How to Adjust Sidepull Caliper Brakes
Learn how to adjust brake pads, cable tension and centering on road-style caliper brakes.
Video updates
- 00:13 - Correction: 9 or 10mm open end wrenches.
- 00:25 - Correction: It's called a 4th Hand Tool.
- 00:31 - Watch How to Tape Drop Handlebars at about 00:30 for lever alignment tips.
- 00:52 - Remove the wheels if your pad adjustment is good and you don't want to mess with it. Otherwise you can simply remove the pads for resurfacing.
In this week’s tutorial, we’ll learn how to adjust sidepull caliper brakes, found on most road bikes. For this job, depending on your bike, you’ll need a set of 5 or 6mm allen wrenches, a set of open-end metric wrenches sized 9 or 10mm, a 14mm offset brake wrench for centering, some rough sandpaper for re-surfacing the brake pads, a light lubricant like TriFlow, and an optional 4th hand tool for adjusting the cable tension.
Lever Adjustment
First you’ll want to make sure that your brake levers are properly positioned. Check the handlebar wrapping tutorial for a more detailed procedure. It’s also a good idea to make sure your wheels are properly centered in the frame.
Many road brake systems have a quick release mechanism that loosens the brake enough so that you can remove the wheels. If not you’ll have to loosen the pinch bolt enough to give the cable some slack.
Brake Pads
Now remove your wheel and resurface the pads with your sandpaper to remove road grime. Then reinstall the wheel and check to make sure the pads are lined up with the rim. Some pads have a curved washer that allows you to set the toe-in adjustment. To avoid squealing noises while your ride, try to set the rear of the pad so there is about a 1 or 2mm gap when the front of the pad contacts the rim.
Cable Tension
To set the cable tension, first make sure your barrel adjuster is threaded all the way down. If you have a cable quick release system, make sure it is set to the tightest setting, where the brake arms are closest together. If you don’t have a quick release, you can always back off the barrel adjuster a few turns so that it can be easily loosened later.
Now set the cable tension with the cable pinch bolt. The 4th hand tool makes it easier by pulling the cable for you while you tighten the bolt. This is a personal preference, as it sets how far you’ll have to pull the lever before the brakes contact the rim. Some people prefer very responsive brakes and set them really tight, while others prefer a bit more slack. I like to have the brake contact the rim when I’ve pulled the lever about 1/4 of the way.
Pivot Adjustment
If your brake unit is really stiff or too loose, you’ll have to adjust the main center bolt. Some brakes have two nuts on the front side that turn against each other, while other systems like this one are adjusted by loosening off the back bolt, adjusting the front bolt, and then tightening it against the back bolt. The adjustment is correct when the brakes are tight but function easily.
Centering
Now check the brake centering. Both pads should contact the rim at the same time. If not, you can adjust this by loosening off the main back bolt and placing the centering wrench on the flats of the thick washer on the other side. Center the brakes with the wrench and then tighten the bolt. This sometimes takes a few tries because the brake will move a little bit while you’re tightening.
Once the brake is set up, drop a tiny bit of light oil on the pivot points. Wipe off any excess and be careful not to get any oil on the rim surface or brake pads.
Related Links
- Jim Langley: Brake Adjustment
- Park Tool: Sidepull Brake Service
- Sheldon Brown: Adjusting Sidepull Calipers
- Bicycle Torque Specifications
Related Tools
- Park Tool OBW-3 Offset Brake Wrench
- Park Tool HXS-1.2 Hex Wrench Set
- Park Tool Wrench Combo Set
- Tri-Flow Superior Lube
- Park Tool SK-3 Starter Mechanic Tool Kit
- Park Tool PK-3 Professional Tool Kit
Categories
Discuss this topic in the Bicycle Repairs and Mechanics Forum
Schwinn 3rd Avenue 700C hybrid
Lastest post 1 day agoThe bike, new, was $199 from an Amazon dealer, and it came with a load of great reviews and very few negative ones. That should be a warning to anyone looking for a new bike; the shills are out there. If anyone buys one with the idea of putting it together and going for a ride, they would be disappointed. Walmart bikes are better. Seriously! I knew that it would need some work because you do...
Read moreBike pedal nut spins in place
Lastest post 3 days agoHi All, Got a new Trek MTB and attempted to change the pedals. Unscrew the drive side pedal easily by turning anti-clockwise; all good there. This is where my noob mistake happen... Did the same by turning the left side pedal the same way (anti-clockwise) and over crank it such that the bolt is now just spinning clockwise and anti-clockwise without coming off. It's not loose.. just spinning in ...
