Hydraulic Disc Brakes
#26
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Mich
Posts: 7,389
Bikes: RSO E-tire dropper fixie brifter
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Liked 2,969 Times
in
1,918 Posts
A) you're moving goalposts. We were talking about the scenario of pads being squeezed so tightly that nothing short of a bleed job could rectify the situation, which is just implausible
B) pistons aren't going to be overly extended unless the pads are removed
I think it's fair to assume that there's no compelling reason to continue here, so I'll bow out.
B) pistons aren't going to be overly extended unless the pads are removed
I think it's fair to assume that there's no compelling reason to continue here, so I'll bow out.
You do you.
__________________
-Oh Hey!
-Oh Hey!
#27
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 6,760
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1109 Post(s)
Liked 1,200 Times
in
760 Posts
My hydro discs came with the inserts mentioned, but also like mentioned, they are nothing but thin pieces of plastic, about as thick as cereal box cardboard folded in half or three times. If you want something less home-made, i've also used "toilet shims" which work perfectly and are cheap and available at any hardware store, home depot, etc.
That said, I've transported my bikes with the front wheels off, several times without remembering to put in the inserts and have never "accidentally" bumped the brake levers. So I think it's a very unlikely scenario.
Ace Toilet Shims White Plastic - Ace Hardware
That said, I've transported my bikes with the front wheels off, several times without remembering to put in the inserts and have never "accidentally" bumped the brake levers. So I think it's a very unlikely scenario.
Ace Toilet Shims White Plastic - Ace Hardware
Last edited by Camilo; 04-18-22 at 12:13 AM.
#28
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 8,688
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1074 Post(s)
Liked 295 Times
in
222 Posts
There’s a considerable gap between ”what CAN happen” and ”what will USUALLY happen”.
I’ve never experienced, read or heard about accidentally bumping a lever being a problem. I’ve seen a guy distractedly pulling the wrong lever on a bike while installing the wheels and ejecting one piston. But I’ve also seen some calipers happily surviving brake actuation w/o rotor and w/o ejecting a piston - if pads are new and both pistons equally eager to move.
Wouldn’t dare to try it on my Formulas, as one piston is definitely getting a bit lazy.
So I guess repeated accidental bumping of the lever might eventually eject one piston and cause a troublesome issue. A possible but not likely scenario. Jamming just about anything between the pads will stop it from happening.
I’ve never experienced, read or heard about accidentally bumping a lever being a problem. I’ve seen a guy distractedly pulling the wrong lever on a bike while installing the wheels and ejecting one piston. But I’ve also seen some calipers happily surviving brake actuation w/o rotor and w/o ejecting a piston - if pads are new and both pistons equally eager to move.
Wouldn’t dare to try it on my Formulas, as one piston is definitely getting a bit lazy.
So I guess repeated accidental bumping of the lever might eventually eject one piston and cause a troublesome issue. A possible but not likely scenario. Jamming just about anything between the pads will stop it from happening.
#29
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: In the south but from North
Posts: 700
Bikes: Turner 5-Spot Burner converted; IBIS Ripley, Specialized Crave, Tommasini Sintesi, Cinelli Superstar, Tommasini X-Fire Gravel
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 406 Post(s)
Liked 389 Times
in
219 Posts
I don't know whether this is correct, but when I bought my bike, it came with those orange inserts and the shop told me to put them in when I take off the wheels, so I do. It's easy to do and I've never had any problems. So if you're removing your wheels, just put the tabs in.
#31
Callipygian Connoisseur
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,373
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 564 Post(s)
Liked 350 Times
in
190 Posts
True story:
This weekend while stuffing my hydro equipped bike into my vehicle, my helpful neighbor grabbed a handful of front brake with the wheel removed. When I got home, I grabbed a plastic putty knife and jammed it in between the pads and twisted it slightly, separating the pads. I slipped the wheel on, tightened the thru axle, grabbed the front brake lever to reset the pads and lived to write about it here. Amazing.
This weekend while stuffing my hydro equipped bike into my vehicle, my helpful neighbor grabbed a handful of front brake with the wheel removed. When I got home, I grabbed a plastic putty knife and jammed it in between the pads and twisted it slightly, separating the pads. I slipped the wheel on, tightened the thru axle, grabbed the front brake lever to reset the pads and lived to write about it here. Amazing.
Likes For Kedosto:
#32
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 7,879
Mentioned: 38 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6963 Post(s)
Liked 10,963 Times
in
4,688 Posts
True story:
This weekend while stuffing my hydro equipped bike into my vehicle, my helpful neighbor grabbed a handful of front brake with the wheel removed. When I got home, I grabbed a plastic putty knife and jammed it in between the pads and twisted it slightly, separating the pads. I slipped the wheel on, tightened the thru axle, grabbed the front brake lever to reset the pads and lived to write about it here. Amazing.
This weekend while stuffing my hydro equipped bike into my vehicle, my helpful neighbor grabbed a handful of front brake with the wheel removed. When I got home, I grabbed a plastic putty knife and jammed it in between the pads and twisted it slightly, separating the pads. I slipped the wheel on, tightened the thru axle, grabbed the front brake lever to reset the pads and lived to write about it here. Amazing.
I have never ever heard of anyone having to bleed their brake system in order to rectify this problem.
