Today, we will comprehensively cover how you can adjust your bike brake for the optimum biking experience. We will cover the types of bike brakes and how you can adjust each of them. A bike brake is used to reduce your riding speed and make you stop when you want to. There are different types of bike brakes that can be used, and we will mention them in detail to understand the common issue that can be seen. We will also cover the minor adjustments you can make to fix braking issues. If it is a serious issue, you should go to a bike shop. In the bike shop, you will see professionals that are able to fix road bikes and mountain bikes.
Bike Brake Types
Most bicycle brake mechanisms comprise of three fundamental parts: a component for the rider to apply the brakes, for example, brake switches or pedals; an instrument for communicating that sign, for example, Bowden links, pressure-driven hoses, bars, or the bike chain; and the brake system itself, caliper brakes or drum, to squeeze at least two surfaces together to change over, by means of erosion, active energy of the bicycle and rider into thermal power to be disseminated. We will discover different commonly used bike braking systems to comprehensively understand them.
Rim brakes
Rim brakes have been the most common choice for all sorts of bicycles for a long time. Regardless of whether the rim is made of carbon or alloy, braking is accomplished by a pair of pads made of rubber or other materials that push on the rim’s side. Rim brakes are further divided into many main groups, each having a preference for a certain sort of application. Rim brakes with a single mounting point and those with two mounting points are the two primary sub-types, although additional types have been developed but have stayed in a niche. We will discuss some of these types which are commonly used amongst these categories of rim brakes.
Firstly, we will examine cantilever rim brakes which belong to the Double lateral mount rim brakes category. The cantilever was one of the first rim brakes to appear on a bicycle. It is made up of two pivoting arms and a cable that connects them, and it has a basic working mechanism. When the lever is pulled, a hanger at the end of the brake cable grabs the connecting cable, which connects the two turning arms in action via the connecting cable. It used to be a very popular choice for mountain bikes, nowadays this type of braking system is only used in low-end bikes. The benefits of this braking system can be its simple design, no mud interference, and compatibility with road brake levers. On the other hand, setting this brake system is way too hard compared to the others, and it provides average braking power. It may not be sufficient.
Secondly, we will talk about V brakes. This system is one of the most commonly used systems. It is actually derived from the cantilever system. By increasing the length of the pivot arms, the system gains more leverage, and a connecting cable is implanted parallel to the ground. This allowed for the development of very efficient models that were widely used until recently. Until disc brakes became the standard, the V-brake was the most popular form of brake for mountain bikes. One significant distinction between V-brakes and cantilever brakes is that V-brakes require a specific brake lever since traveling takes more time. A brake lever in a road bike cannot be utilized. In cyclocross bikes, short V brakes can be seen. Other than cyclocross bikes, v brakes are used in city and mountain bikes. They provide great braking power with excellent modulation and it is an easy setup but this type of brake is sensitive to mud.
Thirdly, U-brakes should be understood. The U-brake is a single-piece item, unlike the other types of brakes we’ve seen so far, which require two mounting places and are made up of two sections. It has also been there for decades and has maintained its shape and function. Road and city bikes have been the primary users since the beginning, and this hasn’t changed much. City bike versions stayed mostly unaltered, but road bike versions evolved in lockstep with them, becoming more smaller, aerodynamic, and lighter. They have exceptional rigidity and wind-cheating forms thanks to the use of cutting-edge materials. They’re suitable for both alloy and carbon rims, and a simple change of pads is all that’s required to make them compatible with either. With its two screws that keep the caliper in place, mounting has also changed since the direct mount system first appeared on the scene. The brake was eventually installed to the underside of the bottom bracket, leaving the seat stay unoccupied and ripe for tinkering in order to enhance vertical compliance. This system provides great braking force, it is lightweight and aerodynamically fine but, it is mud and water sensitive.
Lastly, we will talk about Hydraulic rim brakes. It seems to be a cantilever brake at first glance, with a piston in each caliper pressing the pads on the rim. One hose connects the brake lever to one of the calipers, while another connects the two and distributes the hydraulic fluid equally. Manufacturers saw city bikes as a good fit for these brakes, but they’ve also been seen on mountain bikes and trail bikes. It is sensitive to moisture, but it provides great braking power. It also does not require maintenance.
Disc brakes
They use a brake caliper with two brake pads that compress the rotor attached to the hub of the wheel. Excellent braking force, precise modulation that allows the rider to apply exactly the amount of braking power desired, great dependability, good functionality in all weather situations, and no rim wear are all features of these brakes. 2 types of disc brakes are commonly used today. We will examine both of them.
First of all, mechanical disk brakes will be analyzed. They use a steel wire to pull the brake pads from the brake calipers, similar to rim brakes. While the mechanism is simple, it is not particularly dependable, since it is prone to wear, oxidation, jamming, and other problems. The flexibility of the cable results in power losses. The brake cable activates a pair of levers inside the caliper, bringing one pad closer to the rotor until it presses the rotor against the other pad. Low-end versions have this problem, but mid-range and high-end models have both pads moving. This brake system can be used in every type of bike. It has a simple system, thus it is easy to fix it. Besides, it is cheap. The downsides of this system are that it may lose braking power, it may have uneven brake pads, and it has low reliability.