Read moreOil can spouts
Lastest post 3 days agoYears ago, oil cans had long spouts. Even the throw away cans had long spouts, but makers started putting little nubby spouts on the cans which makes it hard to get into some places such as my bike derailleurs. To oil those I have to pour oil onto a screwdriver blade and let it run down. The cans of '3 in 1' oil I used as a kid, on my bike, had a long spout. So after digging around I found cans w...
Read moreBrake lever hood replacement
Lastest post 3 days agoDoes anyone know of an aftermarket brake hood that (reasonably) fits Suntour GPX brake levers?...
Read moreReplace disc brake pads
Lastest post 6 days agoFirst time doing this, I have to be 100% confident. Are there any risks and potential failures that have to be considered before switching the disc brake pads? I just bought the same pads I have had before, Shimano B01S resin. Will switchem th tomorrow hopefully. Nothing much can go wrong, right?...
Read moreTools for removing disc brake rotors
Lastest post 1 week agoHi all. Couple more questions from the mountain biking beginner. What tool is the best for unmounting/mounting disc brake rotors? I currently have CUBE ZX20 32H wheelset if that helps. Also how can I fix a very slightly bent rotor? It's not very noticeable but still bothers me with that sound ... squeeks against the pads once in a while....
Read moreUsing Evapo-rust for bolts
Lastest post 2 weeks agoI just wanted to show how I rescue rusty bits and pieces using Evapo-rust. does a decent job for just soaking, letting it work, then rinse and lightly scrub and then off to the bench polisher. this is how to start off and I will post pics of the finished bolts when complete. I think you will be pleasantly surprised at the results. ...
Read moreForum update: Mark your thread as solved
Lastest post 2 weeks agoHello, bike riders! In order to improve forum members' experience, we have implemented an option to mark your threads/questions as solved ✅ Currently we have added this option only for the Bicycle Repairs and Mechanics section, and threads can be marked as solved only by the thread's author or forum moderator. Such addition will allow forum members and new visitors to identify 1) already solve...
Read moreCannondale Warranty is a SCAM! Manufacturing fault nearly cost me my life.
Lastest post 2 weeks agoI am the original owner of Cannondale Quick 2016, which I have purchased from one of the Authorized Cannondale shops. Everything went well to begin with, and the bike rode very well. But one day, while cycling on a straight, tarmacked road, all of a sudden my front wheel begun to wobble uncontrollably; the wobble was strong enough to set me straight under a heavy traffic, it was a very near miss. ...
Read moreNew to bike repair- brake caliper selection question.
Lastest post 2 weeks agoxposting this to a few forums as I truly don't know where to start! Link to current setup https://imgur.com/a/Uxwkd54 I come from a car repair background and am trying to learn more about bikes. I have a bianchi I use to commute, and an ol' fuji single speed I'm using as a learner. Just toyed around on the brakes a minute and one part broke (old). Yay! New parts! But how do I know which caliper...
Read moreBrake pads for Old Peugeot
Lastest post 2 weeks agoHello! Recently I was "given" an old Peugeot bike. Checking its decails and the number on the shift derailleur I found out is from 1982. The brakes and brake pads are original. I might not replace the brakes just yet, but will for sure replace the pads since they´re old an hardened. Do any of you know which pads might suit this? BRAKES.jpg (Size: 149.58 KB / Downloads: 10) ht...
Read moreShimano chain master link
Lastest post 2 weeks agoHi. I have Shimano HG601 chain 11-speed and I want to add the master link to it. Watched some videos but I have to be 100% sure, that is why I hereby present my brief plan: 1. there is a black link in the chain 2. I use the chain tool to push that black pin out 3. then I add the master link 4. finish up with using the special tongs to press that master link into the chain Does this look like a g...
Read moreIs it possible to upgrade freehub from 10 speed to 11 speed
Lastest post 3 weeks agoAlmost finished by bike upgrade, only to find my freehub is too small for new cassette. Is it possible to upgrade the freehub from 10 speed to 11 speed or do I have to buy new wheels? Wheels are Shimano RX05......
Read moreSeized bike stem?
Lastest post 3 weeks agoHiya, on tour at the moment. Realising from hand and wrist pins that my flat bars are a bit low for me. I opened the little cap and undid the hex bolt, but the stem seems to have seized to the frame. Any tips on unseizing it without damaging it? Someone suggested wd40, which I don’t have. Would regular chain lube (tf2 all weather) overnight work?...
Read moreThru Axle 150mm x 15mm needed
Lastest post 3 weeks agoIMG_2496.jpg (Size: 203.54 KB / Downloads: 7) asked this question over on /r/fatbike and i'll ask here as well: i bought a used fat bike, a mongoose argus comp, that was upgraded with a rockshox bluto 100mm suspension fork. I have a full squish XC bike, and with no real need for the supsension on the fatbike, i purchased the stock mongoose alloy rigid fork ($50). I am planni...
Read more
