RomeRider

After putting on a new tire I notice my brake is now hitting the tire at the top edge of the rim. I have tried to push the wheel more firmly into the frame, but I can't gain any more ground there. The pads are already at the bottom of brake. I'm riding a Trek 1000 and just using the front brakes today.

Now what?

Metzinger

Try different pads or trim the ones you have with a knife.

stien

And you adjusted out the brakes?

RomeRider

I'm no mechanic, but I moved the barrell up and down and tried several different arrangements with the cable.

stien

Ohhh, I misread. The pads are overlapping beyond the braking surface. How far? I've seen this a lot and people don't seem to be too concerned by a very small amount.

RomeRider

Probably between a 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch contacting the tire.

stien

Seems like too much. Pics might help. Also do you have the pad upside down? (Stupid question I know)

umd

pics

RomeRider

I did not put new pads on. Just a new tire after a blow out ruined my previous tire. I'm at work so no pics.

RomeRider

What can you do beside lower the brake pads to bring the whole brake a little farther down onto the rim?

stien

Did you switch tire sizes? Is it rubbing on one side or both?

The only thing that can change there to affect the brake position would be a bigger tire, that or you replaced it with the wrong size wheel.

RomeRider

I had a 700x25 on it and replaced it with a 700x23

urbanknight

+1 Mine go past the braking surface. The only problem with that is that some of the anodizing gets worn off. If that's a problem, display the bike and don't ride it.

Daytrip

Sounds like your frame was designed for long-reach brakes. You can trim the pads, but that will diminish your braking surface (it is already), which may or may not be OK. Another idea is to get a round file (like a chainsaw file) and file the slots in the calipers a bit deeper so that the pads go lower. I've done this myself and don't see a safety issue, though it's arguably not a good idea to modify something as important as your brakes.

The best solution is probably to get a set of long-reach brakes like Shimano R600s. A new set runs about $60 shipped on Ebay.

Metzinger

The level of reading comprehension displayed in this thread is dismaying.

EDIT: The most egregious example of this has been retracted by the poster.

stien

It must've been like that before, nothing should have changed. I'd say change calipers, or get to filing, or just ride!

Namenda

If the brake shoe is all the way down in the caliper, and still hits the tire, then the wheel must not be seated all the way into the dropouts. However, you seem to have ridden it like that, based upon your line "just using the front brakes today". Was the wheel wobbling while you rode it? Is the wheel racked to one side? Is the brake rubbing on both sides, or just one?

RomeRider

I spin the wheel to make sure it is seated correctly. No wobbling. The wheel looks good except where the brake touches it and just by a tiny fraction, enough to make me concerned it will damage the tire.

stien

We still need to know, one side or both? If it's one your brakes are just skewed.

Daytrip

Looks something like this, right? Brake pad rubbing on the tire because it won't go any lower.

RomeRider

You got it. That's what is happening. It is on both sides at the same level.

Daytrip

Like I said, file out the slot or get yourself some long-reach brakes. In this case, I did the former.

RomeRider

Alright then. Thanks guys.

foresthill

Just to be sure, you've tried releasing the whee's QR while the bike is on the ground on the wheels, to see if there's any more room in the dropouts?

RomeRider

Yes. I took it out and put it back in again. I loosened the skewer so that the nut was barely connected. I pushed down on the frame good a couple times. I took out the spring and end cap and then put it back in.