How to Add Disc Brakes to a Bicycle

Installing a disc brake system on your bicycle provides a great improvement to the standard V-brake systems that are typically used on stock bicycles. Disc brake systems allow for users to achieve more control over their ride by offering quicker speed control and smoother braking. This improvement is ideal for competitive riders, who are often in fast-riding situations and can use every bit of control over their bike. While the cable systems and seemingly intricate parts of a disc brake system can be intimidating, installing these brakes are not as difficult as it may seem.

Things You'll Need

  • Disc brake system
  • Hex wrenches
  • Torx wrench
  • Torque wrench
  • Cable cutters
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove the wheels from your bicycle by loosening the bolts, using a standard torque wrench. When the bolts are removed, pull the wheel away from the frame of the bicycle.

    • 2

      Mount the disc brake rotors onto the hubs of your bicycle's wheels. The hub mounts of the wheel are located at the center of the wheel and have six bolt holes which you can align the rotor to. Use a Torx wrench to tighten the bolts and secure the rotor into place.

    • 3

      Mount the front disc brake caliper to the fork of your bike, which is the metal piece that connects your front wheel with the bicycle frame. Using a hex wrench, mount the caliper to the front of the bike, but do not fully tighten the bolts.

    • 4

      Mount the back disc brake caliper to the rear frame of the bike, using a hex wrench to tighten the connection bolts. Mount the caliper just above the wheel hub location on your bike frame, leaving the bolts slightly loose so adjustments can be made once the wheels are installed back onto the bicycle.

    • 5

      Install the wheels back onto the frame, using your torque wrench. Slide the wheel into place at the fork of the bike frame and secure the wheel into place, using the wheel bolts. Slide the rotor of the disc brakes into place between the two brake pads of each caliper.

    • 6

      Mount the front and rear levers of the disc brake system to your handlebars by fitting the lever onto the bar and tightening the given bolts for the brake set. Pass the hydraulic line from the rear brake lever through the bike frame along the top bar of the frame triangle, and secure this line into the rear caliper. Pass the line from the front brake lever along the fork of the bike frame, and secure the line into the front brake caliper.

    • 7

      Adjust the position of the calipers on each wheel so the brake pads can clamp down securely onto the brake rotor. Fully tighten the calipers for the front and rear wheels when they are set into place.

    • 8

      Turn your handlebars fully to the right and left to check for any problems with the cable length of your hydraulic line. If there is excess cable, loosen the barrel adjuster on your brake lever and pull some excess cable through. Clip the excess cable, using wire clippers, leaving approximately 3/4 inch of excess cable.

    • 9

      Adjust the tightness of your brake pads by rotating the adjustment knobs located on the brake calipers. The wheel should be able to spin freely when the pads are adjusted correctly.