Likes For Koyote:
#33
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 5,949
Bikes: Colnago, Van Dessel, Factor, Cervelo, Ritchey
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3952 Post(s)
Liked 7,297 Times
in
2,947 Posts
True story:
This weekend while stuffing my hydro equipped bike into my vehicle, my helpful neighbor grabbed a handful of front brake with the wheel removed. When I got home, I grabbed a plastic putty knife and jammed it in between the pads and twisted it slightly, separating the pads. I slipped the wheel on, tightened the thru axle, grabbed the front brake lever to reset the pads and lived to write about it here. Amazing.
This weekend while stuffing my hydro equipped bike into my vehicle, my helpful neighbor grabbed a handful of front brake with the wheel removed. When I got home, I grabbed a plastic putty knife and jammed it in between the pads and twisted it slightly, separating the pads. I slipped the wheel on, tightened the thru axle, grabbed the front brake lever to reset the pads and lived to write about it here. Amazing.
Likes For tomato coupe:
#34
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: In the south but from North
Posts: 700
Bikes: Turner 5-Spot Burner converted; IBIS Ripley, Specialized Crave, Tommasini Sintesi, Cinelli Superstar, Tommasini X-Fire Gravel
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 406 Post(s)
Liked 389 Times
in
219 Posts
Likes For vespasianus:
#35
Advanced Slacker
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 6,210
Bikes: Soma Fog Cutter, Surly Wednesday, Canfielld Tilt
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2762 Post(s)
Liked 2,537 Times
in
1,433 Posts
There are little blocks that you can shove between the pads.
You do NOT need to do a bleed if you squeeze the lever and push the pads together. You just pry them all the way open (flathead screwdriver or butterknife works) and reset after reinstalling the wheel by operating the lever until the pads make contact again.
if you have brakes that are super sensitive to perfect alignment (Shimanos and SRAM are not like this) then you may have a little pad rub, but nothing too bad that you can’t ride them until you have a chance to tweak them.
You do NOT need to do a bleed if you squeeze the lever and push the pads together. You just pry them all the way open (flathead screwdriver or butterknife works) and reset after reinstalling the wheel by operating the lever until the pads make contact again.
if you have brakes that are super sensitive to perfect alignment (Shimanos and SRAM are not like this) then you may have a little pad rub, but nothing too bad that you can’t ride them until you have a chance to tweak them.
#36
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: North Central Wisconsin
Posts: 4,624
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2975 Post(s)
Liked 1,181 Times
in
771 Posts
No you don't have to bleed them, but it's only a problem if you press the brake lever with the wheel off. Even if you accidentally do it, a brake spreader or flat end screwdriver will get them apart.
This isn't rocket science. I carry one of these with me just in case.
https://www.projectbikebend.com/prod...l-332546-1.htm
This isn't rocket science. I carry one of these with me just in case.
https://www.projectbikebend.com/prod...l-332546-1.htm
#38
Senior Member
Having worked on hundreds of hydro bicycle brakes, installing them or fixing them, I recommend using the specific brake block that is designed to fit in the calipers with the brake pads installed. Usually they lock in so that they do not accidentally fall out.
Likes For prj71:
#40
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 6,760
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1109 Post(s)
Liked 1,200 Times
in
760 Posts
#41
Senior Member
Don't squeeze the brake levers.
Likes For drlogik:
#42
Full Member
So assuming the pistons don't pop out and oil contaminates your pads and rotors than you should be able to just push back the pistons in with a lever. You would only need to bleed the brakes if the pistons pop out or the oil gets contaminated
I would just put a spacer pad in your car or in your saddle bag so this doesn't happen. Heck even some cardboard would do the trick
Not a huge deal but this is why I do prefer mechanical discs for a "travel bike" since you never have to worry about this or getting air trapped.
I would just put a spacer pad in your car or in your saddle bag so this doesn't happen. Heck even some cardboard would do the trick
Not a huge deal but this is why I do prefer mechanical discs for a "travel bike" since you never have to worry about this or getting air trapped.
#43
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: In the south but from North
Posts: 700
Bikes: Turner 5-Spot Burner converted; IBIS Ripley, Specialized Crave, Tommasini Sintesi, Cinelli Superstar, Tommasini X-Fire Gravel
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 406 Post(s)
Liked 389 Times
in
219 Posts
Likes For vespasianus:
#44
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Montreal, Quebec
Posts: 5,925
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1819 Post(s)
Liked 1,693 Times
in
974 Posts
Someone's trying to scare you.
As mentioned by others, Shimano has orange spacers that you can stick between the pads. Shimano also has yellow lever lock thingies that slide in under the levers and keeps both the brakes and the shifters from being actuated. I take long road trips regularly and I use both, though I could probably get away with just the lever block thingies.
I took a screen shot of a video with the lever block - they came with my levers when I built up my bike and I would expect that the shop that you buy from would have a box of 'em laying around if you ask.
As mentioned by others, Shimano has orange spacers that you can stick between the pads. Shimano also has yellow lever lock thingies that slide in under the levers and keeps both the brakes and the shifters from being actuated. I take long road trips regularly and I use both, though I could probably get away with just the lever block thingies.
I took a screen shot of a video with the lever block - they came with my levers when I built up my bike and I would expect that the shop that you buy from would have a box of 'em laying around if you ask.
Likes For alcjphil: