How to Install Bike Disc Brakes
Serious mountain bikers know that strong, reliable brakes are an essential component of a good bike. Of the many brake types available for bikes, disc brakes perform the best and require the least maintenance. Disc brakes come stock on many newer, high-end bikes. Other models can often be upgraded to disc brakes, but upgrading is not always an option. Before investing in a new set of brakes, ensure that your bike frame, fork and wheel hubs are disc brake compatible.
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Instructions
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Instructions
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1
Mount the brake rotors onto the non-drive side of both the front and rear hubs. Place the rotors according to the arrows etched into the surface, which indicate the proper spinning direction. Ensure that blue lock-tite is on each bolt. Tighten each of the six the bolts to 40 to 60 foot pounds of torque with the wrench.
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2
Install the front and the rear brake levers on the handlebars, between the grips and the gear shifters, using an Allen wrench. The brake levers should be firmly in place, but still moveable when great force is applied, so that in the case of a crash the levers twist back rather than breaking off.
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3
Route the front brake cable down to the calliper mount on the fork and the rear brake cable to the calliper mount on the frame. Cinch the brake line to the frame where appropriate using zip ties. Allow enough loose cable between the brake levers and the first cinch on the frame for unobstructed steering.
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4
Bolt the callipers to the frame via the appropriate brake mount adapter. The adapter must match both the frame mounts, either post or international standard (IS), and the rotor diameter, 140mm, 160mm, 180mm, 183mm, 185mm or 203mm. Refer to the manuals of both your bike and the disc brakes for adapter specifics. Tighten the two bolts to between 80 and 100 foot pounds of torque using a 5mm Allen wrench
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References
- Photo Credit Wheel and Cog image by pg003 from Fotolia.com
