What do I do if my brakes brake inconsistently?

Check whether the brake pads are correctly aligned and evenly worn and that the brakes arms are correctly centered. If your brake pads are still good, adjust them and re-center the brake. You can find out how to do this for your brake type above. If this is not successful, check whether your brake arms can be moved just as easily on both sides. If this is not the case, disassembly, cleaning and greasing of the bosses will help.

Why are my brakes rubbing on the rim?

Grinding brakes can be caused by excessive tension, incorrect alignment of the brake pads or insufficient centering of the brake. Lateral run-out of the wheel can also be the cause. If you can rule out the latter, check the tension as described in our article, adjust the pads and re-center the brake.

What to do if the rim brake squeaks?

You can check whether the pads are positioned in the riding direction so that they make contact with the brake track at the front first. If this is not the case, you can try to correct the alignment using a piece of cardboard that you place under the rear section (closer to the fork) when adjusting the pad angle. You can find out how the alignment works in our article above.

How can I find out if my brake pads needs to be replaced?

Check the brake pads regularly for wear. If the markings or grooves on the pads have disappeared, or they are less than 3 mm thick, it is time to replace them. They should also be replaced if they are chipped.

How often should I adjust my rim brakes?

Due to their design, rim brakes can be adjusted much more easily than disc brakes – for example when installing and removing the wheel or due to dirt and wear. A quick check before every ride to ensure that the settings are still correct is therefore recommended, and any necessary adjustments can be made in no time at all.

How can you increase the braking force of a rim brake?

By adjusting your rim brake correctly, you ensure that the maximum braking force can be achieved in principle. However, there are other ways to increase the braking force. These include cleaning the brake track or replacing the old brake pads with brake pads specially adapted to your field of application. Replacing rusty or old brake cables and housings can also increase braking power.

ADVICE / REPAIR & MAINTENANCE

Adjusting Rim Brakes

Do you have a rim brake on your bike that you want to adjust?
Whether V-brake, cantilever & Co. – here we explain all the steps
from adjusting the brake pads to the correct cable tension.

> How to Adjust Rim Brakes Step-by-Step

Rim Brake Adjustment – In a Short

These exciting topics await you:

V-Brake, Side-Pull Brake or Cantilever?

The most common rim brakes are side-pull brakes on road bikes, V-brakes on mountain bikes and trekking bikes, and cantilever brakes on older cyclocross bikes. Here we explain all the steps involved in adjusting the respective bicycle rim brake for each of these three brake types. As with all repairs, an assembly stand makes things a lot easier so that your bike is securely fastened during the adjustment. Alternatively, you can place your bike on a display stand or lean it against a wall. It is important that you can easily reach the rim brake.

Tools and material you need for adjusting rim brakes

WHAT YOU NEED

Material and Tools

These are the most common tools for adjusting the bicycle brake.

Allen key set
T10/T25 Torx wrench
10,12, 13 mm open-end wrench
PH2 screwdriver
Pointed pliers
Assembly stand (optional)
Torque wrench (optional)

V-Brake Adjustment – Step by Step

The widely used V-brake consists of two long parallel arms that are connected at the upper end by the brake cable. Compared to other rim brakes, V-brakes have particularly long brake pads for greater braking power. Another advantage is that you can simply unhook the brake cable on one side, for example to remove the wheel. The following three steps will show you how to set up a V-brake correctly.

Close-up of aligning the brake pads of a V-brake

STEP 1

Aligning Brake Pads

To adjust your V-Brake brakes, it is best to unhook the brake cable first. Then press the brake arms firmly against the brake surface. The brake pads must be parallel to the brake track when viewed from the side. To adjust, slightly open a fastening screw, press the brake arm against the rim and align the pad. Then tighten the fastening screw again with the brake arm pressed down – finally, hold against it slightly with your second hand. Now do the same thing again on the other side.

Close-up of the brake cable tension check

STEP 2

Check the Brake Cable Tension

Now hook the brake cable back in. Then turn the wheel and check whether it runs freely. If the pads are too close to the rim or drag, you need to reduce the tension. If you pull the brake lever and the pads only bite when the lever is already on the handlebars or do not come into contact with the brake track at all, you need to increase the tension. Both can be done using the adjusting screw on the brake lever or, if this is not enough, using the fixing screw of the cable on the brake arm. Open it, adjust the tension and retighten the screw to 6-8 Nm.

STEP 3

Setting the V-Brake – Final Centering

To do this, check whether the two arms of the V-brake are at the same angle when viewed from the front. Ideally, they should be perpendicular or parallel to the wheel. You can correct the angle of each arm by turning the small screw on the side of the arm with a suitable Allen key or Phillips screwdriver. The further you screw it in, the further the respective arm is away from the wheel.

Road Bike Brake Adjustment – Step-by-Step

Side-pull brakes are the most common on road bikes with rim brakes. Currently, two-piece dual pivot brakes with two pivot points for high braking power have established themselves across the board. The cable is attached to the side and when the brake lever is pulled, both arms of the brake body move towards the rim like a pair of pliers. Specific brake pads are used on road bike rim brakes. The following three steps will show you how to correctly adjust a road bike brake of this type.

