GCN Tech covered this as a tip within one of their videos a few months ago. I used to not watch them because they were so roadie focused, but I gotta admit I get a ton of useful information from them with the caveat that the best tips are often buried within videos in their Everest sized mountain of content. They also did not demonstrate how to do it. The benefit of you making a dedicated video for this is that it's easier to find and reference, and that cannot be understated! Keep being awesome!

Great Tip, you can shim cassettes aswell. I’ve done it on my trainer so both cassettes are bang on with the derailleur

@spdnik2568

13 күн бұрын

I was going to ask, good to know thanks

@TheBikeSauce

13 күн бұрын

Great tip!

@t4kku303

10 күн бұрын

I was coming to see if someone had asked or answered this, and it's a great tip. Thanks. Just wondering if there's a specific product for it or can I just use anything that fits?

@owenjohnson5030

9 күн бұрын

What shims do you use for the casette’s?

November is/was actually a pretty good custom wheelbuilder in New England. I feel like they’ve been less active lately, but I’m glad to see you promoting their shims. I use them on a few different wheelsets and bikes, and the system works flawlessly. Sometimes I forget that they even are on there and am surprised when I switch to another wheel/bike. Anyway, strong recommend.

@TheBikeSauce

14 күн бұрын

Oh nice! Didn’t know the brand

World Tour teams have long been doing this for all their wheels. They have set standard size spacing for wheels and calipers to avoid rotor rubs. When swapping wheels.

I just had this pain when swapping between gravel wheels and deeper road wheels, this method makes perfect sense, will definitely try it out 😜

Been using washers since the centerlock was introduced lol. Local hardware shop sells the same washer for cents per piece.😂

@TheBikeSauce

14 күн бұрын

👍 nice work!

I said “beautiful” out loud when the second wheel spun freely lol

Nice tip, I like it! I've got 4 wheel sets being shared between a 140mm full squish and a rigid bikepacking rig, it took a little while, but I trued the rotors on all 4 to 1 bike and set the caliper on the second bike to the rotors. Has worked well with no rubbing on either bike.

Beautiful. Ordering some shims because I have the exact same problem! Thanks!!!!

Genius. Thanks for this

Very useful tip - thanks for sharing!

I have this same issue on my rear second wheel only. I was just getting ready to search for some type of shim, so this is good timing. The Amazon seller must have been hammered with your video as when I looked, they were 3 weeks out from shipping, I found some through Boyd Cycling. Will have them Thursday.

Holy cow, i needed this video a couple months ago. I got a new wheel set that was slightly off my old, couple figure it out so had to take it to the LBS for them align across my wheels. Both back and front were off and longest time, i tought i messed up the set up being my first time tinkering

I love the illustration of the hub! Nice addition to a tutorial video :)

@TheBikeSauce

9 күн бұрын

Yes! Someone noticed 🙏

Fantastic and timely. I am in the middle of this issue now.

well made video. I used to do this until I got identical custom wheel sets which really was great when switching 4 sets of wheels between 2 or 3 different bikes same with the cassette. which isn't always 100% flawless but is 99% perfect.

Wow, thanks for posting this. I had no idea 😊

Great tip! Great video! So nice to learn something new.

Excellent. Overcame this issue by filing a tiny fraction off inside of the disc rotor,bringing it a fraction closer to the hub..was not aware that split washers were available though.

Cool. Much appreciated. I run two wheel sets on my Revolt.

Great info, also short and to the point👍

Wow great tip. Thanks!

Brilliant! Totally worth it.

Awesome video, thanx!

Rotor shims are great, I got mine off a czech guy on ebay but I hear jagwire does them too nowadays. My technique is to measure the distance from the lockring to the end of the end cap (assuming they're using the same lockring), the difference being what you need to shim. You can also do the same with cassettes for your wheelsets/turbo trainer. Some people will put up with having to adjust the tension/limit screws everytime they put the bike on the turbo, but not me...

Great tip!

I've been swapping over whole wheel fork brake and cable as an assembly. Gets me from MTB to dad bike in about 5 minutes. Wish I'd have thought of this before I tracked down a wheelset with the same hubs, would have given me a lot more options.

brilliant, thanks!

Dope. Thanks!

Super smart!!!!!!!!!!!

McMaster has thinner 0.1 shims for a more precise fit and they're cheaper

@TheBikeSauce

14 күн бұрын

Oh nice. Thx for that

@spartanbike2260

14 күн бұрын

link to site

1. Aim for thinner shims. You probably need less than you might guess. 2. Try a bearing (engineering) supply shop. You might get more choice and spend less than with online / bike stores.

Could they easiest way to put the right number of spacers be to see how many of them you can slip without friction in between the caliper pad and the disk at its closest point (of the wider gap side) ?

