Learn to replace your hydraulic or mechanical disc brake pads on your QuietKat
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Tools Needed:
- For mechanical disk brakes: 5mm wrench
- For hydraulic disk brakes: Skip the cable removal step, use the 5mm wrench to move the caliper.
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Removing Caliper:
- For hydraulic brakes, loosen the two bolts mounting the caliper to the adapter.
- For mechanical brakes, remove the cable from the mechanical arm, then loosen the two bolts mounting the caliper to the adapter.
- Leave the adapter mounted to the frame, only remove the caliper.
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Accessing Brake Pads:
- Locate and remove the retaining pin or screw from the caliper to access the brake pads.
- Carefully push the brake pads out of the caliper and discard.
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Replacing Brake Pads:
- A new set of brake pads typically includes two pads and an alligator clip and can be purchased online here.
- Use the alligator clip to attach new pads, being careful not to touch the pads directly with your bare hands.
- Slide pads into the caliper using the alligator clip.
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Reassembling:
- Replace the retaining pin or screw.
- For mechanical brakes, adjust the backside pad using a 5mm wrench. Back the pad off all the way until the pad impacts the inner part of the caliper so you have the maximum distance to mount the caliper over the rotor before fine tuning.
- Reattach the caliper to the adapter on the frame, aligning bolts with the adapter.
- Tighten the bolts so they are snug, but don't tighten fully.
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Adjusting Caliper:
- Stand behind the bike and align the inner pad with the rotor for mechanical disc brakes, or align the rotor right between pads for hydraulic brakes.
- Tighten up the caliper a bit and check for any rubbing.
- Fine-tune by adjusting bolts to create enough clearance between pads and rotor.
- Adjust inner pad using a 5mm Allen wrench until desired position is achieved.
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Cable Reattachment (For Mechanical Brakes):
- Ensure housing and cable are lined up.
- Insert the cable through the arm and clamp, tightening appropriately.
- Perform a lever test to check the brake performance.
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Fine-Tuning:
- Adjust tension to ensure the lever engages at the desired point.
- Perform back-and-forth adjustments until optimal brake performance is achieved.
Following these steps will help you effectively replace the brake pads on your QuietKat bike, ensuring safe and reliable braking performance.