen a couple 203mm rotors too.... and there are some overkill 223mm rotors out there too...
the biggest things i see with caliper mounting errors are getting the adapter mounted in the correct orientation, and trying to use the wrong mount, entirely.
sidenote: RIM brakes on bikes are actually Really Large diameter DISC brakes.
Last edited by maddog34; 02-23-26 at 02:16 PM.
#7
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Hmm
I bought the brakes rotors and IS adapter as a kit from eBay, like $50. I have the IS adapters installed with top pointing up. I checked and the front is on the front and rear is on the rear. Maybe cheap IS adapter is the issue?
#8
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From: NW Oregon
Bikes: 1982 Trek 930R Custom, '91 Diamondback Ascent w/ XT, XTR updates, Fuji Team Pro CF road flyer, Specialized Sirrus Gravel Convert, '09 Comencal Meta 5.5 XC, '02 Marin MBX500, '84 Gitane Criterium bike
i always look for some clearance between the outer edge of the disc and the caliper slot where the pads are... i had brand new shimanos touching the shimano discs just two weeks ago.. a bit of fiddling got them in place and lined up.. meh... it's part of the job at hand,, IMO.
the bike frames/forks also vary a bit... "Manufacturing slop"
#9
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From: se MIch.
Bikes: 1938 claud butler,1983 Basso,teledyne titan,teocali super,nrs,1993 stumpjumper fsr,Paramountain,Paramount Buell(sold),4 banger,Zaskar LE,Colnago Master Ibex MTB,1987ish,.etc....
#11
Kinematics of rim brakes is significantly different.
#12
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From: NW Oregon
Bikes: 1982 Trek 930R Custom, '91 Diamondback Ascent w/ XT, XTR updates, Fuji Team Pro CF road flyer, Specialized Sirrus Gravel Convert, '09 Comencal Meta 5.5 XC, '02 Marin MBX500, '84 Gitane Criterium bike
Not really. One of the defining properties of disc brakes is that the rotor is mounted directly to the wheel hub. Disc brakes apply the braking force (torque) to the hub. And then it is transferred through the spokes to the contact area on the outer circumference of the wheel.
Kinematics of rim brakes is significantly different.
Kinematics of rim brakes is significantly different.
they're still a larger disc brake.
Last edited by maddog34; 02-24-26 at 01:29 PM.






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