I don’t know much about hydraulic disk brakes on mountain bikes. I’m getting ready to pack my mtb in a case to take on vacation. I believe that if the wheel is removed and the brake lever is depressed, the brake calipers will squeeze together and stay that way. So, is this true, and if so, how do I prevent the brake levers from being squeezed during the packing, shipping, and unpacking process. If it happens, how can I remedy the situation. Also, if the front brake has a slight rub on the rotor, is there an easy way to fix it. Thanks for any/all responses.
I always put a small piece of plastic that I got from the bike shop that fits right into the calipers to prevent just this. But I’ve also lost this, and just used a piece of cardboard, it works just as well.
just find something to put in the caliper (I have these plastic spacers just for shipping purposes - your bike shop may give you some, bikes come shipped that way), cardboard works.
If they do get closed they are easy to pry apart (you pry them apart when you replace the pads anyway). You can use a wide screwdriver - the first time is kind of unnerving, but once you actually do it, it’s pretty easy.
You can mess up the brake pad if you use too narrow a screwdriver or twist it while “wedging”
Mine came with the plastic inserts, or like others have said just put something in there. If they do get squeezed together I just pop out the brake pads, take a large flat object (big screwdriver, popsicle stick, butter knife) and push the piston back in. For the rotor is it rubbing the whole way around or just in one spot? If it rubs the whole way it will depend on what type of disc brakes you have, but they basically need to be re-centered. My Shimano use little shims to do this, and Avid brakes have the CPS (or whatever it is called) system to center them. If the rotor rubs only in one spot just take some pliers and bend it gently back into shape.