My Bicycle Brake Hand Lever Is Loose on the Handlebar

Bicycle brake hand levers are attached to your handlebars with a simple clamp mechanism. When you grasp the lever with your fingers and pull on it, it tightens a cable that runs down your bike's frame to the brake calipers. The brake calipers compress and force brake pads against the rims of your wheel, stopping your bike. If the clamp lever becomes loose, the lever will lose its position on the handlebars or may even slip underneath the bars, out of your reach. You should always keep a 5mm hex wrench with you when you ride to fix a loose lever clamp. A hex wrench is nothing more than a small Allen wrench that you can find at any hardware store.

Things You'll Need

  • 5mm hex wrench
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Instructions

  1. Mountain Bikes

    • 1

      Grab the handle as if you were going to apply the brakes. Move it up and down. There is a round metal clamp circling your handlebars that holds the brake handle to the handlebars. Watch as you move the brake handle up and down, you will be able to see where the clamp is sliding.

    • 2

      Insert a 5mm hex wrench into the set-screw located on the clamp. It may be on top, on the bottom or facing straight out. Tighten the screw slightly, just enough to hold the lever in place.

    • 3

      Grab the lever as if you were braking. Pull or push it into position where you like it best and let go. Finish tightening the screw using the hex wrench.

    Road Bikes

    • 4

      Grab the brake handle as if you were applying the brakes. Pull the handle back toward your body to tilt the handle back slightly and let go.

    • 5

      Get off the bike and lean it against a wall. Walk around to the front of the bike. Pull up on the rubber flap that is located directly underneath the brake handle. You will see a 5mm hex set-screw under the flap.

    • 6

      Hold the rubber flap up with one hand while you insert a 5mm hex wrench into the set-screw. Tighten the set screw slightly by turning it clockwise. Get back on the bike. Put your hand on the brake handle and move it into the position you like best for braking. Finish by tightening the set-screw securely.