Packing a bike with rim brakes is straightforward. Disc brakes need a little more thought, but it's very manageable once you know what to look out for.
Most customers leave them on but if you're worried, remove the rotors. It takes seconds with the right tools and removes all of the considerations below. See our [disc brake removal guide] if you want to go this route. If you'd rather leave the rotors in place, read on...
Every cyclist who's shared their experience with us has packed their disc wheels into the lid in exactly the same way as non-disc wheels - rotors facing inward into the box. This is also what we do with our own bikes.
Two things to watch...
Front disc / rear tyre contact
- With tyres fully deflated there's no pressure and no risk of damage. Add a bit of cloth or bubble wrap in the gap if you want peace of mind.
Front tyre / cassette contact
- Same principle. Deflated tyres won't push into the cassette.
Thru axle note...
Remove the thru axle cylinder and use a shorter quick release skewer for the front wheel. A longer skewer will protrude through the lid, which can cause problems in transit.
Disc rotors are fastened with either a six-bolt interface or a lock ring. Most modern road bikes use a lock ring - either with external notches (common with thru axles) or an internal spine (common with quick release skewers). Some bikes use both.
For a thorough walkthrough, watch this [Park Tools video].
Wear protective gloves — contaminating the disc surface will affect braking performance. Other than that, it's as simple as unscrewing a bolt. If you choose not to use a torque wrench when re-fitting, make sure the rotor is very firmly secured.
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