Avid XX Brake Caliper Alignment

[TheV]

Busy building my new bike.

 

Have no experience with XX brakes and it's driving me crazy.

 

I'm using 185mm rotors, my frame is postmount 160.

 

I'm using the XX 160>185 Post-2-Post adapter, bolts and spacers...

 

Problem I'm having is when I tighten the bolts until the the frame, adapter and spacers/washers make first contact then the caliper immediately stops being movable/adjustable or align-able. This makes it impossible to align the caliper with the rotor to stop rub.

 

Any suggestions?

[ThePubSA]

IDK if this will help with xx brakes , but i usually tighten so the caliper not tight, then press brake lever so pads touch rotor, then tighten up while pads engaged.Usually gives the exact amount of clearance.

Hope this makes sense

[patches]

I do something similar to what GrubScrew said.

 

I loosen the mounting bolts slightly (so that they may not even be at first contact). Spin the wheel quite fast, slowly apply the brake untin the wheel stops... then with the brake still firmly engaged, I tighten the mounting bolts.

 

EDIT: Even thouhg the mounting bolts are rather loose when I apply the brake, the brake itself aligns the caliper.

Edited May 16, 2012 by patches

[NINER_boy]

Hi there

 

 

With the caliper loosened, take an elastic band, wrap it around the brake lever and the handlebar, TIGHT, so the brake "pulls".

 

Slowly, with small turns tighten the caliper, slowly...

 

Now, with it close to being tight, remove the elastic band and inspect for rubbing.

If it is still rubbing, push the caliper by hand and re tighten.

 

I know it can be a pain, but keep on trying.

[TheV]

The main problem I have is there is almost no play on the caliper, it's tight, so tight there is no play for alignment.?

[patches]

Simple solution... sell your weight weenie brakes and get ones that won't Kevin-Evan's you!

[NINER_boy]

The main problem I have is there is almost no play on the caliper, it's tight, so tight there is no play for alignment.?

 

That means your brake was pulled with no rotor in between pads.

 

Remove the pads, do the piston push thing, and re fit the pads.

This should sort that issue.

 

You aslo get an Avid bleed block that can squeeze in between the pads and do the necessary piston push, if you have the block.

 

Hope this helps and sorts the issue

[TheV]

Yes, should have put XTR's on... went with XX because I wanted to use matchmakers with shifters.....

[BBN]

Check the pad contact adjuster on the brake lever is all the way out. Use a bleed spacer, the red one, before you fit the caliper to make sure the pads are all the way out before fitting.

 

Might help.

[akneethling]

I found the following with my elixer 5's...... Which are similar..... I Think

 

When you tighten the caliper bolts the caliper actually pushes too deep over the rotor (or the rotor too deep into the caliper-same thing). So its the Vertical alignment that is the issue, and not the lateral alignment (Brake Pad Alignment). I fixed this issue by moving 1 of those spacer washers from between the bolt head and caliper, to between the caliper and adaptor. Thus moving the caliper that 1-2mm away from the frame. This solved my issue, and the contact between the pad and rotor was still great.

Edited May 17, 2012 by akneethling