Fix it yourself
How to adjust bike brakes
If your brake lever pulls nearly to the handlebar, the brakes need adjusting. This guide covers rim brakes (V-brakes and calipers) and mechanical disc brakes — the kinds you can safely adjust at home.
15 minEasy
You'll need
Tools
- 5mm Allen key
- 10mm spanner (some older brakes)
- A clean rag
Step by step
How to do it
- Check the padsLook at the brake pads. If the grooves have worn away or you can see metal, they need replacing before anything else.
- Line up rim brake padsLoosen the pad bolt, position the pad so it hits the middle of the rim's braking surface — not the tyre, and not below the rim — then tighten it again.
- Take up slack with the barrel adjusterTurn the barrel adjuster where the cable meets the lever anticlockwise a couple of turns. The lever should now bite sooner.
- Pull the cable through if neededIf the barrel adjuster runs out, wind it back in, loosen the cable pinch bolt on the brake, pull a few millimetres of cable through and retighten firmly.
- Centre the brakeBoth pads should touch the rim at the same time. On V-brakes, adjust the small spring screws on each arm until they do.
- Mechanical disc brakesUse the barrel adjuster in the same way. If the disc rubs, loosen the two caliper bolts slightly, squeeze the lever, and tighten them while holding it.
- Test before you rideThe lever shouldn't touch the handlebar, the wheel should spin freely, and with the brake on you shouldn't be able to push the bike forward.
Not going to plan?
Bring it in instead if…
- You have hydraulic disc brakes — don't open the system
- Discs are contaminated or squeal no matter what
- Cables are frayed or rusty
- Brakes still feel weak after adjusting
We can sort it
Brake adjustment · £18Drop in Monday–Friday 8:45am–5:45pm or Saturday 9am–4pm at 13 Lansdowne Mews, Hove — or book a collection within 5 miles.
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