Do It Yourself

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Why do my bike brakes loosen quickly? I have to adjust them weekly. (lemmy.nz)

submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I've recently installed new brake pads on my bike, all good. They are disc brakes. After a week they were too loose, thought it was because they were new, so readjusted them. A week later and I have to readjust them again. I only cycle about 70km per week. Before the pad replacement I didn't have to do it so often.

Is it still because they're new or am I forgetting something? Thanks.

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Be careful with the cable tension barrel adjuster. As you turn it, watch the brake caliper: is there is any movement, stop turning the caliper and back off.

It should only be used to remove slack in the cable on installation - it shouldn't be used to adjust the brakes.

This is because a disc brake caliper only has a few mm of travel. So if use of the barrel adjuster "removes" 1mm of that travel, you end up with far less modulation available.