Brake Issue
03-27-12 | 11:04 AM
#1
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From: New York and San Juan
Bikes: Kestrel Talon SL, Surly Steamroller, Equipe SS/FG Beater
Brake Issue
I brought this problem up in a previous post but couldn't find the answer. Building a steel frame fixed gear bike I'm putting a set of brakes with the same reach on front and back. The rims are the same size . The back brake contacts the rim perfectly but the front brake doesn't fully reach the rim and I'm out of adjustment. It hits the tire. Is it common for the distance between the center of the two hubs to the mounting holes for both brakes to be different? Should the reach of the two brakes, front and rear, be different? Forks are made with different dimensions from hub to mounting hole. Will I have to find one that works or does the front brake have to be changed to one with a longer reach? Any help appreciated.
Last edited by Frankfast; 03-28-12 at 06:39 AM.
03-27-12 | 04:00 PM
#2
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From: Salinas , Ca.
Bikes: Bike Nashbar AL-1 ,Raligh M50 , Schwinn Traveler , and others
you could find a brake with longer reach or depending on how much of a reach you need you can file the opening longer for the brakes to make the reach .
03-27-12 | 04:04 PM
#3
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From: Sunnyvale, California
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It's fairly common for there to be some small discrepancy in brake reach for front and rear. But it should not be such that it forces you to get a mid-reach front caliper and a short reach rear. That much difference usually sounds like you have a 27 inch fork mated to a 700c frame or something like that.
03-27-12 | 07:49 PM
#4
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From: New York and San Juan
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It's fairly common for there to be some small discrepancy in brake reach for front and rear. But it should not be such that it forces you to get a mid-reach front caliper and a short reach rear. That much difference usually sounds like you have a 27 inch fork mated to a 700c frame or something like that.
03-27-12 | 08:17 PM
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From: New Rochelle, NY
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
.... Is it common for the distance between the center of the two hubs to the mounting holes for both brakes to be different? Should the reach of the two brakes, front and rear, be different? .... Will I have to find one that works or does the front brake have to be changed to one with a longer reach?
As for what to do about it, that's one of those "raise the bridge, or lower the water questions". One or the other is necessary, and either is fine. Usually, I'd expect to change the brake before the fork, but there might be reasons to do the opposite.
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An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
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FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
03-27-12 | 10:46 PM
#6
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From: New York and San Juan
Bikes: Kestrel Talon SL, Surly Steamroller, Equipe SS/FG Beater
Don't understand a manufacturer producing a frame and fork with different brake reaches unless their outsourcing the fork. Don't most people buy brakes in sets and don't most sets include brakes of the same reach?
I decided to keep the brakes since I thought that they would fit the bike better than others, and go hunting for the proper fork.
I decided to keep the brakes since I thought that they would fit the bike better than others, and go hunting for the proper fork.