Yes totally worth it. Hate having to adjust discs when swapping wheels. Adjusting pads on cable discs is easier of course and it's another argument to #savetherimbrake 😎

I've got this with a pair of Hunt wheels and another pair with Bitex hubs (brilliant by the way). They are very nearly right, so when I change the wheels, I just open up the gap between the pads a touch with a plastic blade so it doesn't gouge the pads. I think it's not a bad idea to do this anyway as it keeps the pistons moving freely

@OYeahan

13 күн бұрын

Every time you do this (even sightly) without cleaning the pistons, you're pushing dirty pistons in so not ideal.

Can't say I've ever had this problem with my stock diverge dismiss wheels and my bontrager aeolus wheels.

I'm in the process of ordering a new wheelset now. After this.. all other wheelsets I order will use the same hubs. I'm hoping that will allow changes without adjustments. If needed I will also move over the same discs (and cassette) as that's quicker and easier than making adjustments

You could probably get like 20 of the same dimensional shim from McMaster for less than $16 shipped. Like maybe part # 98089A284.

@el_daviddo

9 күн бұрын

FYI pack of 10 with shipping + tax is $22

@lastfm4477

6 күн бұрын

These don't seem to be split. How did you get them past the centerlock splines?

Fantastic

I have QR, not thru-axle frame and fork, and I have rotor rubbing every time I swap a wheel but I stopped caring about it because its easier than to readjust my pads every time.

I opted for two wheel sets with hubs by the same manufacturer. My bike came with Bontrager wheels which had rebranded DT Swiss hubs. Thus my second set of wheels had DT Swiss hubs and no shims required to align anything.

@OYeahan

13 күн бұрын

I have Bontrager Aeolus on rebranded DT360 24sp straightpull and other set built on DT360 28sp J-bend and while with cassettes it's almost plug and play (different size cassettes so maybe that's why small barrel adjustment makes it work better), with discs it as a huge difference for both wheels. Rotors are MT800 on other and RT800 (or whatever is the new unified version called) on Bontragers, need to swap rotors out of curiosity if it is rotors or hubs themselves

November is not an “Amazon brand” (at least they didn’t used to be…). For their wheelsets, their build quality is exceptional. I have two of their wheelsets, and have rarely, if ever, had to true them!

Oh hell yeah.

Looks like the shims aren't available on Amzn right now. Is there an alternate source, or dimensions?

the price is a crime. but I still bought and use them. wish there was some competition in the space!

I have several wheelset and don't need to re-adjust since all my hubs is made by standard and default specifications.

my issue is the cassette! and im using the same kind of solution. or im gonna try anyway

I really wish I had this problem *cries quietly in single wheelset despair*

Great demo! What if the second set has a longer hub + rotor length?

@TheBikeSauce

8 күн бұрын

Then the 2nd set begins the 1st set. Adjust the caliper to the hub with the most outboard rotor

Such a simple but genius tip! Thank you!!!

Great idea, but currently unavailable on Amazon.

If one wheel set is CenterLock and the other ISO 6 bolt, and the Centerlock is already pushing the rotor outward farther, do you have to find 6 little shim washers for the ISO wheel? I assume so...

@yonglingng5640

13 күн бұрын

They exist, Syntace made them back in 2015. I don't know if they're still making them now.

I had a set of thin washers at each of the 6bolts under the disc... also worked and not $16

@TheBikeSauce

3 күн бұрын

The concept still applies

Is there something like this for hubs? So that you don’t have to retune the rear D eqch time you swap wheel sets

@yonglingng5640

13 күн бұрын

Probably not.

If you using a gravel bike or one all round bike for road and gravel, this is a decent solution. 👍

I can realign the brake disc more quickly, or get 10 aluminum washers from the hardware store for the brake disc

I'm trying to figure out why the rotor rubs on 2 different wheels. Do they have different hub or are the tolerances that far off? I had 2 sets of wheels for my fat bike, but I never had to adjust my caliper or rotors, just swap and go.

@TheBikeSauce

11 күн бұрын

Different hubs

Lucky both my bikes agree with each other with all 4 wheelsets

this is actually such a great trick! thanks

Awesome find!

That has to be the biggest markup of a product i have ever seen:D Right next to the air filter of my refrigerator that has 5 grams of activated carbon in it and costs 20 bucks if youre stupid enough to buy it:D

Does it apply to the rear wheel too?

@TheBikeSauce

14 күн бұрын

Yea same process

Rides of Japan made a video on this exact topic a while back. The easiest solution was to get the same hubs across both wheel sets.

@TheBikeSauce

14 күн бұрын

Certainly not the cheapest option tho..

@Metal_Face_Doom

14 күн бұрын

That would be HELLA expensive to do. Especially if you own 3+ different wheelsets.

@CreativeFishDesignsCharlotte

14 күн бұрын

was just thinking that , took as long to just re set up

@Bjoern_the_Baer

14 күн бұрын

I used to work in a shop where we'd assemble different wheels and bikes for customers. Here in Zürich it's not uncommon that customers get a bike and buy 3 or 4 different wheelset with it (aero, climbing, training and maybe something else too) we've only worked with those shims (on the disc and cassette) because getting the same hub isn't going to cut it. We've worked very closely with dt swiss (best hubs in the game) and they couldn't provide us with wheels where the same 180 or 240 hub model in a different wheel would have the same exact tolerance. If you really want to make it right, then you have to adjust each wheel and check for the recommended torque on the axle as well.

