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Disc brake adjustment bliss

Old 03-19-21, 09:37 AM
  #1  
Chuckles1
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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!
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Old 03-19-21, 11:56 AM
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I've used a business card in the past with some success.
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Old 03-19-21, 11:59 AM
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Credit cards are too thick. Ask me how I know....
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Old 03-19-21, 06:56 PM
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A beverage straw without the wrapper from a fastfood place works in place of the feeler gage.
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Old 03-20-21, 02:12 PM
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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.

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Old 03-21-21, 08:48 AM
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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.
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Old 03-08-22, 05:11 PM
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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]
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Old 03-08-22, 09:37 PM
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Originally Posted by Chuckles1
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 always used a piece of cereal box cardboard. 👍
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Old 03-08-22, 09:43 PM
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A tool for the job https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1





I have a couple that would nto work on my Shimano brakes I will give them to someone for the cost of postage.
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Old 03-09-22, 01:09 AM
  #10  
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Originally Posted by Berg417448
I've used a business card in the past with some success.
The perfect "tool".
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Old 03-12-22, 06:30 PM
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Great advice. Thank you. I will now start the hunt for a feeler gauge.
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