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Trying to fix a friend's bike: Surly 26" rigid fork, Magura Juicy caliper, Shimano hub, disk and qr. Newish pads.
Front wheel spins freely with the qr open (bike upside down). Close the qr and I can see the legs of the fork move inward and possibly twist slightly causing the pads to foul the disk. I've re-positioned the caliper a bunch of times, it's like the caliper is at the wrong angle once the qr is engaged.
The bike was purchased from a mix'n'match workshop for minimal £s. Am I wasting my life trying to find a balance point or is it possible the forks need an extra spacer or something to stay in line? Cheers muchly.
Sounds like the dropouts are out of alignment, they can be straightened if its steel. Its also worth measuring the axle width and fork width, I have had bikes come in with the wrong spacers/locknuts etc so the axle was the wrong width.
Shops use tools like these
DIY gauge from an old axle, or a bit of threaded bar, lon bolts etc
You might need to face the brake mounts.
Thanks Bigyan. I'm now thinking an extra washer on the axle might sort things out.
Think the heat was getting to my brain yesterday, titling this thread "mech help" when it's about forks. Too lazy to write mechanical in full.
I've also known two sets of wheels (both on specialized bikes) where the axle wasn't concentric to the hub. If the wheel was removed and replaced with the axle turned a ¼ turn, the rotor would then foul the caliper.
From what you describe though, I'd be tempted to face the disc mounts. I assume they're IS rather than post.
Facing tools don't end up being that much on eBay. Picked up a magura one a while back for not a lot (should probably sell it now since I've used it).