ADVICE / REPAIR & MAINTENANCE

How to adjust bike disc brakes

Is your disc brake rubbing or recently installed a new one? Here’s how to adjust your bicycle disc brake step by step.

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What you’ll learn

This guide covers the following topics:

Tools you need to adjust the disc brakes on your bike

WHAT YOU'LL NEED

Tools and materials

Allen key or Torx key
Repair stand (optional)
Torque wrench (optional)
Flashlight (optional)
White Sheet of Paper (optional)

Prepare your bike for adjustment

If your disc brake is rubbing or squeaking, the caliper is often slightly misaligned. Mounting your bike on a repair stand makes the adjustment easier. You can work at a comfortable height, and the wheels can spin freely. It also makes it easier to check whether the brake pads need replacing. If you don’t have a repair stand, lean the bike against a wall on the chainring side, so you can comfortably work on the side where the disc brake is.

The next five steps show what to look for when adjusting your disc brakes, whether you’re fine-tuning an existing setup or working on a bike recently converted to disc brakes. The process is the same for road and mountain bike disc brakes.

Wera

Bicycle Set Torque 1 Tool Set - 16 Pcs.

Feedback Sports

Pro Mechanic Bike Repair Stand - red

Wera

950/9 Hex-Plus Multicolour HF 1 - L-key Set with holding function - 9 Pcs.

BLUECHAIN

PRO Torque Wrench Set 3-15 Nm

STEP 1

Loosen the brake caliper

Loosen the two mounting bolts that secure it in place using the correct Allen key or Torx key. Loosen them just enough so the caliper can move side to side. It should move freely without wobbling.

Tighten the brake lever to fasten the fixing screws

STEP 2

Center the caliper using the brake lever

Pull the brake lever firmly and hold it to center the caliper over the rotor. While holding the lever, tighten the two mounting bolts evenly. Tighten the bolts alternately and follow the specified torque values.

Pro tip: To keep your hands free while adjusting the caliper, secure the brake lever with a rubber band.

Man doing the visual check when adjusting the disc brake

STEP 3

Check rotor alignment

If the alignment is correct, you shouldn’t hear any rubbing. Look down into the caliper from above while the wheel is turning slowly. There should be an even gap between both brake pads and the rotor.

Pro tip: You can see the gap more clearly by holding a white sheet of paper behind the caliper or shining a small light into it from below.

Close-up of the manual alignment of the disc brake

STEP 4

Align the caliper by hand if necessary

If the rotor is still rubbing, you can center the caliper manually. Loosen the mounting bolts slightly again and position the caliper roughly in the correct place. Lightly tighten the upper bolt while making sure the caliper remains centered at the top. Then adjust the lower side so the rotor sits evenly between the brake pads and lightly tighten the lower bolt.

Close-up of tightening the screws on a disc brake

STEP 5

Tighten the bolts to final torque

Once the caliper is properly aligned, tighten the bolts to the correct torque. Most caliper mounting bolts require 5–8 Nm. If you don’t have a torque wrench, tighten the bolts firmly but do not overtighten. Spin the wheel again to confirm it runs smoothly without rubbing. If the brake is still dragging, the issue may be something else, such as a bent rotor. Learn more here.