@justinofboulder

13 күн бұрын

In theory....But I spent the money to do that, (Chris King Hubs to match my existing wheelset) and the rears are the same, but the front's are slightly different. Ended up using sand paper on one of rotors to make it work.

Can’t find a six bolt variant shim. Anyone got a link? TIA.

@yonglingng5640

13 күн бұрын

Syntace made them in 2015, not sure if they're still in production. Use the search term "6-bolt rotor shim".

Interesting product 👍

Did you just weigh a shim? I'm a mountainbiker, slowly getting attracted to the road, but some things I'll never understand I'm afraid haha. Good tip though

Takes just as long for me to adjust the caliper than to put shims in,maybe faster,loosen 2 caliper bolts ,sqeeze brake & tighten 2 screws,washers are like take the looong route around the corner

@TheBikeSauce

13 күн бұрын

😆😆

@feedbackzaloop

13 күн бұрын

difference is, you put shims only once per lifetime of the rotor. While caliper adjustment is needed every wheel swap.

Cassette spacing bugs me more. I have enough pad clearance that rotors never rub. They do deflect a tiny bit when braking but its nothing that warps my rotors so I don't care.

Instantly sold-out / not available

I think its quicker to just reset the caliper ?🤔

@TheBikeSauce

8 күн бұрын

Once you install shims, you don’t have to mess with calipers at all

Nice. It never ends with disc brakes 😢

@TheBikeSauce

8 күн бұрын

😆😆

Seems to be a bit of GENIUS hyper-inflation going on….

@TheBikeSauce

11 күн бұрын

‘Very Smart Tip for Bikes w 2 Wheelsets’ didn’t have the same oomph

Here's what I do. I loosen BOTH caliper bolts, squeeze brake, and evenly tighten the bolts, they self center this way.

@phillevin6651

13 күн бұрын

Thats what he’s trying to eliminate, The whole reason for this video.

@mazescopak405

13 күн бұрын

@@phillevin6651ok, but it takes a minute.

@TheBikeSauce

13 күн бұрын

It takes more than a minute, but yea some can do it faster than others

@yonglingng5640

13 күн бұрын

​@@mazescopak405 That doesn't work for every single frame and fork. Sometimes I had to center manually.

november is not an amazon brand. wtf are you taking about?

Any ISO 7089 spacer will do. Buy it for some cents at your local hardware store.

@feedbackzaloop

13 күн бұрын

No. First, only one, not any: you need only particular diameter. Second, it is a standard for bolt washers, they are simply too thick.On top of having too big of an outer diameter. Shim rings are DIN 988

@bikedan99

13 күн бұрын

@@feedbackzaloop You're right about DIN 988. Thanks for the correction!

Easier to just get a second bike for the second wheelset

@TheBikeSauce

13 күн бұрын

😆 there you go

I can buy another hub with the price of these shims lmao

0.25mm sounds too big. The pad clearance on shimano is usually in the region of 0.25 mm per side. For sram it's less. Also if the caliper is not absolutely perfectly centered, you will get rubbing with sprinting or riding out of the saddle when the frame is flexing. Buy standard 0.1mm adjusting washers and split them diy.

@TheBikeSauce

14 күн бұрын

It’s fine enough resolution for my bones so far. A thinner shim could help in some cases tho

Fun fact: calipers have a degree of self-alignment. So unless the difference is over a whole mm and makes the rotor rub agains caliper body itself, shims are not necessary. One or two firm presses on a brake lever and pads find their place.

@TheBikeSauce

13 күн бұрын

Nah man. Give it a try

@feedbackzaloop

13 күн бұрын

@@TheBikeSauce never had to. Except when rotors were 1...1,5mm off. But I can understand that acoustic pleasure of zero rub right off the bat.

@lastfm4477

6 күн бұрын

Maybe in the MTB world, but not the road disc world.

@feedbackzaloop

6 күн бұрын

@@lastfm4477 those worlds are not that really different when you don't cook rotors on the road. Tough call, I know.

#ProTip 🚴✨✨

First 🎉

Much easier to switch wheels for rim brake bikes. I have 3 sets of wheels.

@redkeyspoke

14 күн бұрын

Is it though? Brake track and external width can vary with different rims. I'm a rim brake user myself, but there are pros and cons to both systems.

@archieman123

13 күн бұрын

It’s really not the pad height needs adjusting too

@feedbackzaloop

13 күн бұрын

@@redkeyspoke for different widths you have a barrel adjuster... Radius-wise there is no difference.

@lastfm4477

6 күн бұрын

@@archieman123 I've never had that problem.

@lastfm4477

6 күн бұрын

@@redkeyspoke Yes (across my 5 wheel sets). Adjust your brake cable with your widest rims and barrel adjuster all the way in. Then use the barrel adjuster when using your narrower wheels.