Disc brake adjustment bliss
 

Was having some frustration with getting calipers positioned just right for silent rolling.

Stumbled on the following technique, probably old news to many, but maybe helpful for some new to hydraulic disc brakes.

If you loosen the caliper mounting bolts, squeeze the brake lever, and tighten the bolts, your brakes may drag if the pads don't retract equally. In that case, shine a light to see which side is rubbing. Then repeat the procedure, but slip a feeler gauge between the rotor and the pad on the side that rubbed, before squeezing lever and tightening bolts. A 0.015" feeler gauge is a good place to start, and you can use a larger or smaller one if the first try still results in rubbing pads.

I recently bought a disc brake alignment tool, but it didn't eliminate drag. The feeler gauge achieves both alignment and even spacing; bliss!

I've used a business card in the past with some success.

Credit cards are too thick. Ask me how I know....

A beverage straw without the wrapper from a fastfood place works in place of the feeler gage.

I have a set of giant feeler gauges that I use for this. In the absence of that, taking the blade out of the set works to keep it from falling out. You can also get some shim stock the right thickness, and use that instead of a gauge.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9db8a4ad31.jpg

TRP Spyres retract both sides. Tightening the mounting bolts with the caliper clamp works perfectly every time. One of the main things I like about that model.

feeler gauge is the key
 

A .017 worked for me this time. Simple, satisfying process. I used a rubber ring for mounting a Garmin unit to hold the brake closed while I tightened the caliper bolts. The brake pressure held the feeler blade in place, leaving both hands available. Thanks so much for the tip.


Stumbled on the following technique, probably old news to many, but maybe helpful for some new to hydraulic disc brakes.

If you loosen the caliper mounting bolts, squeeze the brake lever, and tighten the bolts, your brakes may drag if the pads don't retract equally. In that case, shine a light to see which side is rubbing. Then repeat the procedure, but slip a feeler gauge between the rotor and the pad on the side that rubbed, before squeezing lever and tightening bolts. A 0.015" feeler gauge is a good place to start, and you can use a larger or smaller one if the first try still results in rubbing pads.

I recently bought a disc brake alignment tool, but it didn't eliminate drag. The feeler gauge achieves both alignment and even spacing; bliss![/QUOTE]

I’ve always used a piece of cereal box cardboard. 👍

A tool for the job https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1




https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5421f6b576.jpg
I have a couple that would nto work on my Shimano brakes I will give them to someone for the cost of postage.

The perfect "tool".

Great advice. Thank you. I will now start the hunt for a feeler gauge.