After checking the condition of your brake pads, place your bike on a stand and rotate the front wheel without applying brakes to see if there’s rubbing. If any pads rub against the rim, even without pressing the brakes, your pads are not at the center. Next, press the brakes as you...
The brakes on your bike allow you to come to a stop without waiting for friction to slow you down, or putting your feet on the ground. Unfortunately this seemingly simple task is taken on by a combination of different parts of the bike which, over time, will go out of adjustment, requi...
Mixing components from other segments (e.g., downhill brakes on the enduro) Costs can be controlled Components can be bought gradually Compromises are possible (e.g., SLX drive with XT rear derailleur) Self-construction strengthens workshop knowledge The bike is known down to the tiniest screw...
Adjust Cable Tension Now re-connect the cable and adjust the cable tension on the brake arm by pulling the cable through the pinch bolt and tightening. You’ll have to play with this adjustment until your brakes feel good. I like to have mine set so that the pads hit the rim when my ...
Understanding Mountain Bike Brake Systems Before we dive into the details of how to adjust your mountain bike brakes, it’s important to have a basic understanding of the different types of brake systems commonly found on mountain bikes. The two primary types of brake systems are rim brakes and...
To center side pull brakes (road bikes), loosen the attaching bolt behind the fork crown or brake bridge until the brake is loose. (It should move sideways when you push it).Now, squeeze the lever to hold the brake pads against the rim while you tighten the brake bolt on the back of...
If your brake unit is really stiff or too loose, you’ll have to adjust the main center bolt. Some brakes have two nuts on the front side that turn against each other, while other systems like this one are adjusted by loosening off the back bolt, adjusting the front bolt, and then ti...
How to Adjust Sidepull Caliper Brakes In this tutorial we’ll learn how to set up your child’s first hand brake. Often the excitement of getting a new bike with a hand brake quickly turns to disappointment when your child tries to use it, only to find the lever is too far from ...
Corrosive buildup, dirt and dust can prevent the smooth action of a rim brake, which can result in a cyclist's worst nightmare: brakes that won't respond when you need them. This can manifest as a brake that won't disengage after you release the lever, o
Tektro brakes are known for their reliability, strength, braking power and ease of adjustment. Tektro brakes come standard on many bicycles right out of the showroom, and like most other brakes, after a few hundred miles of riding they often require adj