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• #2
Sounds like the bolt is for a rear brake (they are shorter for the rear) - try any local bike shop, they might have a few spares hanging around.
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• #3
Ahh yes, now you mention it, the brake is actually a rear. I was on a bit of a budged and thaught, "ok im sure it would be fine!" (as you do) forgetting the difference in thread length.
Although some guy on ebay sells 25mm length replacements which should enable me to use a rear brake up front Link.
Just to check, the thread for a front brake is still the same for a rear? - i/e an M6 thread??
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• #4
Just to check, the thread for a front brake is still the same for a rear? - i/e an M6 thread??
Yep, same thread, just different length.
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• #5
The bolt shouldn't go through the back. You should use a recessed nut that goes into the fork.
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• #6
The bolt shouldn't go through the back. You should use a recessed nut that goes into the fork.
yup, i lost one of them @ HH on the track day. if anyone has any spares, i am still looking for one?
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• #7
I found that one that I thought I had. It's in my pocket now if you want it mate?
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• #8
I found that one that I thought I had. It's in my pocket now if you want it mate?
that would be awesome.
are you coming to any drinks this week?
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• #9
Probably not, pm your address and I'll stick it in the post.
There is one small thing though. They come in all sorts of lengths and this one is only short (10mm maybe) can you remember how long your last one was?
I managed to get another one from Evans, dude just looked in the workshop and charged me a quid.
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• #10
i have a long spare one if you need it mash, can trade it for my light.
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• #11
The bolt shouldn't go through the back. You should use a recessed nut that goes into the fork.
Ahh yeah, my mistake, I did mean nut (on another planet), I think the standard one was 10mm, but to compensate for the extra thickness of the fork bridge, Ive now ordered a 25mm one.
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• #12
Yeah I had the same issue when I upgraded to the light Cannondale road fork, had to use 30mm for that (I believe Cannondale use a 27mm)
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• #13
Yeah I had the same issue when I upgraded to the light Cannondale road fork, had to use 30mm for that (I believe Cannondale use a 27mm)
Oh, although my fork dates from around the mid 80's, I think it was simply that I was trying to use a rear brake which has a shorter thread, than due to the width of the fork crown, as it seems very similar to the size of some of my other road forks, unlike the much wider designs manufactured today.
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• #14
Hi,
Wondering if I can ask some more advice.
Basically the bolt on the brake caliper seems to be too short for the forks. You can see the bolt just reaches to the inside of the far hole.
The forks are Reynolds 531 from the 80s. The calipers are beautiful looking Campagnolo Athena monoplanars.
Now I've done a bit of reading and it seems it's normal for the bolt to be short since the recessed nut you can see in the pic will reach through and grasp the bolt.
The problem is for this to happen the recessed nut must be able to push through the hole on the rear side of the forks but it's too big on mine. According to Sheldon with forks that expect a recessed nut bolt setup, the rear brake mounting hole should be wider than the front, on mine it isn't, they're both the same width which says to me mine might not be mean't for a recessed bolt setup but instead for something else.
So knowing nothing about brake caliper standards and their history and how they've changed over time I'm wondering what the best way forward is. I could drill out the rear hole to 8mm so the recessed bolt will go through but that's a one way thing and if I encounter issues down the line I'll have fucked up my forks since they'll be no going back.
Alternatively I could try to source a caliper that will fit but I have no idea what I'm looking for since calipers adverts never say the bolt length.
Anyone any good advice, is drilling the way to go or is this a bad idea?
Also the gap between the front of the fork and the back of the brake caliper seems really big, it's 15mm is that normal!? Or maybe there is something wrong with these calipers? confused
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• #15
Pic don't work, but are you sure it isn't a rear brake (with a shorter bolt) you're trying to fit?
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• #16
You could either swap the caliper bolt for a longer one, or drill out the fork a bit to allow the nut to fit deeper.
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• #17
Well I'm thinking drilling would be the way to go for compatibility with current brakes, it's just I am a bit scared.
If drilling is normal practice then I'll give it a go, I'm just worried about doing the wrong thing is all. Lots of pitfalls with this fixed build lark it seems and I've already been bitten a few times, can't really undrill once I've done it.
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• #18
How much room is there? You might be able to take out that spacer (not the plastic one) and still have enough room for the calipers to clear the fork legs?
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• #19
Not sure you can, that return spring wire bit runs through a hole drilled into that spacer (the one with the circular groove), it also prevents the fork touching the spring, it seems integral to the working.
I'll could go ahead and drill if that's the norm, it's just I don't know what the 'norm' is with these things if you see what I mean.
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• #20
I had the same problem.
Sorted it out by drilling, aslong as you have access to a vice its definatly fine to do.
get a drill, put an 8mm drill bit on it, wack it into a vice, keep spraying gt85 onto it as your drilling to keep it lubricated. make sure you drill perfectly straight!
since its thick steel use alot of pressure and go nice and slowly with the drill.
I asked the guys at work (bike shop) about it first, and yeah its common practise. -
• #21
Not sure you can, that return spring wire bit runs through a hole drilled into that spacer (the one with the circular groove), it also prevents the fork touching the spring, it seems integral to the working.
I'll could go ahead and drill if that's the norm, it's just I don't know what the 'norm' is with these things if you see what I mean.
Ah, I thought that might have been two pieces. Look again methinks you'd best leave it alone :)
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• #22
Thanks all, will give it a bash later.
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• #23
This is the exact problem I've had with my new bike. I was hoping I didn't need to drill. Especially since I have no facilities for this at all. Anyone done this before and don't mind helping me out?
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• #24
i've got a couple long bolts if anyone needs them
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• #25
I was offered a long bolt earlier today by P!MP but taking the caliper apart and then rebuilding it seems like a fairly complicated affair.
At the mo im building myself a budget fixed wheel bike, although after recieving a cheepo tektro front brake this morning, the bolt is about 8mm too short, therefore wont bolt throuhg the hole on my cannondale track fork.
Is it possible to buy replacments anywhere, or does anyone have a spare knocking about anywhere??