How to Set Up Brakes on a Bike

Bicycle hand brakes have two adjustments, cable tension and pad alignment. Cable tension is adjusted on the bike's brake levers. Pad alignment is done on the pad itself. If your cable is not sufficiently tight, it will result in loss of pad pressure against the rim. If your pads are not aligned, it will result in poor pad-to-rim friction, causing lack of stopping power. It's best to adjust both factors when doing brake set-up.

Things You'll Need

  • Bike stand
  • 5mm hex wrench (Allen wrench)
Show More

Instructions

  1. Barrel Adjuster

    • 1

      Put the bike in a bike stand. Loosen a thick, serrated washer--the lockring--located where the brake handle attaches to the plastic brake housing; the brake cable passes through the center of it. Use your fingers to turn it counterclockwise.

    • 2

      Twist the barrel adjuster counterclockwise until it becomes tight. The barrel adjuster is a serrated knob located in front of the lockring; the cable also passes through the center of it.

    • 3

      Spin the wheel with your hand. If the wheel won't spin, or spins but slows down and stops within three revolutions, twist the barrel adjuster two turns clockwise, and spin the tire again. If it still slows down and stops, turn the barrel adjuster two more turns until the wheel will spin freely. Tighten the lockring to lock the setting. Do both wheels.

    Pad

    • 4

      Loosen the 5mm hex setscrew located on the brake pad. It sticks straight out horizontally from the back of the pad.

    • 5

      Grab the pad with your fingers. Slide it up or down to center it on the rim. Tilt it up or down to align it with the rim's curve.

    • 6

      Tighten the setscrew securely. Give the wheel a spin with your hand. Watch as the wheel spins past the pad. If not satisfied with alignment, loosen the setscrew and correct. When finished, tighten the setscrew securely. Do both wheels.