Avid BB5 brake adjustment issue - Catrike Trail

[crclawn]

Go hydrolic and throw the BB5 in the trash. BB5 is garbage and advid should be ashamed that they sell it.

[crclawn]

Go hydrolic and throw the BB5 in the trash.

[sahilcc7]

Hey, I was fiddling around with mine, and have fixed the problem (nearly).

1) Remove the caliper

2) Turn in the inboard pad adjuster as far as it can go and make sure the moving torque arm is at rest position

3) Put the caliper back on the trike, backing out the adjuster so it just fits in.

4) Hold brake lever and tighten CPS.

5) Back out adjuster until you can pull the lever a decent amount.

You will have heaps of rubbing, but go for a ride and use the brakes heaps and it will go away.

[Aleziss]

@sahilcc7 thanks for the tip... I will see if this helps...

[skidpiggy]

these brakes are quick and simple to adjust and are effective. but hydraulic brakes are the way to go..

[ThePadrewu]

Great video- fixed the problem! Thanks!

[Aleziss]

@ThePadrewu You're welcome... I'm glad it could help you !

[sahilcc7]

Have you found a fix to this?

[Aleziss]

@sahilcc7 No... I have never been able to adjust these brakes fallowing the procedure in the manual... To make them work properly, I had to pull back the torq arm on the cable like I did on the video you just watched. I don't know if this create a problem but I do get excellent braking anyway.

[MTJLT]

You think your English is bad? Try listening to my German speaking. Also, great information for dealing with possible issues with adjusting these brakes. My Trident Stowaway I uses the same brakes, with similar noise issues.

[mrcranky01]

I have these brakes on my Terratrike Tour and I have had to use the same solution of pre-pulling the torque arm a bit in order to get the brakes to actuate properly. I suspect that the problem is that the brake levers do not pull the cable far enough when you pull on them and that the bike should really have some different brake levers that have more travel at the cable pull point.

[Aleziss]

@mrcranky01 Thanks for the update on other trike having the same issue with the bb5. The handle brake is the correct one for the BB5 that is what I don't understand. I was about to update my brakes for the BB7 but since I was able to make the BB5 work not too bad by pulling the torque arm back a little, I kept these brake for the moment. Maybe when I'll need to replace them, I'll switch to the BB7. I did not heard any complaint about the BB7. Thanks for your comment !

[sean9820]

your english is FINE...you hardly even have an accent!

sorry I can't be more help on the issue : )

[Aleziss]

@sean9820 thanks for your comment ! it's nice to hear that !

[grantandre79]

Aleziss: Thanks for the input re: your trike and Catrike service. I went to a shop which carries Catrike(s) today and test rode a few models: Trail, Expedition, and 700 models to get a feel for handling differences. I really like the extra recline and low CG on th 700 but I want a smaller drive wheel. So, I ordered the Speed "rolling chassis" which is similar to the 700 but has a 20" rear wheel. I can't wait! I should be assembling my trike in the next few weeks!

[Aleziss]

If I knew it was possible to do that, I would have done the same choice you did. Don't get me wrong, I like my Trail.

I hope you can post some vids of the assembly so we can see your new Cat.

Congrats on your new buy !

[grantandre79]

By the way, I love your trike! I'm thinking of ordering the "rolling chassis" framekit from Catrike and moving my current parts onto the new trike, which is why I found your video with a Catrike it in! How do you like the trike? Any complaints or gripes (other than the frustrating brakes) that you would mention?

[Aleziss]

oh thanks ! I have some other vids in my recumbent playlist too.

I bought my Cat at a bike shop where they did a horrible assembly. They had modifed one of the headset bearings (wrong one) and the aligment was also terrible (5/8 toe out).

The other issue I got was the mesh seat used to shift on the frame.

Catrike sent me free of charge a new set of bearings and a new mesh seat. Awesome support from Cat.

It's a joy to ride! Uphill is tough but besides that, nothing to complaint.

[grantandre79]

I think there are a few variations of the caliper casting in production. I've seen some older calipers where the torque arm (with no cable) rests in about the same position I have to draw my torque arm forward to for correct adjustment... maybe these have an internal stop cast in a different position... which leads me to think that the manual was written when they made the old casting and was never updated.

[Aleziss]

ok, it would make some sense then...

[grantandre79]

Aleziss... great video explaining your problem! I also have Avid BB5 disk brakes on my recumbent bike. I'm an ex-bike mechanic and feel qualified to say that the Avid instruction manual contains an error. My suggestion: pull the cable tight and then draw the torque arm through roughly 40 degrees of it's rotation range before you tighten the cable... this will allow the brake lever to actuate the brake fully when you tighten the CPS bolts. Then adjust as per the remaining instructions.

[Aleziss]

Thanks for your comment. I guess that is the best solution. That is what I did to "solve" this issue. What I don't understand is why some have no problem following the procedures and some other the instruction does not work...

