Comments on: How to dial-in Avid BB5 mechanical disc brakes http://bluecollarmtb.com/2006/10/30/how-to-dial-in-avid-bb5-mechanical-disc-brakes/ Mountain Bike Reviews, News, Deals and How Tos Fri, 29 Aug 2008 18:06:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Eric http://bluecollarmtb.com/2006/10/30/how-to-dial-in-avid-bb5-mechanical-disc-brakes/#comment-163080 Eric Wed, 30 Jul 2008 22:25:22 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2006/10/30/how-to-dial-in-avid-bb5-mechanical-disc-brakes/#comment-163080 I tried this and it has helped my front brakes, but my back brakes are barely even slowing me down, I don't know what else to try. It seems like it is lined up just like my front one is. But it is like it has no power and it squeeks like a mother. I'm no expert, but just looking at it there seems to be nothing wrong. I have only had this bike for a year so I don't think I would need knew brake pads. Before I took off my back wheel to put the knew tires on it worked perfectly. But, for some reason it isn't working anymore. Plz help I tried this and it has helped my front brakes, but my back brakes are barely even slowing me down, I don’t know what else to try. It seems like it is lined up just like my front one is. But it is like it has no power and it squeeks like a mother. I’m no expert, but just looking at it there seems to be nothing wrong. I have only had this bike for a year so I don’t think I would need knew brake pads. Before I took off my back wheel to put the knew tires on it worked perfectly. But, for some reason it isn’t working anymore. Plz help

]]> By: Chrystal http://bluecollarmtb.com/2006/10/30/how-to-dial-in-avid-bb5-mechanical-disc-brakes/#comment-161104 Chrystal Sun, 22 Jun 2008 06:54:49 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2006/10/30/how-to-dial-in-avid-bb5-mechanical-disc-brakes/#comment-161104 Thanks so much for the tips and the clear pictures. The squeaking in my brakes was driving me crazy and a mechanic said they were just going to be that way. With 3 business cards on the fixed side of the front brake and one business card on the fixed side and one on the adjustable side for the back brake they are now both working with full stopping power and no squeak. My ears thank you! Thanks so much for the tips and the clear pictures. The squeaking in my brakes was driving me crazy and a mechanic said they were just going to be that way. With 3 business cards on the fixed side of the front brake and one business card on the fixed side and one on the adjustable side for the back brake they are now both working with full stopping power and no squeak. My ears thank you!

]]> By: martinjy http://bluecollarmtb.com/2006/10/30/how-to-dial-in-avid-bb5-mechanical-disc-brakes/#comment-160416 martinjy Sat, 07 Jun 2008 02:33:21 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2006/10/30/how-to-dial-in-avid-bb5-mechanical-disc-brakes/#comment-160416 I found these instructions really easy to follow. Thanks heaps for posting them in this way. I found these instructions really easy to follow. Thanks heaps for posting them in this way.

]]> By: scott silvers http://bluecollarmtb.com/2006/10/30/how-to-dial-in-avid-bb5-mechanical-disc-brakes/#comment-155110 scott silvers Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:04:51 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2006/10/30/how-to-dial-in-avid-bb5-mechanical-disc-brakes/#comment-155110 Attention BB5 folks - you can pop off the red cap on the outboard "non-adjustable" pad side of the caliper. This exposes a nut head. This is actually the pad adjuster for the "non-adjustable" pad! I got my trusty dremel out, slapped a thin cutting wheel [wear eye protection pleez], and cut a flat head screwdriver sized notch in the bolt head. This mod turns your BB5 into a fully functional BB7 brake - albeit, the pads are still round, not square like the 7's.....and you also have the benefit of yet another barrel adjuster on the caliper for more cable slack tuning options...... I did this mod years ago for my singlespeed, and it works superbly - no need to up-spend for BB7's if you do this mod. Attention BB5 folks - you can pop off the red cap on the outboard “non-adjustable” pad side of the caliper. This exposes a nut head. This is actually the pad adjuster for the “non-adjustable” pad! I got my trusty dremel out, slapped a thin cutting wheel [wear eye protection pleez], and cut a flat head screwdriver sized notch in the bolt head.

This mod turns your BB5 into a fully functional BB7 brake - albeit, the pads are still round, not square like the 7’s…..and you also have the benefit of yet another barrel adjuster on the caliper for more cable slack tuning options……

I did this mod years ago for my singlespeed, and it works superbly - no need to up-spend for BB7’s if you do this mod.

]]> By: John H http://bluecollarmtb.com/2006/10/30/how-to-dial-in-avid-bb5-mechanical-disc-brakes/#comment-154580 John H Thu, 17 Apr 2008 00:36:07 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2006/10/30/how-to-dial-in-avid-bb5-mechanical-disc-brakes/#comment-154580 This was a big help. Thanks for the super easy fix. It really suck when the bike shop can't even do something that easy. Thanks again This was a big help. Thanks for the super easy fix. It really suck when the bike shop can’t even do something that easy.
Thanks again

]]> By: Adi http://bluecollarmtb.com/2006/10/30/how-to-dial-in-avid-bb5-mechanical-disc-brakes/#comment-149332 Adi Thu, 28 Feb 2008 08:59:20 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2006/10/30/how-to-dial-in-avid-bb5-mechanical-disc-brakes/#comment-149332 Fantastic! I had my mechanical breaks stollen. Just replaced these with Avid BB5's, and they were not fitted well at the store. They've been making a lot of noise. I've never done this type of fix before. Just applied the changes you described - took less than 5 minutes, and the bike is now very smooth - like new - and the breaks are strong. Good tips and clearly described. Cheers, Adi (London, England) Fantastic! I had my mechanical breaks stollen. Just replaced these with Avid BB5’s, and they were not fitted well at the store. They’ve been making a lot of noise.

