How to Adjust Your Bike Brakes Yourself (A Practical Guide to Better Performance and Safer Riding)

Good brakes should stop you smoothly, with the lever stopping well before it touches the handlebar. If a brake feels soft, noisy, or uneven, a careful adjustment often fixes it.

Check pads and wheels first

Look at the brake pads. They should meet the rim or disc squarely, without touching the tyre. Replace pads that are worn down to the wear line, cracked, or glazed. Spin the wheel and check it is true, because a wobbly wheel will rub even with good brakes.

Adjust rim brakes

Loosen the cable just enough to centre the pads, then tighten it so the pads meet the rim at the same time on both sides. Use the small spring screws on the caliper to balance the arms. Test the lever: it should feel firm and stop the wheel with a moderate pull.

Adjust disc brakes

For mechanical discs, use the pad adjusters to bring the pads close to the disc without rubbing. For hydraulic discs, a soft lever often means air in the system or worn pads, which is a workshop job if you are not trained for it. Never ride with a lever that goes to the bar.

Test before you ride far

Walk the bike, pull each brake in turn, and check the wheel stops. Then ride slowly in a safe place and test both brakes again. Brakes are safety parts, so if you are unsure, have them checked.

Q: Why does one brake rub after adjustment?

A: The wheel may be slightly out of true, or one pad may sit closer than the other. Re-centre the caliper and check the wheel before forcing the cable tighter.

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