Adjusting Caliper Brakes

How to Check and Adjust Electric Bike Caliper Brakes

The latest bicycle brakes are designed to be incredibly powerful and safe. But you still need to take care of them.

Brakes have only two problems:

They can be too tight or too loose.  Brakes that are too tight rub against the wheel and slow you down; brakes that are too loose don't provide enough stopping power.

Keep them properly adjusted, and your riding will be easier and safer. This adjustment applies to bikes that have a frame-mounted brake to grip the sides of the wheel rim.

1. Lift the bicycle off the ground and spin each wheel. If the rubbing is very faint, the problem can be fixed using the brake-alignment screw.
   
   
2. You'll find this small screw on the brake by the wheel rim.  Turn the screw slowly with a small Phillips screwdriver, in either direction, until the brake no longer contacts the rim. Work slowly, and frequently spin the wheel to check for rubbing.  A small adjustment should be sufficient.

Severe rubbing requires an adjustment of the brake cable

1. Using an Allen (hex) wrench, loosen the nut holding the brake cable to the brake itself. Allow the cable to loosen slightly and re-secure the nut. Spin the wheel to test for rubbing. Squeeze the brake lever a few times to be sure the new slack in the cable has reached the brake. Loosen the cable further if necessary.
   
   
2. Immediately in front of the handlebar brake lever is a screw adjuster, through which the brake cable passes. Turn the adjuster ant-clockwise to add tension to the brake cable and thereby increase.
   
   
3. Test the brakes for sufficient tension. If you can pull the brake lever all the way back to the handlebar, continue adding tension.
   
   
4. If the adjuster doesn't add enough tension, the brake cable must be pulled tighter at the brake. Return the adjuster to the middle of its adjustment range by giving it a few clockwise turns.
   
   
5. Follow the brake cable to where it attaches to the brake. Loosen the nut holding the cable to the brake, using an Allen Key.  Using a pair of pliers, pull the cable taut. While holding the cable taut, re-secure the brake cable by tightening the nut with a wrench.

Repeat steps 1 through 5 for the other brake.

Ride the bike to test the brakes. If you have added too much tension and the brakes rub slightly, try turning the screw adjuster clockwise. This will remove a bit of tension from the brake cables.