I’ve never done this type of fix before. Just applied the changes you described - took less than 5 minutes, and the bike is now very smooth - like new - and the breaks are strong.
Good tips and clearly described.

Cheers,

Adi (London, England)

]]> By: Dan N http://bluecollarmtb.com/2006/10/30/how-to-dial-in-avid-bb5-mechanical-disc-brakes/#comment-146613 Dan N Mon, 11 Feb 2008 01:47:15 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2006/10/30/how-to-dial-in-avid-bb5-mechanical-disc-brakes/#comment-146613 Excellent!!! I have an 08 RockHopper with BB5's and I had NEVER been satisfied with the front brake's performance (never stopped well, heading down a hill, gripping the brake lever full force would still only bring me to a stop slowly and really squeaked). Of course, the rear just skids if I'm not careful. I've had it into the shop several times with the tech telling me there was nothing wrong he could see (but he never actually rode it to try). Your above instructions took me (a bike beginner) less than five minutes, armed only with a 5mm Allen wrench and a sacrificial business card. This bike stops flawlessly now. I almost went over the bars the first time--it's going to take some getting used to. Thanks! Excellent!!!

I have an 08 RockHopper with BB5’s and I had NEVER been satisfied with the front brake’s performance (never stopped well, heading down a hill, gripping the brake lever full force would still only bring me to a stop slowly and really squeaked). Of course, the rear just skids if I’m not careful.

I’ve had it into the shop several times with the tech telling me there was nothing wrong he could see (but he never actually rode it to try).

Your above instructions took me (a bike beginner) less than five minutes, armed only with a 5mm Allen wrench and a sacrificial business card. This bike stops flawlessly now. I almost went over the bars the first time–it’s going to take some getting used to.

Thanks!

]]> By: Scott http://bluecollarmtb.com/2006/10/30/how-to-dial-in-avid-bb5-mechanical-disc-brakes/#comment-141637 Scott Sat, 12 Jan 2008 06:13:27 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2006/10/30/how-to-dial-in-avid-bb5-mechanical-disc-brakes/#comment-141637 Great tip! Worked flawlessly. Saved me a trip to the bike shop to perfectly dial in teh brakes. Thanks. Great tip! Worked flawlessly. Saved me a trip to the bike shop to perfectly dial in teh brakes. Thanks.

]]> By: nato http://bluecollarmtb.com/2006/10/30/how-to-dial-in-avid-bb5-mechanical-disc-brakes/#comment-138206 nato Fri, 21 Dec 2007 22:34:13 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2006/10/30/how-to-dial-in-avid-bb5-mechanical-disc-brakes/#comment-138206 Don't leave the "torque arm" all the way out. the brakes will feel spongy. I choke up on mine quite a bit. Basically, at the point of maximum braking, you want the cable to be pulling relatively straight. the way it's set up in the pictures is pretty much perfect. I've dealt more with the Bb7s, which IMO are a better brake only because the throw of the caliper arm is what makes it feel like crap, or what makes it feel as good as hydraulic brakes. Being able to adjust the throw and the pad positions independently, you can dial them in to feeling as good or better than much more expensive brakes. Don’t leave the “torque arm” all the way out. the brakes will feel spongy. I choke up on mine quite a bit.

Basically, at the point of maximum braking, you want the cable to be pulling relatively straight. the way it’s set up in the pictures is pretty much perfect.

I’ve dealt more with the Bb7s, which IMO are a better brake only because the throw of the caliper arm is what makes it feel like crap, or what makes it feel as good as hydraulic brakes. Being able to adjust the throw and the pad positions independently, you can dial them in to feeling as good or better than much more expensive brakes.

]]> By: Tydog http://bluecollarmtb.com/2006/10/30/how-to-dial-in-avid-bb5-mechanical-disc-brakes/#comment-119410 Tydog Mon, 08 Oct 2007 05:26:43 +0000 http://bluecollarmtb.com/2006/10/30/how-to-dial-in-avid-bb5-mechanical-disc-brakes/#comment-119410 One thing I noticed from the SRAM instructions compared to yours is that SRAM says several times to make sure the torque arm(I assume they are speaking of the break actuator arm the brake cable is connected to) is all the way out until you need to adjust it for pad wear. From your pic's I see the the torque arm is not all the way out. I found that I could not ge enough adjustment in the brake until I moved the torque arm close to the barrel adjuster and then tightened the brake cable. That is also what it looks like in your pic. Any comments? One thing I noticed from the SRAM instructions compared to yours is that SRAM says several times to make sure the torque arm(I assume they are speaking of the break actuator arm the brake cable is connected to) is all the way out until you need to adjust it for pad wear. From your pic’s I see the the torque arm is not all the way out. I found that I could not ge enough adjustment in the brake until I moved the torque arm close to the barrel adjuster and then tightened the brake cable. That is also what it looks like in your pic. Any comments?

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