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2. To decrease the reach, turn the screw in (clockwise). To increase the reach, turn the
screw out (counter-clockwise).
To change which lever controls the front brake (cable type)
See the Brakes section for brake adjustment procedures.
1. Open the brake.
2. For a road bike, disconnect the brake cable and completely remove it from the lever.
• For a mountain bike, just remove the leaded end of the cable from the lever.
3. Install the cables into the opposite levers.
4. Close the brakes.
5. Inspect the brakes as explained in Chapter 1, and re-adjust as necessary.
Brakes
Once a month, inspect brake pads for wear. If the grooves in
the braking surface are less than 2 mm deep, or 1 mm deep
for direct-pull brakes, replace the pads. Replace disc brake
pads that are thinner than 1.0 mm.
To adjust brake pad clearance to the rim
1. Turn the barrel adjuster. To increase the pad clearance, turn
the barrel adjuster in (clockwise). To reduce the pad clearance,
turn the barrel adjuster out (counter-clockwise).
For most direct-pull (Figure 28), or cantilever systems the
barrel adjuster is on the lever.
2. If the brake pads cannot be adjusted properly, loosen the
cable clamp bolt and re-attach the cable.
To center a V-type, cantilever, or road brake
1. Rotate the centering screw. Turn in small increments and check for centering.
2. If the brake has two centering screws, adjust the overall spring tension while
centering the brake.
To adjust the alignment of the brake pads on a rim brake
1. Loosen the brake pad fixing bolt.
2. Align the pads as shown on page 5, and tighten the pad fixing bolts:
• Road caliper- 40-60 lb•in (4.5-6.8 N•m)
• Direct-pull or cantilever- 70-80 lb•in (7.9-9 N•m)
3. After adjusting the brakes, test them by applying force to the levers. Ensure the
cable does not slip, the pads close toward the rim at right angles, and the pads do not
contact the tire.
To open the brake for wheel removal
• For cantilever brakes, release the linkwire. With one hand, squeeze the brake pads
firmly against the rim. With the other hand, pull the leaded end of the linkwire from the
retaining fork on the brake arm. Release the brake pads, and the brake will open.