[badcoconut]

Dude I just bought a Mt Bike and have the same problem I MUST have the torque arm pulled half way when it's at rest for the brakes to grab when the lever is pulled. Unless someone tells me this is very bad I will just keep the arm pulled

[Aleziss]

hi there... well, I cannot say it is bad but this is not what the instruction setup say...

I also have to keep the torque arm ¼ way back so I get the proper tension on the handle brake.

[sgm1466]

is there such thing as no adjustment for the disc to be centered or every disc brakes can be adjust even generics or cheap ones? thanks

[SeaCruncher77]

ino this is probably fixed, but you could just screw the pad adjustment out a bit, this will make the lever not touch the handlebar

[Aleziss]

actually it is still not exactly fixed as I really cannot follow the setup procedures as per the manual.

I am pretty sure if I do what you are saying, it will work. I have done other adjusment to "fix" that issue but this is not the way to do it as the manual says.

Thanks for your comment

[Biffz0id]

I also have Avid BB disk brakes. Had very simular problem and haven't found a cure yet.

[cerwinvegafan]

you forgot to adjust the inboard pad adjustment so the disc is centered

(its the big red circle facing your wheel) twisting it moves the pad closer and further depending which way you twist it

[Aleziss]

uhm... no... I do this at 3:15 ! or I do not understand what you mean ?

[slurpy911]

duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuddddddddee­eee you sound like george saint pierre off of UFC (GSP) lol

[Aleziss]

hehehe ! we both are from Quebec and this is our english accent... I'm doing my best !

I take this as a compliment but I wish we were talking about his skills more than his accent !

Thanks for your comment !

[Lukeriddoch]

Mate I have the same problem but I know a solution.

Disk brakes when new WILL RUB in most cases u should adjust them tight enough so you can brake safely.

But as long as they dont rub too much (you can still pedal easily) you should just wait it out, ride your bike out often and use the brakes lots eventualy the brakes will wear down so they do not rub anymore. :) hope ive helped.

[Aleziss]

Thanks for the tip. Like you are saying, since I got my trike, I have notice that the brake are doing much better when they start to wear down a little bit.

The issue I had is that the brake lever could not tighten the pad against the rotor when I was trying to adjust the brake 4:20

I had to pull the torque arm back and tighten the cable that way so I can apply brake properly.

The tork arm do not return to it's resting place when I don't press the brake lever.

[x3band]

your english isnt a problem, but use better camera to record :)

[Aleziss]

You're right about that... I might redo this with my new HD cam that I just bought but I tired of playing with the brake adjustment... you don't want to know how many time I have done this...

[Screenfun94]

Hvla puno!

[Aleziss]

You're welcome !

[PunisherBBB]

I have the same problem as well. I cant adjust enough the torque arm to brake enough while I'm pressing the brake lever. And I have problems with noise to, while I'm driving. Know I think I know where I made a mistake, while I was watching the video. Tomorrow I'm gonna try to fix it. I'll let you know was it a sucsses...hehehe....thx for tutorial......

[Aleziss]

Thanks very much for your appreciation of the video. I'm glad I could help.

I would really like to know how you did so if you can come back and tell me if you had any improvements it would be great to know.

Have you watched the video where you can hear the actual noise ? Are you having the same noise with the same brake (left side) ?

Do you also have a Catrike Trail ?

[PunisherBBB]

Very simillar noise. No, I drive xc bike. But adjustment should be the same. Yes, left side.

I have problem on front wheel with 185 disc. I'm gonna try it your way tonight while I will get back home from University, So I will let you know.

Only problem is that, I dont have Torx ranch, but I'm gonna try to borow one to..hehe.

If I'll be able I will make a video response, so you can se my problem, and maybe sucsses fixing..hehe

[Aleziss]

I have the 160 mm disc. I read on forums that a lot of people are having issues with the left brake system on their trike.

I was even thinking of upgrading to Avid BB7 instead of BB5.

The only way I can get less noise is by making the disc warp a little when I press the brake lever instead of the disc being dead center between pads.

I would like to see your video response if you can. We'll be able to compare mechanical differences and alignment procedures !

[zabafa009]

Bonne chance dans tes prochaine video.

[zabafa009]

savoir. merci pour la video sa va meviter den chercher dotre pour ajuster mes disk brake.

[Aleziss]

Bien sa me fait plaisir ! Je suis contant que sa soit instructif pour toi.

Merci pour tes commentaires !

[zabafa009]

t un quebecois hein?

[Aleziss]

uhm... ouais... je suis quebecois... et ?

[fdhsdfjli9ew]

Very good. I think you did just fine. I don't know why your caliper arm does not go all the way back but I think your solution is exactly what I would have done if I had run into that same problem.

Thanks for posting this video, I need to check my Catrike Expedition brakes.

And your English is fine. I understand very well.

[Aleziss]

Thank you for your comment. I still have issue with noise and I still am not able to make the torque arm return to it's resting position when I do not press the brake lever.

I am still trying to adjust the brake specially on the left side which still make a lot of noise.