Disc Rub After Heavy Braking
Moderator: Moderator Team
Hi All
I upgraded the rotors to the Icetech type on my Giant TCX recently. I centred the pads as per usual and the back rotor isn't rubbing when I spin the wheel, but after heavy braking there is a loud sound for at least 5-10 seconds that I assume is the rotor rubbing against the pads. Has anyone else come across this before?
By the way, I did sand the pads back to remove any glaze and to level them out, but is it normally recommended to replace pads as well when changing rotors?
Thank you!
I upgraded the rotors to the Icetech type on my Giant TCX recently. I centred the pads as per usual and the back rotor isn't rubbing when I spin the wheel, but after heavy braking there is a loud sound for at least 5-10 seconds that I assume is the rotor rubbing against the pads. Has anyone else come across this before?
By the way, I did sand the pads back to remove any glaze and to level them out, but is it normally recommended to replace pads as well when changing rotors?
Thank you!
Canyon Ultimate - Ultegra Di2 R8050 - HED Belgium +
Focus Cayo - Ultegra 6800 - DT Swiss PR 1600 Spline
Giant TCX Advanced Pro 2 - 105 5800 - Hunt 4 Season Gravel Disc
Focus Cayo - Ultegra 6800 - DT Swiss PR 1600 Spline
Giant TCX Advanced Pro 2 - 105 5800 - Hunt 4 Season Gravel Disc
On things to check, the cables. Make sure the housing is seated all the way in the endcaps and the cable is firmly seated down to the fork/dropout. It seems bad seating can cause some resonance. Also recheck the tq on the disc - to tight or too loose shouldn't cause a shimmy, but there may be a shimmy sweet spot in there. Same with the calipers...
Thank you, I'll recheck the disc torque, maybe pull pads out as well to start again.
It's Shimano RS505 hydraulic.
There was initially a shimmy on the back disc which I gently corrected but maybe this is being exacerbated under heavy load...
It's Shimano RS505 hydraulic.
There was initially a shimmy on the back disc which I gently corrected but maybe this is being exacerbated under heavy load...
Canyon Ultimate - Ultegra Di2 R8050 - HED Belgium +
Focus Cayo - Ultegra 6800 - DT Swiss PR 1600 Spline
Giant TCX Advanced Pro 2 - 105 5800 - Hunt 4 Season Gravel Disc
Focus Cayo - Ultegra 6800 - DT Swiss PR 1600 Spline
Giant TCX Advanced Pro 2 - 105 5800 - Hunt 4 Season Gravel Disc
I’m guessing it’s thermal expansion, then contraction, at which time the sound goes away.menkar wrote:Same thing happens with my Icetech rotors on steep descents under heavy breaking and I agree that heat temporarily seems to warp the rotors and they straighten out upon cooling.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Thanks all, yes it seems that this must be the case. Someone on another forum said the exact thing happens with his Dura Ace set up as well. I just wanted to make sure there wasn't an issue to be resolved 

Canyon Ultimate - Ultegra Di2 R8050 - HED Belgium +
Focus Cayo - Ultegra 6800 - DT Swiss PR 1600 Spline
Giant TCX Advanced Pro 2 - 105 5800 - Hunt 4 Season Gravel Disc
Focus Cayo - Ultegra 6800 - DT Swiss PR 1600 Spline
Giant TCX Advanced Pro 2 - 105 5800 - Hunt 4 Season Gravel Disc
-
- Posts: 401
- Joined: Tue Apr 25, 2017 11:12 am
- Location: Christchurch New Zealand
It may be that the pistons aren't retracting quickly or smoothly
Here's a Park Tool vid on how to clean the calipers....may help with piston retraction
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQXFFgRButo
Here's a Park Tool vid on how to clean the calipers....may help with piston retraction
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQXFFgRButo
Focus Izalco Max Disc viewtopic.php?f=10&t=146257&hilit=Izalco+Max+disc
Yes, the 180mm Shimano rotors on my enduro bikes do this after prolonged heavy braking. When they're cold they're straight but when they're really hot they get a little wobble that goes away again once they cool off (maybe something about the aluminum/steel sandwich). Ah, the vagaries of disc brakes. Worth it on an enduro bike, not so much for how I ride my road bike.
Yes I think it has to be the case. I upgraded the rotors from the steel generic versions that came on the bike. The improved braking and quieter operation is worth the trade off of a little noise after brakingLelandjt wrote: ↑Sat Aug 18, 2018 4:15 pmYes, the 180mm Shimano rotors on my enduro bikes do this after prolonged heavy braking. When they're cold they're straight but when they're really hot they get a little wobble that goes away again once they cool off (maybe something about the aluminum/steel sandwich). Ah, the vagaries of disc brakes. Worth it on an enduro bike, not so much for how I ride my road bike.

Canyon Ultimate - Ultegra Di2 R8050 - HED Belgium +
Focus Cayo - Ultegra 6800 - DT Swiss PR 1600 Spline
Giant TCX Advanced Pro 2 - 105 5800 - Hunt 4 Season Gravel Disc
Focus Cayo - Ultegra 6800 - DT Swiss PR 1600 Spline
Giant TCX Advanced Pro 2 - 105 5800 - Hunt 4 Season Gravel Disc
-
- Similar Topics
- Replies
- Views
- Last post
-
- 20 Replies
- 2833 Views
-
Last post by angrylegs
Fri Oct 05, 2018 12:54 pm
-
- 17 Replies
- 575 Views
-
Last post by TobinHatesYou
Fri Feb 22, 2019 10:42 pm
-
- 7 Replies
- 558 Views
-
Last post by syplam
Wed Aug 08, 2018 4:37 pm
-
- 97 Replies
- 7148 Views
-
Last post by AJS914
Thu Mar 08, 2018 9:50 pm
-
- 14 Replies
- 1025 Views
-
Last post by ryanw
Thu Oct 25, 2018 10:54 pm