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I upgraded the standard Tektro brakes on my SE Lager to Shimano 105s. The braking performance is vastly improved. I also have Charge Plug wheels, rather than the stock wheels.

However I've noticed that there's not quite enough adjustment in the calipers to position the pads correctly. Even at the lowest position in the caliper arms, the pads are still very slightly too 'high' and overlap the upper curve of the rim.

Is this a problem? Is there anything I can do to solve it?

Brake location

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Swiss I'm considering filing out some shimano r650 long drop brakes to make them fit. I'm wondering how have the brakes on your giant ocr c1 gone in the long run. Did you ruin them or are they still going strong? –  user11376 May 23 at 21:10

2 Answers 2

up vote 6 down vote accepted

Those pads do look ever-so slightly too high on the rim, the main danger being that any slight vertical eccentricity could result in the pad contacting the tire and causing a blowout.

There are two main solutions:

Firstly, you could use a round file and simply file out the bottom of the slot slightly to increase the clearance. This works best if you only need a very small amount of additional reach and are willing to accept permanently modifying your brakes.

Secondly, you could buy a set of brakes with a longer reach. The Shimano 105mm calipers are 39-49mm reach; if you instead purchase some higher-quality dual pivot calipers that are 47-57mm reach you'd have plenty of room for adjustment and should be able to achieve equally good braking capability.

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+1 on a set of longer reach brakes. Ultegra level brakes come in an optional long reach version. Older 105's did as well. Probably best not to remove material from the caliper arm. You'd probably be alright, but the chance of reducing the integrity on a crucial component of your bicycle isn't really worth it, plus you're mucking up your resale value. Is it only an issue on the front? If so, have you considered upgrading the fork? –  joelmdev Oct 25 '11 at 0:48
Bloody hell bike gear is so frustrating! Nothing fits anything else, there's no standards and no compatibility. Pretty much every component I've tried to upgrade over the years hasn't fitted. I thought that brakes at least are pretty standard. Arrrgghhh! –  Mac Oct 25 '11 at 0:56
Thanks for the advice. Trouble is I've spent my budget on 105s. Having to buy more brakes (or a fork, which would then probably not be compatible with other stuff) is going to stretch it. –  Mac Oct 25 '11 at 0:58
did you get them from your lbs? they may take them back... –  joelmdev Oct 25 '11 at 1:01
What do people think of shaving off the top of the brake block? Seems preferable to filing the calipers. –  Mac Oct 26 '11 at 9:09

I have just had to do the same thing with ultegra brakes on my Giant Ocr C1. Filed them down so theres only a millimetre or so at the bottom. Working well so far. Only needed to adjust the rear so at least ill have my fronts if they fail :-/

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