Secondly, we will talk about hydraulic disc brakes. The mineral oil or brake fluid that flows through the hose when the lever is pressed is what makes it work. Although both substances are dependable, the brake fluid has a tendency to overheat. As the brake pads wear down, they adjust themselves inside the caliper brake. Extreme-riding brakes, for example, feature two pistons per pad to offer more stopping force. Even if the pistons tend to jam from time to time if they are exposed to dirt or humid conditions, this is a minor issue that can be quickly fixed by a bike repair.
How to adjust bike brakes?
Now, we will tell you how you can adjust your bike brakes. You will adjust two major locations on cable-based brakes, mechanical disk brakes, and v brakes. The barrel adjuster is one element, while the caliper is the other. If you have v brakes, look above your tire for a horseshoe-shaped component attached to the brake pads; this is the caliper. The caliper on a mechanical disk brake resembles a claw and is placed in the center of the wheel. The barrel adjuster is a metal cuff that is attached to the brake cable on the brake lever. Using the brake lever is the simplest technique to determine whether something is wrong with your bike. You will be able to tell whether your brakes are too loose or too tight this way. The cable is too slack if the lever has to move all the way to the handlebars to obtain the desired speed. The cable, on the other hand, is excessively tight if you hardly move your bike and it slows down or stops.
Solutions
This is the first thing you can try. It is easy and even if this does not fix it, it will help you get to bike shops for sure. When you’ve finished analyzing your bike’s condition, use the barrel adjuster to make the necessary changes. Make the barrel adjuster tighter or looser by turning it clockwise or counter-clockwise, lowering or raising the brake tension. Return to the previous step and assess the status of the bike once you’ve reached the desired amount of tension by adjusting the barrel. Squeeze the brake lever to make sure everything is in working order following the modifications.
If the brake lever is too tight or too loose after the barrel adjustment, it’s because the brake caliper’s cable is either too tight or too loose. The Allen key will be required. Take the key and loosen the cable on the caliper with it. Reduce the brake tension by turning the caliper counter-clockwise. To avoid brake, make sure you don’t completely unbolt.
Because the cable springs back towards the brake lever when the caliper bolt is free enough, adjusting the tension of the cable becomes simple. You may tighten the brake by pushing it outwardly or loosen the brake by allowing the cable to stretch inwards. If you’re utilizing v brakes, make sure the brake pads don’t come into contact with the rim. The brake pads should be separated from the rim by a few millimeters. If your bicycle has disc brakes, the cable is routed through a lever on the caliper, which moves when the brakes are applied. After tightening the cable, double-check that the lever may move freely without colliding with the caliper. When you apply the brakes, if the lever reaches the caliper, the brakes will be jammed and the pads will not reach the rotor.
After double-checking that everything is in working order, that the brakes are properly tensioned, that the brake pads are far over the rim, and that the brake lever has enough room to move, tighten the caliper bolt and press your brakes once more. If the brakes aren’t just perfect, go back to the barrel adjuster and make some additional adjustments to tighten or loosen them.
Fixing V brakes
Brake pad degradation is one of the most prevalent causes of poor brake traction and alignment. As a result, inspecting the condition of your brake pads is a great place to start. If you find that the brake pad is worn beyond the wear line or that the wear is uneven, you should consider replacing it with new pads. When you lift the brake lever, both brake pads should press uniformly across the rim. In addition, the brake pads should push on the rim’s center, but not against the tire or the area above the rim lip. Make sure your brakes have as much surface contact as possible with the bike’s rims.
Using the Allen key, loosen the bolt of the first brake pad after locating the region that has to be changed. To adjust one brake, you’ll need to adjust both sides. As a result, you’ll have to loosen the bolts on the other side as well. It’s preferable if you don’t overtighten the bolt to keep the pads from slipping out of the holder. If you loosen the bolts too much, the bolt may fall out. Simply release the bolt enough to allow the brake pad to slide forward, backward, and up and down. The brake pads should move around 5 millimeters in all directions.
You may change the location where your brakes will settle on your wheel after unwinding the bolts. Reduce the space between the rim and the pads by pushing them tighter if the brakes were too slack. If the brakes were too tight, provide some room between the rim and the brake pads, allowing them to be farther apart than before. Then you should tighten the bolts properly.
Fixing Disc Brake Pads
Firstly, you have to turn your bike upside down. It will ease your process. The braking rotor is sandwiched between two pads inside the brake caliper. It’s time for a correction if the rotor and pads are irregularly spaced on either side. Everything may appear to be in order after readjusting the caliper. However, rotors can be damaged and only reveal themselves while the wheel is in motion. As a result, spin the wheel. When the wheel rotates, the rotor travels with it, thus if there is a bend, the wheel will rotate from side to side. You may require a new rotor or a piece of specific equipment to get the rotor back into shape if this happens. You should spin the wheel to ensure that the damage has been repaired.
Realign the caliper if you notice one side of the rotor is closer to one pad than the other. To accomplish this, you must first release the caliper’s top and bottom nuts. Do not completely release the bolts. Spin the wheel while pushing the brake lever tightly if you have a loose brake caliper. The rotor will be gripped by the brake caliper, which will align the brake pads. Pull the brakes and tighten the brakes at the same time. When you let go of the brakes, the rotor should be in the center of the brake pads. You must rotate the wheel to check that it does not move and that the caliper remains in place.
