Most bicycle brakes are activated by a set of cables connected to the brake levers, and most points together with your brakes might be solved by adjusting the stress of these cables. They may also want periodic changes to maintain them working correctly.
To take a look at the stress of your brake cables, give your brake levers a squeeze. If they contact the handlebar grips or get shut sufficient to crush a finger slipped beneath, you want to improve your cable pressure. On the flip facet, if solely the slightest strain on the levers causes your brakes to clamp down—or in case your brake pads rub whenever you spin the bike’s wheel with out squeezing the brake lever in any respect—then you want to lower your cable pressure. Usually, cable pressure might be modified by twisting the barrel adjuster discovered on the level the place the cable meets the hand lever. There are tons of easy-to-follow YouTube movies that present you how you can regulate brake cables.
There are just a few sorts of brakes, however you are almost definitely to have rim brakes or disc brakes. The commonest rim brakes—V-brakes or caliper brakes—pinch either side of the wheel rims from the highest of the wheel. Disc brakes do not contact the rim in any respect and as a substitute use small calipers to pinch CD-sized discs mounted within the heart of every wheel. Disc brakes provide superior stopping efficiency, however they are often fussy to take care of.
Fancier disc brakes use hydraulic mechanisms to pinch the discs. While hydraulic brakes usually are not inconceivable to take care of at residence, they seem to be a bit greater than most individuals wish to sort out. Remember to periodically get the strains checked and refilled with recent fluid at a neighborhood bike store. And if the brake fluid reservoir in your handlebars seems to be low, take it to a motorbike store quickly.
Less frequent are coaster brakes, which do not use levers and are as a substitute activated by pedaling backward. These are tough to regulate your self and are harmful when not correctly adjusted, so take your coaster brake to an expert.
Brake pads put on out steadily as you utilize your bike and are simply changed. You simply have to know what dimension or sort of brake pad to buy. The writing on the worn pads ought to offer you a touch about what to purchase. Brake pads are largely common, although their mounting programs differ. The starting of this video explains the variations.
Swapping out worn V-brake pads for brand new ones takes no various minutes, and all you often want is the suitable dimension hex key. We advocate Park Tool’s hex wrench ($14) with the three commonest key sizes on it. It will take you a bit longer to switch disc brake pads as a result of the brakes are smaller and extra intricate; this video reveals just a few methods to strategy pad substitute. In each instances, you must readjust your cable pressure after placing new pads on.
You’re going to wish to scrub these brake pads periodically too. Use an outdated toothbrush or a store towel ($3) to get into the hole between the brake and both the rim or the disc, and use some brake cleaner ($10) to take away any buildup.