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Brake pad toe-in?

Old 02-20-20, 12:51 PM
  #1  
Tandem Tom
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Brake pad toe-in?

I usually use a coin to set the toe-in but wondering if anyone has a "tool" that attaches to the pad. I keep dropping the coins!!
Thanks!
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Old 02-20-20, 01:04 PM
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Jagwire makes one. I have no experience with it, though:


https://www.amazon.com/Jagwire-Brake.../dp/B007FWPD2Q
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Old 02-20-20, 01:12 PM
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Bend a piece of 3/32" flat bar (a couple of bucks at Home Depot) into a "U" and drop on the tire? That stuff is so useful I always have a scrap.
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Old 02-20-20, 02:00 PM
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Originally Posted by 79pmooney
Bend a piece of 3/32" flat bar (a couple of bucks at Home Depot) into a "U" and drop on the tire? That stuff is so useful I always have a scrap.
huh? can't picture that. can you elaborate?
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Old 02-20-20, 02:01 PM
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You can put a rubber band around the back of the brake pad as a spacer. You could also make a "C"-shaped tool out of coat hanger wire.
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Old 02-20-20, 02:07 PM
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I use a piece of card stock - folded over to the desired thickness - and stick it to the rim with a strip of masking tape. Both hands free to make adjustments . . . .
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Old 02-20-20, 02:15 PM
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Originally Posted by MNebiker
I use a piece of card stock - folded over to the desired thickness - and stick it to the rim with a strip of masking tape. Both hands free to make adjustments . . . .

I also do this process with business cards. Work well and its FREE. The free part is my favorite!
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Old 02-20-20, 03:33 PM
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I gave the rubber band idea a try and it works well. Thanks!
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Old 02-20-20, 05:58 PM
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I use a rubber band or zip tie, whichever is easier to find amid the clutter.
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Old 02-20-20, 06:17 PM
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Originally Posted by rumrunn6
huh? can't picture that. can you elaborate?
I'm thinking taking a 3/32 X 1/4" flat bar oh, say, 8" long, bending one end into a "u" to it over the tire, hanging down at the rear of the brake pad. Tweak the bar so it lays flat against the brake track. (You will need to stop the wheel with a toestrap or the like.) Then adjust the pad to hit both in front and at the flatbar. Flip around for the other pad.. (You could make irt a little longer and symmetrical to to both sides at the same time but I'm thinking one-sided makes it easy to rebend for different tires or rims.)

Ben
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Old 02-21-20, 03:49 AM
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How about this, clamps to the rim, directional arrow for proper toe-in

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Super-B-TB-...72.m2749.l2649

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Old 02-21-20, 09:06 AM
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I’m with canklecat, loose zip tie slid over back of the pad.
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Old 02-21-20, 09:08 AM
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I use my eye, but good suggestions above.
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Old 02-21-20, 04:09 PM
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Cut piece of inner tube. I have no use for 23mm tubes anyway.
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Old 02-21-20, 04:14 PM
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Never thought of the inner tube idea. Sounds good.
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Old 02-21-20, 08:23 PM
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I use two credit cards overlapped so I get a single and double thickness giving me the proper toe-in angle.
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Old 02-21-20, 09:41 PM
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Yes, a zip tie would work. Or a rubber band. Etc.
Another example of lack of industry standardization. Ha!
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Old 02-21-20, 10:52 PM
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BTW, if you're doing cantilever brakes and don't mind swapping pads, Kool Stop Eagle 2 pads (formerly Eagle Claw) are basically self-toe-in. The funky wedge doodad not only helps scrape mucky rims clean, it automagically aligns the pads. I use 'em on the rear wheel of my old Univega. I'm not a Kool Stop fanboy but that particular pad is terrific for bikes with canti brakes taken off road.

Alas, the Eagle 2 pads are too thick to clear the fork with my preferred tires, so I use Jagwire slim line long curved pads there (also very good, but do need toe-in).
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Old 02-22-20, 12:16 AM
  #19  
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Originally Posted by 79pmooney
I'm thinking taking a 3/32 X 1/4" flat bar oh, say, 8" long, bending one end into a "u" to it over the tire, hanging down at the rear of the brake pad. Tweak the bar so it lays flat against the brake track. (You will need to stop the wheel with a toestrap or the like.) Then adjust the pad to hit both in front and at the flatbar. Flip around for the other pad.. (You could make irt a little longer and symmetrical to to both sides at the same time but I'm thinking one-sided makes it easy to rebend for different tires or rims.)

Ben
WTF!
1. Loosed brake pads
2 Center brake pads on brake track
3 Tear a business card in half and place on trailing edge of brake pad and grab lever
4. tighten brake pad.
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Old 02-22-20, 06:47 AM
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I find the calipers don't flex as much with higher quality brakes and a single business card width will usually work but on most bikes I start with a double business card.
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