Installing Your Front Wheel
November 14th, 2007 by Arleigh JenkinsA few tips when installing your front wheel.
- Never touch your rotor if you have disc brakes! I install my front quick release from the drive side for this reason.
- Watch your rotor go through the caliper. It is easy to damage your brake pads by stabbing the rotor edge into the pad.
- Spin your wheel to make sure it is straight in the fork and isn’t rubbing your brakes.
- Double check your quick release. Is it tight? Are you sure?!
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got any suggestions for someone who has “friends” that squeeze your hydraulic brakes while the wheels are out so then I can mount my wheels again cause the pads are squeezed together? what do i do?
you can get the spacers that hayes and avid use to ship their brakes in their original packaging: they are plastic pieces that wedge in between the pads.
ask your LBS if they have any left over, they should
yea but my “friends” stole them for their bikes… so how do i open the calipers? I heard I can use a flat head screw driver??? I dont want to damage my brakes tho.
Use a flat head that you have cleaned off with rubbing alcohol or something so you don’t contaminate the pads. Carefully pry the pads back open with out stabbing into the surface.
Hope that helps!
butter knife works well
I would use something slightly thicker than your rotor (preferably a piece of plastic) to wedge in there. Just make sure it is smooth/tapered on the end you are first inserting in between the pads….I have slightly damaged the brake pads using screwdrivers/metal/sharper objects and although I didn’t notice much performance loss, I am sure its not good for their longevity. A piece of stiff cardboard folded and doubled up with the folded end inserted first seems like it might do the trick.
The first company to incorporate a lever lock for hydro levers is going to make a fortune! I saw a guy who made a brace out of red plastic. It looked a little like a bubble-blowing wand. It was all from flat sheet, and he made it so there was a ring on one end that hooked around the end of the lever and wouldn’t fall off, then a shaft went up to a half-moon that wedged against the grip and stuck tight. Smart idea! Probably took 15 minutes to make.
The best way to prevent this in the future is to punch your “friends” in the ‘nads next time they mess with your hydros. While their jewels are starting to swell, remember to tell them that you were just “jokin’ around.”
avid levers pop out so u cant squeeze them by accident
wow, very helpful! I think my friends were punishing me for being a non-technical guy who just loves to ride.
1st thing i will do is pry those calipers open with a flat head and then I wild kick my friends in the nads.
thanks everyone.