Left pad dragging on back wheel

ArcticHeron · 17 May 2023 at 11:28

Hi guys, bit of a noob so please excuse my lack of knowledge.

Picked up a Raleigh electric bike a few weeks ago and thought all was well until I noticed that the left break pad on the back wheel has next to no play in it. When you pull the back break all the flex is on the right side.

I've tried adjusting the play on the springs and even resitting the pads, but no amount of loosening or playing around creates more space between the wheel and the pad on the left.

It's not a big issue, but you can definitely feel and here a little bit of drag when it's being pushed.

Any easy solutions spring to mind?

ArcticHeron · 17 May 2023 at 13:19

robj20 said:
Very easy.
First ensure the caliper is centred and that the disc is true.
Then pop the pads out and push the pistons out a bit and give them a light lubrication with the fluid your brakes use.
Then push them back in and off you go.

Thanks for the response. Is there a video of this somewhere that you can link by any chance? I have a touch of reading dyslexia and would find what you write a little difficult to put into practice.

Just to add, they're also your bog standard rim breaks.

ArcticHeron · 19 May 2023 at 10:08

-westy- said:
You can twist your whole caliper, it should rotate around the top, centred bolt.

Issue is that it's completely fixed to the frame. I can remove it, but not rotate it.

Fiddled about with it last night and think the issue might be that the wheel isn't centered correctly. The pad only seems to make direct contact in one specific area of rotation when it's free spinning.

Could this be a spoke issue?

ArcticHeron · 19 May 2023 at 10:33

tom_e said:
It's been a long time since I messed with pedal bikes but that was always a good way of telling if your wheel had a bit of a buckle in it.

Would you know if a trueing stand is necessary to re-center it or can I get away with just using a spoke key in problem area?

ArcticHeron · 19 May 2023 at 11:17

Begbie said:
You can use zip ties, plenty of guides on YouTube. Is the bike new?

You can straighten a wheel with zip ties and adjusting the spokes but a wheel true is normally only a tenner at a local bike shop.

If you've never done it before it can be a pain, as every adjustment normally as an effect elsewhere. Overtighenting can snap spikes too, as can not having them tight enough.

Yeah only about 2 weeks old. I could take it back and get them to do it but sort of relying on it at the moment almost daily for transport and they may keep it back for a few days (Halfords)