New boxed bike - brake caliper installation

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MattDB

Über Member
Hi,
I'm very excited to have just bought my first road bike (Felt F95) which arrived part assembled but sadly without instructions. Most of it is straightforward but I'm just putting on the front brake calipers and I just have a query re: washers.

Apologies if this is a ridiculously simple question, I'm just concerned about setting up wrong - but there are 2 washers on the bolt - are these in the correct position already in the attached image i.e. do they both sit at the front of the fork? I assume that the use of 2 washers is just to give it extra clearance?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/okce19ymjv4dphw/2014-08-23 13.05.23.jpg?dl=0

And put on the frame - does this look correct?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/97lv5x814jy4z0m/2014-08-23 13.17.45.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/azm4aeg437whk44/2014-08-23 13.17.54.jpg?dl=0

Then it's time for the open road :smile: (or perhaps Saturday morning traffic)

M
 

Brommyboy

Über Member
Location
Rugby
The curved washers are supposed to fit the rounded section of fork, so one should go each side of the fork for this.
 
Where did you buy it from?

I've bought several bikes via the internet over the years and none have needed me to fit the calipers!

Straighten bars, set saddle and bar height, fit pedals, check tyre pressure and away I went, that was it each and every time.
 

midlife

Guru
Washers don't look curved to me ? shouldn't they go behind the allen key nut and the brake simply sit against the front of the fork?

Shaun
 
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MattDB

Über Member
Thanks for your thoughts. Got it from Merlin Cycles - bit disappointed with lack of instructions.

No, the washers are not curved and it doesn't fit through so it I can't see any way that one can go at the back.

I've just found this:


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgPTrrig-70
which seems fairly similar - just with an extra washer on the front, in the video they do mention using more washers for extra fork clearance - confusing!

Picture of F95 http://www.evanscycles.com/products/felt/f95-2014-road-bike-ec056798 which only shows 1 washer - spare washer perhaps? don't want to break anything!
 

raleighnut

Legendary Member
Looks like the brake manufacturer sells the set to fit multiple cycles and 2 washers may be needed on some of them, but not on others or maybe the bolt bottoms out on the nut without 2 washers. I'd ring the supplier and ask to be honest.
 

Svendo

Guru
Location
Walsden
IIRC the corrugated washer is meant to next to the frame and 'bite' to help prevent rotation of the caliper in use without the need for frame crushing torques. I think you need one at the front, so I'd try that, check the brake blocks clear the frame and the caliper doesn't rotate when you release the brake (which will leave one pad in clear air and the other resting on the wheel.)
 

midlife

Guru
Just had a quick look at my Campag dual pivots and they do indeed have a single washer between the forks and the calliper. Never knew it was there.............learn something new every day :biggrin:

Shaun
 
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MattDB

Über Member
Cheers Shaun - and nothing behind the allen key nut?
 

RebornBumbler

Senior Member
Location
Barnstaple
Mine came with two washers on the front, one on the rear.
I replaced the front calipers with Sora, and removed the extra washer at the time as the extra clearance wasn't really needed.
As long as you can tighten it up...
 
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