Repair guides › Brakes
Bed in brakes (new pads or rotor)
A caliper on the fork and frame that squeezes pads against a steel rotor when you pull the cable. Most budget mechanical calipers (Logan, Tektro, Promax and similar) are single-sided: the cable turns an arm that pushes the outer pad, which flexes the rotor slightly onto the fixed inner pad. The inner pad has a dial or bolt to move it closer as pads wear. The caliper position on its mounting bolts sets the alignment.
Open this job in RideLoadout▶ Watch it done
Steps
- Find a safe, flat, empty road.
- Stay seated and ride to about 12 mph (20 km/h).
- Brake firmly with one brake (left lever = front in the US) to walking pace, without locking the wheel. Do not stop fully.
- Repeat about 20 times per brake.
- Then do about 10 harder stops from a faster speed. Let the rotors cool, and re-center the caliper if it rubs.
Signs it needs doing
- Rub or tick each wheel revolution (rotor bent or caliper misaligned)
- Lever pulls to the bar (pads worn or cable stretched)
- Squeal (contaminated pads or loose caliper)
- Grinding metal (pads worn to the backing plate: stop now)