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Quick release brakes

plowmarplowmar Posts: 1,032
edited February 2010 in Workshop
On the brake units of both my Biancchi and my Giant SCR 1 there are little levers on the front and rear brakes.

On turning the lever the brake blocks move away from the wheel rim on the Biancchl but towards it on the Giant.

Which, if either, is correct, and how do I correct the one that is wrong?

( The Giant's have always worked that way so possibly not something sticking, but what do I know.)

Posts

  • John.TJohn.T Posts: 3,698
    Just leave the levers in the closest setting. Shimano QRs face down in the normal position but others may vary.
    My Fleet.
  • plowmarplowmar Posts: 1,032
    Thanks John T.

    But as the levers are able to move, why do they is it just so that it is easier to take off and put on the wheels? If so the Giant ones would appear to hinder rather than help.

    When riding either bike the levers are in a vertical position.
  • balthazarbalthazar Posts: 1,565
    It's to clear the tyres which are usually wider than the rims, for removing and fitting wheels as you say. Whichever way the lever points, use the brakes at the closest setting, as John said. Then open them to take your wheel off.
  • sovedasoveda Posts: 306
    plowmar wrote:
    Thanks John T.

    But as the levers are able to move, why do they is it just so that it is easier to take off and put on the wheels? If so the Giant ones would appear to hinder rather than help.

    When riding either bike the levers are in a vertical position.

    As John T says, the lever should be left in the position that the pads are closest to the wheel. If your Giant's brakes are adjusted so that you can't use them unless the lever is slackened off then it sounds like your brakes aren't properly adjusted!
  • plowmarplowmar Posts: 1,032
    Aaaah right, misunderstood the posting from John T.

    Even so why do the levers appear to have to be in different positions to bring the blocks closest to the rims - both bikes have 105 components but two years apart.
  • keef66keef66 Posts: 13,123
    maybe they redesigned them at some point, perhaps to reduce the chances of releasing them accidentally while riding?
  • Barrie_GBarrie_G Posts: 479
    plowmar wrote:
    Aaaah right, misunderstood the posting from John T.

    Even so why do the levers appear to have to be in different positions to bring the blocks closest to the rims - both bikes have 105 components but two years apart.

    is it not possible to dismantle / re-assemble them so that the cam is working in the same way on both sets of brakes?
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