Close-up of adjusting the brake pads on a road bike

STEP 1

Adjusting Brake Pads

The brake pads of a rim brake on a road bike should be parallel to the brake surface when viewed from the side as well as in the direction of riding. To adjust the pads, open the fixing screw slightly and pull the brake lever so that the pad is in contact with the brake track. Now align the pad horizontally and carefully tighten the fastening screw again while holding the brake lever firmly.

Close-up of the centering of the brake body

STEP 2

Center the Brake Body

A road bike rim brake is attached to the fork or rear triangle with a central mounting bolt. Ideally, the brake body is positioned so that both arms or brake pads are at the same distance from the rim. There are usually two ways to correct the position:

You loosen the nut of the mounting bolt slightly and use a suitable open-end wrench behind the spring to carefully turn the entire brake body to the left or right. Alternatively, you can also try holding the brake lever down with the nut loosened. Either way, once the brake body is centered, tighten everything again to 5-7 Nm. It is best to counteract while tightening with your hand or the open-end wrench.
You have a modern dual pivot brake with an adjustment screw on the top. Then you only have to turn the grub screw with a suitable Allen key or PH2 screwdriver for small adjustments until the brake is symmetrically aligned. If this is not sufficient, carry out the first variant again first.

Close-up of the brake cable and tension check

STEP 3

Check the Brake Cable and Tension

Finally, we check the cable tension. Many brake body models have a quick release lever on the cable, which makes it easier for you to remove the wheel – it must be closed for the adjustment. The brake pads should be around 3 mm away from the brake track without pulling the brake lever and the brake should engage after ⅓ of the lever actuation. Turn the wheel and check whether it turns freely. If the pads are too close to the rim, you need to reduce the tension. If they are too far away, you need to increase the tension. Both can be done using the adjusting screw at the top of the brake body. If you need to change the tension more, loosen the fixing screw of the cable on the brake body slightly, adjust the tension and tighten the screw again.

Cantilever Brake Adjustment – Step-by-Step

The cantilever brake is the predecessor of the V-brake. They can be found on older cyclocross bikes, trekking bikes and mountain bikes. It consists of two arms that are shorter than on V-brakes and point away from the bike at the upper end. Both sides are connected via a so-called cross cable or Y-link, which in turn is connected to the main cable. Regardless of the design, the cross cable is always attached to one side. If you press the brake arms together a little, you can simply unhook it. The following three steps show you how to adjust "Canti Brakes" correctly.

Close-up of aligning the brake pads on a cantilever brake

STEP 1

Aligning Brake Pads

First check that the brake pads are correctly aligned. Check where the pads are positioned when you press them firmly against the brake track. They must be parallel to the brake surface when viewed from the side and in the direction of riding. To adjust the pads, unscrew the tension adjusting screw or pull the brake lever and open the fastening screw slightly with an Allen key or open-end wrench. Make sure you hold it slightly. Now align the brake pads with the rim and at a 90° angle to the mounting points on the brake arms. Then pull more firmly on the brake lever and tighten the fixing screw again – finally, hold against it slightly with your second hand or an Allen key wrench. Then repeat the process on the other side.

Close-up of the tension check - with adjusting screw

STEP 2a

Check Tension – With Adjusting Screw on the Brake Lever

Adjusting the cable length is less convenient with cantilever brakes than with other rim brakes. First turn the wheel and check whether it runs freely. If the pads rub against the rim, you need to reduce the cable tension. If you pull the brake lever and the pressure point comes too late or no contact is made with the brake track at all, you need to increase the tension. If there is an adjustment screw on the brake lever or counter-holder, you can use it to adjust the tension.

Close-up of the tension check - without adjusting screw

STEP 2b

Check Tension – Without Adjusting Screw on the Brake Lever

If there is no adjustment screw, or you need to adjust the cable tension more, there are basically two variants. On Y-linked models (main brake cable passed through), it is sufficient to slightly loosen the fixing screw of the main cable on the brake body. If your brake has a separate cross cable, you must carefully loosen the screw on the "hanger" that fixes the main cable. Then adjust the cable tension as required – use pliers if necessary – and tighten the bolt again to 6-9 Nm. On cantilever brakes with a Y-link – the junction of the two cables in the middle above the brake – you must ensure that the main cable is routed vertically upwards.

STEP 3

Center the Brake

Finally, check whether the two canti arms are at the same angle or centered when viewed from the front. You can correct the angle of each arm by turning the small grub screw on the side of the arm with a suitable hex key. The respective arm then moves inwards or outwards and also influences the position of the other arm to a lesser extent. This makes adjusting a cantilever brake somewhat difficult. For cantilevers with the cross cable fixed to the hanger (carrier), it is also important that you loosen its hex key or Phillips head fixing screw beforehand.