Sport Brake Adjustment - Rubbing with rotation

spearfish25 · 07-23-2009, 03:09 PM

I've been pondering why my gas mileage is somewhat less than others have been posting. Then I got my jack stands and floor jack today so I could do home oil changes. Upon jacking up the front of the car, I found that both front wheels rub the brake calipers when I free spin the wheels.

How do I adjust the Akebono sport calipers so the pads don't rub the rotors (when the brakes aren't being applied)? Anyone have some tips? My mountain bike is easy enough to adjust...I'm hoping the car is similar. Maybe my gas mileage will improve.

Modshack · 07-23-2009, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spearfish25

I've been pondering why my gas mileage is somewhat less than others have been posting. Then I got my jack stands and floor jack today so I could do home oil changes. Upon jacking up the front of the car, I found that both front wheels rub the brake calipers when I free spin the wheels.

How do I adjust the Akebono sport calipers so the pads don't rub the rotors (when the brakes aren't being applied)? Anyone have some tips? My mountain bike is easy enough to adjust...I'm hoping the car is similar. Maybe my gas mileage will improve.

There is no way to adjust this...and actually it's not that unusual.. The pads will retract slightly but there may always be slight contact..

wstar · 07-23-2009, 03:17 PM

Yeah that's just how disc brakes work. There's never really a gap between the rotor and pads under normal conditions. The pressure backs off, and sometimes cornering can knock one or both pads away from the rotor temporarily, but you really don't want that to happen ideally.

spearfish25 · 07-23-2009, 03:17 PM

Hmmm, scheisse. It seems like there is quite a bit of resistance from the rubbing. I suppose I should just sign up for the Autocross event this week at our local track and wear off some of the brake pads then...

Really interesting to hear there is no way to make small adjustments to each pad though. Perhaps bicycles have the ability to adjust this since a rider can easily feel the resistance of a rubbing brake pad. With people so nuts about shaving 5 or 10 lbs off their car's weight, or adding 5-10hp in mods...you'd think people would be all over the resistance of rubbing disc brakes.

wstar · 07-23-2009, 03:42 PM

The brakes self-adjust constantly while you're using the brakes, that's how they remain correctly-situated as the pad wears down. That also means burning them down a bit at an auto-x isn't going to change how they fit

As the pads wear, the resting state of the pistons in the calipers when you're not braking will slowly adjust inwards to make up the distance. This also results in a small drop in brake fluid level over time as the pads wear.

It may feel like a lot of drag to you spinning the wheel with your hands, but it's absolutely nothing to the car (assuming everything is normal with your brakes, which I suspect is the case).

07-23-2009, 03:09 PM	#1 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	Sport Brake Adjustment - Rubbing with rotation I've been pondering why my gas mileage is somewhat less than others have been posting. Then I got my jack stands and floor jack today so I could do home oil changes. Upon jacking up the front of the car, I found that both front wheels rub the brake calipers when I free spin the wheels. How do I adjust the Akebono sport calipers so the pads don't rub the rotors (when the brakes aren't being applied)? Anyone have some tips? My mountain bike is easy enough to adjust...I'm hoping the car is similar. Maybe my gas mileage will improve.

07-23-2009, 03:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
wstar A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 4,024 Drives: too slow Rep Power: 3594	Yeah that's just how disc brakes work. There's never really a gap between the rotor and pads under normal conditions. The pressure backs off, and sometimes cornering can knock one or both pads away from the rotor temporarily, but you really don't want that to happen ideally. __________________ 7AT Track Car! Journal thread / Car setup details

07-23-2009, 03:17 PM	#4 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	Hmmm, scheisse. It seems like there is quite a bit of resistance from the rubbing. I suppose I should just sign up for the Autocross event this week at our local track and wear off some of the brake pads then... Really interesting to hear there is no way to make small adjustments to each pad though. Perhaps bicycles have the ability to adjust this since a rider can easily feel the resistance of a rubbing brake pad. With people so nuts about shaving 5 or 10 lbs off their car's weight, or adding 5-10hp in mods...you'd think people would be all over the resistance of rubbing disc brakes. Last edited by spearfish25; 07-23-2009 at 03:19 PM.

07-23-2009, 03:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
wstar A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 4,024 Drives: too slow Rep Power: 3594	The brakes self-adjust constantly while you're using the brakes, that's how they remain correctly-situated as the pad wears down. That also means burning them down a bit at an auto-x isn't going to change how they fit As the pads wear, the resting state of the pistons in the calipers when you're not braking will slowly adjust inwards to make up the distance. This also results in a small drop in brake fluid level over time as the pads wear. It may feel like a lot of drag to you spinning the wheel with your hands, but it's absolutely nothing to the car (assuming everything is normal with your brakes, which I suspect is the case). __________________ 7AT Track Car! Journal thread / Car setup details

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