Lé Disco - The Disc Tab Tool

The Lé Disco disc brake jig can only be purchased as a complete kit with a BC (Backwards Compatibility) body configuration that comes with a magnetic sleeve to accommodate both 0.75” and 1.00” axle diameters with a single tool body. Modular brackets support Post Mount, Flat Mount (FM140R, FM160R, FM180R, & FM Front) and ISO Mount configurations. The body is precision machined from 6061 Aluminum and uses a clamping mechanism to ensure compatibility with all “Anvil Style” Paragon Machine Works or FARR Dummy Axles (sold separately). The signature “Mermaid Scales” Teal cam locking lever has smooth action and is soft to the touch but don’t let that fool you as it easily and rigidly locks the tool in place on the Dummy Axle.

The brackets have been designed to support a wide variety of “standards”. But since we all know “standards” don’t really exist in the bike industry in the classical sense it’s important to note your job as the builder is to always verify fitment prior to fully brazing/welding on the disc tab. Always TCV - Tack, Check-Fitment and then Verify with actual HW before proceeding with full on welds or fillets. Details about each of the brackets that Lé Disco supports are listed below:

• The Flat Mount 140 Bracket - for 140mm Rotors (or 160mm Rotors with adapter) on the rear of the frame (based off Shimano specs).

• The Flat Mount 160 Bracket - for 160mm Rotors direct attachment on the Rear of the Frame (without the use of an adapter).

  • There are a lot of different specs floating around the internet for this mounting configuration, and you can compare them here. As of Oct 1st, 2020 the Le Disco FM160 Bracket is based off specs from the 2020/2021 Shimano OEM Technical Specifications guide - specs for FM160 direct to frame. Prior to this date the Le Disco FM160 Bracket was based off flatmount180.org.

• The Flat Mount 180 Bracket - for 180mm Rotors and a push to help make this a potential standard on MTB frames.

  • More info at flatmount180.org.

  • As of the 20/21 Technical Specifications Shimano still does not have FM180 direct mount. It’s either an adapter for the FM160 boss locations or a Shimano caliper that has those adapted dimensions built in.

• The Flat Mount Front Bracket - for Flat Mount threaded bosses to support 140 or 160mm rotors on flat mount forks with the use of the adapter (Shimano Specs).

  • As of the 20/21 Technical Specifications Shimano has released specs for threaded bosses on forks to support 160mm and 180mm rotors. I’ll be working to get an updated bracket shortly. If you are interested in this standard please reach out via the connect page.

• The ISO Bracket - A flip bracket for ISO tab mounting on both forks and the rear triangle of the frame.

• The Post Mount Bracket - A flip bracket for PM 140, 160, 180 and 203mm rotors on both forks and the rear triangle of frame.

The configuration table below has been created to show what’s included with the Disco Fever Kit.

• The “DISCO FEVER” Kit - Uses BC Body, includes ALL available Brackets & comes with the toolbox foam insert

IMPORTANT: Let’s talk about Thru-Axles for a moment and why the 2mm Spacers are included with each of the kits and can be ordered separately. When the bicycle industry introduced Thru-Axles some strange decisions were made. In the back of the frame they kept the same offset of the inner most face of the dropouts and the disc tabs the same (increased to DO spacing to 142mm, added 3.5mm of overlap on each side of the hub = 142mm - (2 * 3.5mm) = 135mm “spacing”). That means Lé Disco can be used as is for both QR, 12mm & 15mm TA applications in the rear of the bike. You simply slide it on the supported dummy axle of choice, datum it against the first NDS DO face the tool comes in contact with and away you go brazing or welding to your heart’s content.

Okay, so far not too strange right? However, in the front is where things get weird and maybe slightly confusing. For 12mm TA specifically they kept the axle spacing the same at 100mm but added another overlap on each dropout face, this time 2mm. This puts the actual distance between the inner faces at only 96mm. What this means for you as the builder - when using Lé Disco for 12mm TA forks a 2mm spacer needs to be placed on the dowel pins between the tool body and the bracket of choice. This will ensure that the disc tab is held in the proper location during attachment.

Moving on to 15mm/BOOST Thru-Axle Forks they must have kept the overlap the same right? Well, actually you couldn’t be more wrong. For 15mm TA they kept the axle spacing the same at 100mm but added another overlap on each dropout face, this time 3mm. This puts the actual distance between the inner faces at only 94mm. What this means for you as the builder - when using Lé Disco for 15mm/BOOST TA forks a 3mm spacer needs to be placed on the dowel pins between the tool body and the bracket of choice. As will 12mm TA forks, this will ensure that the disc tab is held in the proper location during attachment.

*PS: As of Oct 1st, 2020 any Configuration with the BC (Backward Compatibility) Body is compatible with both 12mm & 15mm/BOOST TA Forks, where as 1.00” fixed body tools are ONLY compatible with 12mm TA Forks.

**PPS: For ALL types of QR (Quick Release) forks NO spacers are required.

***PPPS: Have more Questions? Enjoy the video below.

As always if you have any additional question about anything on this page, the specifications or Lé Disco in general, please reach out on the connect page.