Mattyb13

Hey all, I have a near new Specialized Crosstrail Expert Disc. I love it to death but I am noticing some drag from the front brake that is preventing the front wheel from rolling/spinning completely freely. I am planning on getting it to my lbs this weekend but in the meantime is there a way to easily 'open' up the front Caliper just a bit? Thanks.

Wanderer

You probably need to realign the caliper. Tighten the brake, loosen the mount bolts, retighten, and let the lever go - should be good to go.

Mattyb13

Thanks Wanderer… Ill give that a try tonight.

steve_cay

Wanderer's suggestion often works. If not, loosen again, and eye the gap between the disk and pads ... Should be about 1mm on both sides. Center the caliper with your hand, while sighting the gap, and re-tighten.

If it still makes a "zing, zing, zing" sound, the disk may be warped ... Spin the wheel while sighting the gap, and check if the disk wobbles touching the pad at a certain point in the spin. If this is the case you can use a French key opening it so it just slips over the disk, and gently straightening it.

badger1

Good suggestions above, but ... before you do any of that, do this (if you haven't already; if yes, ignore!): check alignment of front wheel in drop-outs.

1. Undo quick release, far enough to allow wheel to wiggle around.
2. Make sure there's no gunk/garbage in the drop-outs or on the axle, and then pull wheel up tight into drop-outs, and re-secure quick release (should be tight enough that when you fully close the lever, you need just enough pressure to leave a bit of an impression in your palm/fingers). Ensure wheel is centred. If not, repeat.
3. See if that improves things.
4. If not, back to suggestions above.

ColonelSanders

Matty,
Hope you get your brake problem sorted out, but in the meantime I wanted to ask you if you are able to notice any extra capability of your 2015 Crosstrail's suspension fork, compared to the suspension fork of your previous Crosstrail?

Mattyb13

Hey ColonelSanders. Thanks for the note. I have not noticed a massive difference in the performance of the front suspension fork on my 2015 Expert Disc VS. my 2014 Crosstrail Comp disc. HOWEVER, manual lockout on the handlebar is allowing me to use the suspension much more. If the trail or path is getting rough I just flick my finger and the suspension is active. With another flick of my thumb the suspension locks out. I never thought I would use that feature but I find myself using it a lot! Its pretty cool.

bigjer2

I agree with Mattyb13.....the remote shock lockout is a great feature. I have had a complete shoulder replacement, and like to keep the shock functioning...riding pavement...just to soften the vibration up to this shoulder. When climbing steep inclines, it's just a flick of my finger and my pedaling becomes instantly more efficient ....no wasted energy in a bouncing fork. Love,Love,Love my 2015 Crosstrail Expert!!!!

ColdCase

I thought both the comp and expert have identical forks, including the remote lockout. I must of missed something. The sport disk, maybe elite is different.

"Custom SR Suntour NCX, w/ custom Multi-Circuit Damping, custom coil/MCU spring weights, integrated remote hydraulic lockout lever, mag lowers, Cr-Mo stanchions, 50mm travel"

vs

"Custom SR Suntour NCX, w/ custom Multi-Circuit Damping, custom coil/MCU spring weights, integrated remote hydraulic lockout lever, mag lowers, Cr-Mo stanchions, 50mm travel"

The elite/comp/expert line have flat bars where the other crosstrails have 5 degree upsweep. All seem to have 9 degree back sweep.

The expert stem is a bit different spec, however. 12 degree rise vs the 6 degree common to other models.

RickGr4

My Giant Fastroad came with a little plastic wedge tool that is designed to properly space and center the disc brake pads. It seems to work just fine. I would think Specialized would have a similar tool...

dynaryder

Actually,that's for sticking in the caliper when the wheel's removed to prevent the pistons from popping out if you accidentally hit the lever. Most bikes with hydros come with this,but not all shops make the effort to include everything that comes out of the box. We do where I work;everything goes in a baggie ziptied to the seat.

RickGr4

I understand that but the tool should help the OP unless he/she has additional issues that require attention (as others have mentioned in this thread). I would think trying the tool would be the easiest and least painful way to try to solve the OP's issue.

dynaryder

Nah,on a new bike there shouldn't be any issues with the pads not retracting properly. OP's issue sounds like caliper positioning.

Mattyb13

UPDATE: I Tried the "hold the brake, loosen the mount bolts and re-tighten" method and the drag is still there. It honestly seems like the caliper just needs to be backed off or opened up just a little bit. OR, I am wondering if the rotor is slightly warped as was mentioned in an earlier post. Either way, its annoying and I want to get it handled asap. Thanks for the help all.

Mattyb13

My 2014 Comp disc did not have the lockout mechanism on the bars as my 2015 Expert disc does. I do believe they have the same shocks tho.

ColdCase

I missed that mention of 2014 somehow, sorry. The 2014 comps also had SRAM X7 stuff, where the 2015 comps have Shimiro SLX stuff along with the remote lockout. The expert has Shimiro XT stuff.

If the colonel is looking at the difference between 2015 models, there is currently no fork or lockout difference between the 2015 comp and expert. There is a difference in the stem angle, and the drivetrain and brakes of course.

Chamaco

Then you're gonna have to loose the caliper and manually eyeball it. I did this with my Sirrus cause the "loose caliper and press lever" option didn't work for me either and since then I'm drag free.

ColonelSanders

Hi Coldcase.

My query on the difference between the fork on the 2014 & 2015 model was due to Specialized stating that they had done a major rework of their fork for the 2015 Expert & Comp models, so wanted to get some feedback on how noticeable if at all, the impact of the rework.

Mattyb13 is the only guy I have encountered on this forum who has had both the 2014 & 2015 models.

fietsbob

Hydraulic brakes ? Have you ever removed the wheel then touched the Brake lever?.

ColdCase

Yeah, sorry I missed the boat on this one. Thanks for the explanation.