How to Adjust Bicycle Brakes

Periodically adjusting the bicycle brakes will help the brakes work better and ensure safe driving. The two main components in a bicycle brake system that you can adjust are the brake pads and the brake cable. Brake pads that are too worn or are too far away from the wheel rims can be a hazard. Brake cables that are too loose also make braking more difficult. Fortunately, you can fix these problems with simple tools!

Table of Contents

Adjusting brake pads

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Check brake pads before adjusting. Brake pads are two erasers that grip the front wheel of your bike when you squeeze the brake lever. If the brake pads wear out beyond the marked position, you will need to replace them with new ones before adjusting the brakes. ^{[1] X Research Source}

If there is no wear line on the brake pads, this position will be marked with grooves on either side of the brake pads.
You can buy new brake pads online or at a bike shop.
Make sure the wheel is centered between the two axle hooks, otherwise the brace will not be able to make good contact with the brake pads.

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Squeeze the brake lever to see where the brake pads are in contact with the braces. The two brake pads must be in contact with the front wheel rims at the same time. They should be in contact with the center point of the rim, with equal space below and above the brake pads. If the brake pads come in contact with the rims too high or too low, it could touch the rubber part of the tire or the spokes. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Bend over to take a close look at the brake pads as you squeeze the brake lever.
If your bike has a quick release brake, you’ll need to check to make sure it’s not loose. Otherwise, the brake will not be able to squeeze the wheel firmly.

Use the hex key to loosen the bolt holding the brake pad. Turn the hex key counterclockwise to loosen the bolt. Do not unscrew the bolt completely so that the brake pad does not slip out of the brake pad holder. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Move the brake pad up and down in the brake pad holder. They should move up and down easily once the bolts are loosened. If the brake pad contacting the brace is too low or too high, move it to the center position. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Use a hex wrench to tighten the bolts. Turn the hex key clockwise until the bolt is tightened. Check to make sure the brake pads are centered. Adjust again if necessary. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Tighten the brake cable

Check cable tension by squeezing each brake lever. When you squeeze the brake lever, the brake lever should be about 4 cm away from the handle. If the brake lever touches the handle when you squeeze, the brake cable is too loose. ^{[6] X Research Source}

Loosen the adjusting screw to slightly adjust the cable tension. If the brake cable is only slightly loose, loosening the adjusting screw will fix the problem. The adjusting screw is located at the contact position between the brake cable and the brake lever. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Loosen the adjusting screw attached to the cable by turning it counter-clockwise. When the adjusting screw is loosened, the cable will be tightened slightly.
After loosening the adjusting screw, squeeze the brake lever to recheck the cable tension. If the brake cable is still loose, you must adjust on the brake pad holder. Now you will not touch the adjusting screw. Drill tight.

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Open the bolt that attaches the brake cable to the brake pad holder. The brake pad holder is the main frame of the brake system. The brake cable is a thin cable that extends from the brake pad holder. After locating the bolt holding the brake cable, use the hex key to turn the bolt counterclockwise a few turns. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Do not open the bolt completely. You should only turn the hex key counterclockwise 2-3 turns to loosen the bolt.

Pull the brake cable outward to increase the cable tension. Now the bolt is loosened so you should be able to pull the cable easily. Hold the cable in place while it is being stretched. When you stretch the cable, the two brake pads come into contact with the wheel brace. You should pull the cable tight enough that there is a slight resistance when you turn the wheel, but not so tight that it is impossible to turn the wheel. ^{[9] X Research Source}

If you cannot turn the wheel, reduce the drag on the cable.

Tighten the brake cable attachment bolt to the brake pad holder. Use a hex wrench to turn the bolt clockwise 2-3 turns until it can no longer be turned. The cable will stay in place when you tighten the bolt.

Tighten the adjusting screw on the handle. Turn the previously loosened adjustment screw clockwise several turns to fully tighten. Tightening the adjusting nut will help loosen the brake pads that are clamping to the front wheel. After the adjusting screw is tightened, the brake cable has been adjusted successfully!

Check the brake cable by squeezing the brake lever. When you squeeze the brake lever, the brake lever should be about 4 cm away from the handle.

Advice

If your bike has disc brakes, position your bike’s rotor on a fixed disc instead of a movable disc.

How to Adjust Bicycle Brakes

Steps

Adjusting brake pads

Tighten the brake cable

Advice

Things you need

Adjusting brake pads

Tighten the brake cable

Steps

Adjusting brake pads

Tighten the brake cable

Advice

Things you need

Adjusting brake pads

Tighten the brake cable

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