it May be a dumb question, but should the brake pads touch the tire or the rim when they close?
Also one pad is higher up on one side than the other. And d I see I can adjust the side that is too low to be even. but should I have to do that? Or Does that mean I did something wrong leading up to this? TRULY Grateful for your community and the continued help🙏🏼
by TokinFatGirl
3 Comments
Before you make any adjustment, center the wheel in the fork. It looks off center. Put the bike on the ground, undo the QR and let the dropouts settle onto the axle.
If the wheel is true, then you can start any adjustments.
I would make the brake pads parallel to the rim. If there’s any squealing, then toe-in the pads slightly.
Pads should sit flat against the rim, centred on the brake track, possibly with a bit of toe-in to prevent squealing brakes but this is not really an issue I have with decent road brakes.
Start by loosening the pad bolts so they can move freely. With one hand lightly squeeze the brake lever to bring them into contact with the rim and adjust the pad position until it’s flat and centred. Then squeeze the brake harder and snug up the bolt, finish by letting go of the brake and using both hands to get the pad nice and tight. Repeat for the other side.
They are a bit cattywampus. To fix, squeeze the brake lever so that both pads are against the rim. With the lever squeezed, unscrew one pad and slide it so that it is flush and centered on the rim’s braking surface. Then tighten the pad down. Do the other one the same way, so that it is symmetric with the first. You should be good to go.