How to Adjust Hayes Sole Disc Brakes

Among Hayes' Heritage line of brakes, the Hayes Sole disc brake is designed for use on various types of off-road bicycles. The Sole braking system includes a 6-inch rotor, brake shoes, 51mm brake caliper, brake line and control lever. Braking occurs once the brake lever is pulled, causing the shoes inside the caliper to seize upon the rotor. Brake lever travel is directly affected by the gap between the shoes and the rotor. Setting a proper gap helps create and maintain effective braking.

Things You'll Need

  • 5mm hex wrench
  • Feeler gauge
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Instructions

    • 1

      Locate the bolt at the center of both sides of the Hayes Sole disc brake caliper. The bolt facing the bike affects the gap between inner shoe and the rotor. The bolt facing away from the bike, on the other side of the caliper, affects the gap between the outer shoe and the rotor. The bolts are used to adjust the gap between the shoes and the rotor.

    • 2

      Insert a proper size feeler gauge in the slot in the top of the Hayes Sole caliper between the inner pad and the rotor. Hayes recommends a gap of between .38 and .50 mm. Use a metric feeler gauge that falls between these values.

    • 3

      Use a 5mm hex key to turn the inner pad adjuster bolt clockwise. Turn the bolt until resistance is felt on the side of the feeler gauge as the feeler gauge is moved back and forth.

    • 4

      Insert the feeler gauge between the outer shoe and the rotor. Once again use a feeler gauge that falls between .38 and .50 mm.

    • 5

      Turn the outer pad adjuster bolt clockwise. Rotate the bolt until resistance is felt on the sides of the feeler gauge moving back and forth in the gap.