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Chinese Carbon Road Bikes => Road Bike Frames, Wheels & Components => Topic started by: electrolux on June 29, 2023, 01:33:44 PM

Title: VeloBuild major issue
Post by: electrolux on June 29, 2023, 01:33:44 PM
Hi all,

I recently started building my Velobuild GF-002 frame and have ran into a major issue with the rear brake mount. The top faces of these appear to be unmachined and are not level.

This means my 140mm rotor rubs directly on the caliper housing and the rear wheel is seized. No amount of 'hold the brake while torqueing the bolts' prevents this.

I have measured the angle the best I can and it seems to be around 3 degrees off.

To verify I added some shims (knife blades) which allowed the caliper to remain level when torqued down. This solved the rubbing and the wheel spins freely.

Am I correct in my diagnosis? Any suggestions?

Grateful for any help.
Title: Re: VeloBuild major issue
Post by: jefflinde on June 29, 2023, 03:27:06 PM
I have had this on frames a few times.  You can manually file them flat or take it to bike shop and they can face the mounting holes.  Usually $20-$40.  Then just use some m4 or m5 washers between the caliper and the frame to build up the distance to clear the rotor.  The facing can also be done by hand if you want.  Pretty easy fix either way. 
Title: Re: VeloBuild major issue
Post by: jonathanf2 on June 29, 2023, 03:31:33 PM
GRX hydro calipers already have very little leeway when it comes to alignment. You can try shims on the disc rotors or possibly use thin washers on the brake caliper mount. A somewhat ghetto solution is not to fully tighten one of the screws on your brake calipers. This will give it a bit of leeway and once the pads start to wear in, you can tighten later on.
Title: Re: VeloBuild major issue
Post by: coffeebreak on June 29, 2023, 04:07:19 PM
GRX hydro calipers already have very little leeway when it comes to alignment.

GRX 400 series calipers are the worst in this regard.
Title: Re: VeloBuild major issue
Post by: mattgolt on June 30, 2023, 03:28:55 AM
You are most likely correct in your findings. Many of us had this problem, me included (on a vb-218). However, 3° is very very excessive.

I had approximately 1.5° misalignment on the rear brake
My solution was: I got post-mount brake calipers and aluminium adapters. I then machined down the adapters to compensate for the misalignment. But you need a mill for that..  ;)

Next cheap Chinese frame I buy will have rim brakes. Or I buy that hilariously expensive facing tool from parktool and rent it to people with the same problem
 

Title: Re: VeloBuild major issue
Post by: electrolux on June 30, 2023, 02:47:09 PM
Thank you everyone for the replies. More helpful than Velobuild who haven't replied!

I will take it to a local bike shop and have them face the mount.

I did try some cup and cone washers, they allowed clearance but the caliper sits quite high which reduces contact with the pads.
Title: Re: VeloBuild major issue
Post by: Liter on July 03, 2023, 09:35:52 AM
Thank you everyone for the replies. More helpful than Velobuild who haven't replied!

I will take it to a local bike shop and have them face the mount.

I did try some cup and cone washers, they allowed clearance but the caliper sits quite high which reduces contact with the pads.

had this on one of their forks, they actually shipped a second fork and had the same issue, mechanic had to make new holes use helicoil
Title: Re: VeloBuild major issue
Post by: hazzer19 on July 04, 2023, 03:21:52 PM
Thank you everyone for the replies. More helpful than Velobuild who haven't replied!

I will take it to a local bike shop and have them face the mount.

I did try some cup and cone washers, they allowed clearance but the caliper sits quite high which reduces contact with the pads.


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