Quest 559 brake adjustment

[Jasae]

Have any of you new Quest 559 owners had any difficulty adjusting the brakes? I downloaded the brake info and tried to follow the directions. But, I am still am having a hard time getting them adjusted correctly.

I have ridden three times now and only one small wreck on the first day. The 559 is fun to ride, but it will be a while before I am ready to get on the roads.

Ed - Kansas

 

[MurrayF]

Hi Ed - I too am having trouble with the fine adjustments of my brakes. It's the one job that I've not been able to get right - it's flagged in my Cruzbike file with a big yellow post-it note (hoping that some vital information I've missed is going to leap out and help me).

I suspect that the rear rotor isn't running true and found this link that may assist.
http://www.utahmountainbiking.com/fix/diskrotr.htm

Or you may find this YouTube clip of some assistance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dkp2WFjuqYg

From this site http://www.helium.com/items/1288382-adjusting-bicycle-brakes
I found this information very helpful in getting the brake centred over the rotor.

Quote: When setting up a disc brake the easiest way to adjust it is typically as follows:
a. tighten in the outboard pad as much as possible
b. then loosen the caliper mounting bolts.
c. Squeeze and hold the brake lever
d. Tighten the caliper mounting bolts
e. Back out the outboard pad until it stops rubbing the disc.

Let me know how you go. Anyone else have advice?

Cheers

Murray
PS. You're right... it is fun to ride

 

[Nanda H.]

Some times disc rotors need to be trued..and you can do it by hand. Just find the high spot, rotate the rotor till it's 180deg. from the caliper and grab the neighboring spokes and pull the edge of the rotor towards them, no fancy tools required. It takes a little practice but works like a charm.

Avid mechanical brakes are a touch easier to setup with their handy red knobs, but with the Tektro's you can loosen the mounting/centering bolts and then rotate the actuator arm firming pressing the pads against the rotor and simultaneously tighten the bolts again. You are looking for about 1/3rd of a mm from the top on either side of the rotor...and putting a white piece of paper on the ground makes seeing this gap easier. I will also just fully loosen the top or the bottom bolt at a time and barely nudge it into position while leaving the other snug so it doesn't loose it's position. This lets you work on them a little easier without wanting to wack something with massive force.

 

[Jasae]

I ended up taking the 559 to a LBS and the mechanic could not get the brakes adjusted correctly either. He tried several things while I was watching and none of them worked correctly. The mechanic recommended different brake levers. I'm trying to figure out if I am getting taken or not. In the past, I've always been pleased with their work.

It is fun learning to ride the Quest but I would like to be able to stop when needed.
Thanks again for any ideas.
Ed - Kansas

 

[John Tolhurst]

Just to be clear, there is no issue with stopping, there is only an issue with the disk glancing the pads. Litigious propensities in the U.S. you know.

 

[John Tolhurst]

Re: RE: Quest 559 brake adjustment

MurrayF wrote: Hi Ed - I too am having trouble with the fine adjustments of my brakes. It's the one job that I've not been able to get right - it's flagged in my Cruzbike file with a big yellow post-it note (hoping that some vital information I've missed is going to leap out and help me).

I suspect that the rear rotor isn't running true and found this link that may assist.
http://www.utahmountainbiking.com/fix/diskrotr.htm

A warped disk ... very unlikely I think, but one not mounted perfectly concentrically, a possibility.

MurrayF wrote:
Or you may find this YouTube clip of some assistance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dkp2WFjuqYg

Yes, that's what I have been doing.

MurrayF wrote:
From this site http://www.helium.com/items/1288382-adjusting-bicycle-brakes
I found this information very helpful in getting the brake centred over the rotor.

Quote: When setting up a disc brake the easiest way to adjust it is typically as follows:
a. tighten in the outboard pad as much as possible
b. then loosen the caliper mounting bolts.
c. Squeeze and hold the brake lever
d. Tighten the caliper mounting bolts
e. Back out the outboard pad until it stops rubbing the disc.

Let me know how you go. Anyone else have advice?

Cheers

Murray
PS. You're right... it is fun to ride

 

[MurrayF]

Thanks John - yes, I stop (very well, I might add). But it's a very noisey ride at the moment.
Less noise than before I started adjusting but still annoying!

 

[John Zabriskie]

I installed a pair of Avid BB-5s calipers & adapters on my Q559, since the rotors were running pretty true. This eliminated all the brake drag / adjustment difficulties I was having with the OE calipers.

I put a .080' [2mm] flat washer on the rear axle between the bearing collar clamp & the inner dropout. This spaces the hub & rotor away from the caliper a bit more & made it easier to center & run noiselessly.

If you have additional questions or want to discuss this further, please contact me <cruzbike@cableone.net> or 208-757-9339.