The Best Way To Repair Bicycle Disc Brakes

Need To Stop - Make Sure The Brakes Function

You are starting to see these more and more on all new forms of mountain bikes. I am talking about bicycles with disc brakes. Previously the majority of disc brakes were found on more advanced bicycles, however now they're beginning to show up on many more of the budget bikes as well as a result of their unique braking power. Mountain bikes typically encounter some fairly difficult riding conditions and because of the landscape that we operate them in, there is always the unfortunate possibility to damage the brakes. What follows is a discussion of a very simple, yet extremely effective technique to make repairs on your damaged brakes permitting you to get back biking again.

Disc Brakes Are Exposed - This is the Problem

When you actually stop and look at the disc brake setup of a typical bicycle, you will recognize that the disc rotors are not guarded which contributes to them becoming damaged very easily. I found out recently exactly how simple it was to bend one and once the rotor bends, the brakes start to make a serious grinding noise. The typical disc brake functions by making use of 2 brake pads that clamp onto metallic disc attached to your wheel thereby reducing your speed. The housing that encloses your brake pads only has a very slender opening for your rotor to slip in to. Should you bend the metallic rotor, it no longer fits between your brake pads and now begins to rub as it revolves. Since it is now rubbing, you will be cycling as though your brakes were being partially activated.

We can change that quite easily so let's discover how.

Bike Disc Brakes Back To Normal

To begin with you'll want to un-attach the brake housing (which is normally located on your fork). The bolts can be taken off from the housing using an Allen key. Upon detaching the mounting bolts, the brake housing should simply fall free of the fork. Get a plastic zip tie and fasten it to the fork so that the end is protruding towards your rotor (it'll be used as a temporary depth gauge).

With the strip in position, turn your tire in order for the rotor is moving next to the plastic tie strip and look for the gaps to show up. Rotating your tire permits you to assess exactly where on your rotor the bend happens. With the damaged rotor locations identified, utilizing an adjustable wrench, bend the metal rotor steadily back into its correct position.

Carry out a couple of minor adjustments using the wrench and test the rotor clearance yet again using the zip tie. You might want to repeat this bending procedure several times however with persistence, you should be capable of getting your rotor quite straight yet again.

When you are satisfied with your repaired rotor's positioning, then all that remains would be to take off the plastic zip strip, and re-install the mounting bolts which connect your brake housing to your fork. There ought to be minimal, if any, rubbing of the brakes with your rotor.

Take a Ride and Enjoy the Rewards of Your Labor

Now that you have fixed the damaged rotor, proceed out to the paths and give it a try. As you've just found out, this approach is truly uncomplicated and fortunate for you that it is since if you ride your bike routinely, you'll probably need to use it again and again. As you just discovered though, this shouldn't be a concern for you since you know the procedure on what to do now.