How to Adjust a Shimano 105 Brake Lever

The Shimano 105 series of components are designed for use on road bicycles. The 105 series of components falls into the third form the top in the company's hierarchy of component offerings, with Ultegra and Dura Ace coming in higher. Using the 105 brakes requires adjustments to get the brake lever hitting where you like. Adjust the brake lever yourself using the company's built-in barrel adjusters.

Instructions

    • 1

      Walk to the front of your bicycle and look straight at the brake calipers and where they rest in relation to the tire. If there is contact with the tire, go to the right-hand side brake lever on the handlebars and turn the barrel adjuster, found at the bottom of the brake lever, one-quarter turn to the left.

    • 2

      Check the front brakes again and see if the contact with the tire is still present. If there, turn one more quarter turn. Continue this micro-adjustment off the brake lever barrel adjustment until there is no brake contact with the tire.

    • 3

      Go to the back of the bicycle and look at the brake calipers. Turn the left-hand brake lever barrel adjuster one quarter-turn to the left and inspect for the contact. Make the micro-adjustments until no contact is left on the tire from the brakes.

    • 4

      Hop on the bicycle and go for a quick spin. Test the brake levers by pulling in toward the bicycle with the levers. Adjust the barrels by quarter-turn increments to get the lever's tension to your desired setting and adjustment.