Tagged Questions

3
votes
2answers
49 views

Concerns with different brake types for the front and the rear wheel

I'm considering adding a disc fork to my surly cross check and using some avid bb7 road brakes for the front. I've got tektro road levers on drop bars (outfitted with retroshift shifters) I've got ...
3
votes
1answer
44 views

What is lever throw and cable slack?

In a guide for adjusting Avid BB7 mechanical road disc brakes, it said: Only use the barrel adjuster at the brake lever to adjust for cable slack. For lever throw, use the outboard adjustment ...
8
votes
7answers
633 views

Is having your hands “on the hoods” of drop handlebars safe for braking?

I've never had a bike with drop handlebars, but may get one for commuting in busy London (likely a single-speed with mechanical disc brakes). This would mean riding with my hands mostly on the hoods, ...
7
votes
2answers
760 views

Why are single-speed bikes with disc brakes hard to find?

I've been looking around for bikes (decent frame & components), and find that hybrids do have disc brakes (hydraulic), but are never single-speed. While single-speed bikes typically have ...
3
votes
2answers
218 views

How do I align my front brake disk with the caliper?

I have manual Avid disc brakes. I took my front wheel off like I've done hundreds of times. When I put it back on the wheel is aligned properly with my fork, but the disc presses against one of the ...
4
votes
2answers
317 views

Rear hydraulic disc sticking

My 2012 Model Scott Sub 10 has recently been experiencing issues with the rear disc sticking on my daily commute and getting so bad that I have to stop, wait for it to cool and then push the disc a ...
6
votes
2answers
383 views

How to prevent my disc brakes from locking/sticking due to debris?

Context: I have a commuter/crossover bike with disc brakes, and a daily commute of ~20km. I upgraded to a bike with disc brakes after standard caliper brakes kept losing their stick and requiring pad ...
2
votes
1answer
254 views

How do to determine if an adapter is needed for disc brakes and rotors?

I have an old older (not too old) bike that already has disc brakes, but I would like to replace them with a totally new set and new rotors. How can I determine if a given replacement (caliper and ...
3
votes
3answers
575 views

could I mount a different manufacturer brand rotor to use with my brakes?

I've a tektro draco hydraulic brakes on my mtb and I would like to know if it is possible to mount a different brand rotor to use with my brakes?
1
vote
1answer
169 views

Do I need better “springs” on my disc brakes?

After 20 years commuting on old/cheap bikes, I finally evolved up to a nice solid touring rig with cable disc brakes (Avid BB5). I love the bike and the brakes. They're much easier to maintain, ...
2
votes
1answer
4k views

How to adjust Avid Elixir 1 hydraulic disc brakes?

I have a Trek X-Caliber and the rear disc is rubbing a little. So I want to adjust the brakes so it doesn't rub and make things a bit easier of course. I see many videos about brake adjustment but ...
1
vote
1answer
979 views

Adding disc brake to Trek 7.1 FX

I'm seeking advice on how to install disc brakes on the Trek 7.1 FX. Does the Trek 7.1 FX have the mount for installing disc brakes? Which disc brake option is better to go for, mechanical or ...
3
votes
2answers
681 views

Disc brake pads - steel vs aluminium back plate

I am looking at a set of Organic Disc brake pads. The brake pads come with a steel back plate or as an aluminium back plate. Why would I choose one over the other?
4
votes
5answers
4k views

Why do my disk brakes squeal when wet?

Picture the scene... It's just been raining and you are getting ready to commute home after work, you cycle out on to the tarmac and as you do so, you notice a bunch of pedestrians push the button on ...
6
votes
3answers
1k views

Is it worth switching from regular “rim brakes” to the new disk brakes?

I have an old Haro mountain bike I love. One feature request I have for a new bike is disk brakes. Is it possible to install disk brakes on an old bike? Is it worth it?
6
votes
5answers
1k views

How do I prevent my hydraulic brakes from getting pressed/damaged when the wheels are off?

When I was buying my bike, the technician in the shop told me not to press the brakes when the wheels are off (detached), otherwise the brakes will get damaged (I don't know how). I need to detach ...
6
votes
5answers
8k views

How often should disk brakes need bleeding?

The brake handles for my disk brakes became very loose four months after I bought the bike. The bike shop bled the brakes and put new oil in them, which sorted it. They're feeling a bit loose again ...
0
votes
1answer
1k views

How do I fix sticking/tight hydraulic brake calipers?

I took my wheel off my front forks to repair a puncture. I had the bike upside down when I removed the wheel. When I came to replace the wheel back into the fork slots, the hydraulic disk calipers ...
8
votes
5answers
904 views

Weight of disc brakes

People say (for example here) that disc brakes are relatively heavy, giving this as a reason for not using them. How much heavier than rim brakes are disc brakes? Is the extra heaviness in the ...
0
votes
2answers
763 views

Are the rear brake mounts on my Boardman Team HT post-mount or IS?

Boardman Team HT Last weekend I broke the rear brake lever in a crash. I'm looking for a replacement brake disc kit for the rear brake, but I don't know what kind of mounting I've got. There seem to ...
27
votes
12answers
7k views

What is the practical advantage of disk brakes over rim brakes?

Disk brakes are becomming more popular on bikes now, and I was just wondering what the advantage is of this type of brake over the older rim brakes.
5
votes
3answers
917 views

Disk brake has never worked properly from new, pads replaced - still rubbish!

I've got Shimano hydraulic disc brakes and ever since I've had the bike (from new) the front brake has never worked properly. It used to squeak really loudly and perform badly but I assumed they just ...
7
votes
3answers
7k views

Disc brakes squeak on Trek mountain bike

I have a Trek 3900 mountain bike with disc brakes, and I just took it out of winter storage to start riding it for the season. Everything works well, except for one very annoying problem: when I stop ...
54
votes
13answers
7k views

Why don't road bikes have disc brakes?

Window shopping for road bikes, can't see many that have disc brakes, any reason for this?
4
votes
1answer
2k views

How do I get rid of the noise on my Hayes Stroker Trail brakes

I recently bought a new bike that came with Hayes Stroker Trail hydraulic brakes. From day one they were squeeky and not very grippy. I wrote it off to the burn in period that most disc brakes ...
5
votes
1answer
6k views

How do I bleed Avid Elixir brakes

My bike has a set of Avid Elixir R hydraulic brakes. The front brake barely goes on when I pull the lever and the back brake feels pretty soft. I think I need to bleed them. How do I go about doing ...
7
votes
1answer
437 views

How do I change my disc brake pads?

How do I change my disc-brake pads? How do I avoid letting the fluid out?
8
votes
2answers
718 views

When to change disk brake pads

I was wondering how to tell when your disk brake pads need replacing. My front seems to be not stopping as quickly as it used to, or as I would like. I know this could be road grime build up, but I ...
8
votes
2answers
5k views

Hydraulic Disc Brakes Maintenance

I have Hayes Nine hydraulic disc brakes on my mountain bike. I have recently replaced the brake pads and after that it seems that the pads are almost touching the rotor. How can I adjust it? I have ...
12
votes
3answers
1k views

How do I prevent disk brakes from squeaking in the rain?

When I got my new bike with disk brakes, I thought that they would perform much better in the rain. While this is true, they still squeak quite loud in wet conditions, which is quite annoying. Is ...