Cantilever Brakes

How to Adjust Cantilever Brakes

Cantilever Brakes

If you love to ride a quality mountain bike, there is a great likelihood that a set of cantilever brakes is installed on your bike. It may seem more complicated than classic caliper brakes but the cantilever brakes work on the same idea and function. A caliper break may be easier to adjust but with the right tools and know-how, you will be able to adjust the pair of brakes installed on your bike easily and efficiently, together with the tips below.

Set up the brake levers found on the bike handles by loosening the clamp using a 5mm Allen key. Once loosened adjust the up and down position of the levers to match their angle to your arms while you are riding your bike. Tighten the clamp once the angle has been set. It you have smaller hands and have a hard time reaching the brake levers, move them closer to the bike handle by adjusting the reach adjustment screw located in front of the levers.

Turn the bike over on its seat. Cantilever brakes are usually attached to the rear wheel of a bike but some bikers installed brakes on the fronts and rear wheels. Ensure that the rear wheel is properly centered in the frame as this has a bearing in the position of the brake pads. Make sure also that the axle is properly and securely fastened.

Loosen the tightening bolt on the brake arm using the Allen key and tighten the lever barrel adjuster all the way with your fingers. This is located at the top of the brake cable attached to the lever.

Loosen and remove the two pieces of brake pads from their mounting posts with the open-end wrench. Check the surface of the brake pads. If the surface is worn you can resurface it by running a piece of sandpaper lightly over it.

Use the cable puller to adjust the brake cable until the brake arms are parallel up and down before you tighten it. The brake arms on cantilever brakes look like an inverted V, so make sure that the point of the V is centered on the median of the bike to ensure that the brake arms are parallel.

Reinstall the brake pads and align them to the pad face, ensuring that the pads are flat against the rim of the bike wheel. Tighten it only for a bit so it will be easier to make adjustments. View the brake pads from the side to ensure that it is perfectly aligned to the rim and not touching the tire or dropping down below the rim.

Adjust the position of the brake pads to the toe-in position. This means that the front of the brake pads should be the first area to touch the rim when you pull the brakes before the back of the brake pads to prevent squealing when the brakes are engaged. Tighten the screws fully to secure the brake pads once you have made the proper adjustment.

Test how the cantilever brakes work once you have made the adjustments. You may have to do this several times until you have found the right fit. Make sure that the brakes are not too tight that may cause your bike to stop too suddenly or too loose that the brakes will just slide along the rim even if you have applied full pressure on the levers.