Regularly adjusting your bike's brakes will help them work better and ensure that you ride safely. The two main parts that you need to adjust in your bike's brake system are the brake pads and the brake cables. Worn brake pads that are too low or high on the rim can put your safety at risk. Too loose brake cables will make braking more difficult. Fortunately, you can easily fix these problems with a few simple tools.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Adjust the brake pads
Step 1. Check your brake pads before making any adjustments
Brake pads are the pads that adjust the front wheel of your bike when you pull the brake lever. If your brake pads are worn beyond the mark called the "wear line," you'll need to replace them before making any adjustments to your brakes.
- If the wear lines on your brake pads are not labeled, they may be marked with grooves on the side of the pads.
- You can order new brake pads online or buy some from your local bike store.
Step 2. Squeeze the brake lever to see where the ring is pressing
Both brake pads must contact the front rim at the same time. They should also press down on the center of the rim leaving the same amount of space above and below the brake pad. If the pads press the rim too high or too low, they could come into contact with the tire's rubber or the spokes of the bike.
Squat down so you can get a good look at the brake pads as you squeeze the brake lever
Step 3. Use an Allen wrench to loosen the bolts that hold the brake pads in place
Turn the Allen key counterclockwise to loosen the bolts. Do not loosen the bolts completely because the brake pads can come out of their bracket.
Step 4. Move the brake pads up or down in their bracket
The brake pads will easily move both ways once the bolts are loose. If the pads are too low on the rim, move them up until they are centered. In the same way, if the pads are too high, move them down until they are in the center.
Step 5. Retighten the brake pads with the Allen wrench
Keep turning the Allen key clockwise until the bolts are tight. Check that the brake pads are centered. Adjust again if necessary.
Method 2 of 2: Adjust the Brake Cables
Step 1. Test the tension of the cables by pulling each brake lever
When you pull the brake levers, they should be about 1½ inches away from the handlebar grip. If the levers touch the handlebar of the bike when you pull them, it means that the cables are too slack.
Step 2. Loosen the slack adjusters to make minor adjustments to the brake cables
If your brake cables are slightly loose, loosening the slack adjusters could fix the problem. The voltage regulators are located where the brake cables and brake levers meet.
- Loosen the tension regulator attached to the loose brake cable by turning it counterclockwise. Actually loosening the slack adjuster will tighten the brake cable a bit.
- After loosening the tension adjuster, pull the brake lever to see if the problem is fixed. If the brake cable is still too loose, you will need to adjust it on the caliper. Leave the voltage regulator as is. Don't adjust it yet.
Step 3. Unscrew the bolt that holds the brake cable in the caliper
The caliper is the main brake frame to which the brake pads are attached. The brake cable is a thin cable that comes out of the caliper. Locate the bolt that holds the brake cable. Use an Allen wrench to turn it counterclockwise a few turns until it is slightly loose.
Do not unscrew the bolt completely. Just turn the Allen wrench counterclockwise 2-3 times until the bolt loosens
Step 4. Pull the brake cable out to adjust it
Now that the bolt is loose, you will have no problem pulling the cable. Hold it in place with your fingers once you've tightened it up. As you pull on the cable, the brake pads should be taut on the front rim. You want them to be tight enough so that there is some resistance when the wheel turns, but not so tight that the wheel cannot turn.
If you can't turn the wheel a bit, pull less on the brake cable so it's not as taut
Step 5. Tighten the bolts that hold the brake cable in the caliper
Use an Allen key and turn it clockwise 2 to 3 times until it does not turn anymore. The cable will be locked in place when the bolt is tightened.
Step 6. Adjust the slack adjusters on the handlebar
Turn the tension adjusters that you previously loosened several times clockwise until they are fully tightened. Adjusting the slack adjusters will loosen the brake pads that are attached to the front rim. Once the voltage regulators are adjusted, the brake cables are ready!