Tightening Electric Bike Brakes: A Step-By-Step Guide

Electric bikes are a convenient and eco-friendly mode of transport, but they do require some maintenance to keep them in good working order. One important task is adjusting the brakes, which can become misaligned over time or after new installs, pad replacements, or bleeds. This guide will take you through the process of tightening the brakes on your electric bike, ensuring a safe and smooth riding experience.

How to tighten brakes on an electric bike

How to align the caliper

To align the caliper, you will need a 5mm Allen/Hex key. You may also need a flashlight to help you see into the caliper.

First, look into the caliper and check if the rotor is centred between the brake pads on the upper section. If it is, tighten the top bolt. Repeat this process for the lower bolt. If all is done well, the rotor should be centred between the brake pads. Give the wheel a spin to see if it is dragging on either side of the brake pads. It may take a few times to get it perfectly centred and can take some patience.

If the rotor is not centred, look to see which side it is touching or closest to the brake pad. Take note of that side. Loosen just the top bolt securing the caliper and gently push the caliper from the top section in the opposite direction from where it was touching.

On the final spin, instead of releasing the brake lever, hold it in place and then tighten down the 2 bolts with your 5mm Allen/Hex key. Finish tightening them to a torque rating of 6-8 nm. If all goes well, with the self-centring pistons, the brake should be centred on the rotor.

How to tighten the bolts

To tighten the bolts on your electric bike's brakes, you will need a 5mm Allen/Hex key. You may also need a torque wrench and a bike stand or another way to hold up your bike.

First, look into the caliper and check to see if the rotor is centred between the brake pads on the upper section. If it is, tighten the top bolt. Repeat this process for the lower bolt. If all is done well, the rotor should be centred in between the brake pads. Give the wheel a spin to see if it is dragging on either side of the brake pads. It may take a few times to get it perfectly centred and can take some patience.

If you need to, use a flashlight to help illuminate the space between the rotor and the brake pads. Take note of which side the rotor is touching or closest to the brake pad. Loosen just the top bolt securing the caliper and gently push the caliper from the top section in the opposite direction from where it was touching.

On the final spin, instead of releasing the brake lever, hold it in place and then tighten down the 2 bolts with your 5mm Allen/Hex key. Finish tightening them to a torque rating of 6-8 nm. If all goes well, with the self-centring pistons, the brake should be centred on the rotor.

How to adjust the rotor

To adjust the rotor, you will need to use a 5mm Allen/Hex key. First, look into the caliper and check if the rotor is centred between the brake pads on the upper section. If it is, tighten the top bolt. Repeat this process for the lower bolt. If the rotor is not centred, you will need to loosen the top bolt securing the caliper and gently push the caliper from the top section in the opposite direction from where it was touching. You may need a flashlight to help illuminate the space between the rotor and the brake pad. Once you have adjusted the rotor, give the wheel a spin to see if it is dragging on either side of the brake pads. It may take a few times to get it perfectly centred, so be patient. If you hear the rotor rubbing, but only at a certain spot on its rotation, then your rotor needs to be trued.

How to use a 5mm Allen/Hex key

To tighten the brakes on an electric bike, you will need a 5mm Allen/Hex key. This is an L-shaped tool used to drive bolts and screws with hexagonal sockets in their heads. The long arm and short arm design offers extra reach on one end and extra leverage on the other. To use the 5mm Allen/Hex key, follow these steps:

• Identify the bolts that need to be tightened. In the case of electric bike brakes, these are typically the bolts attaching the brake caliper to the frame.
• Insert the 5mm Allen/Hex key into the hexagonal socket of the bolt. Ensure that the key is fully inserted and securely engaged with the socket.
• Apply force to the long arm of the key to tighten the bolt. If the bolt is difficult to turn, you may need to apply additional force or use the short arm for extra leverage.
• Repeat this process for all the bolts that need to be tightened. For electric bike brakes, this typically involves tightening the top and bottom bolts of the caliper.
• Once all the bolts are tightened, check that the rotor is centred between the brake pads. Give the wheel a spin to ensure it is not dragging on either side of the pads.
• If the rotor is not centred or the wheel is dragging, you may need to adjust the caliper position. Loosen the bolts, gently push the caliper in the desired direction, and then tighten the bolts again.
• Finally, give the wheel another spin to ensure that the brake is functioning properly. If you hear any rubbing or dragging, adjust the caliper and bolts until the brake is centred and smooth.

How to use a torque wrench

To tighten the brakes on an electric bike, you will need to adjust the hydraulic brakes. This involves aligning the caliper to prevent pad rubbing on the rotor, which can cause loud scraping noises. You may need a flashlight to help illuminate the space between the rotor and the brake pad. First, look to see which side the rotor is touching/closest to the brake pad. Take note of that side. Loosen the top bolt securing the caliper and gently push the caliper from the top section in the opposite direction from where it was touching. Check to see if the rotor is centred between the brake pads on the upper section. If so, tighten the top bolt. Repeat this process for the lower bolt. Give the wheel a spin to see if it is dragging on either side of the brake pads. It may take a few times to get it perfectly centred.

To tighten the bolts on the brake caliper, you will need a torque wrench. Here is how to use a torque wrench:

• Select a socket that matches the size of your nut or bolt.
• Attach the socket to the head of the torque wrench until it clicks into place.
• For hard-to-reach areas, use a socket extender.
• Begin by screwing the nut or bolt by hand to ensure proper alignment. Turn it clockwise until it is snug and can’t be turned further by hand.
• Place the wrench's socket over the nut or bolt.
• Hold the wrench body steady with one hand and turn the handle with the other.
• Turn the handle clockwise to increase the torque or counterclockwise to decrease it.
• Align the handle's top edge with the hash mark closest to your required torque value.
• Once close to your desired torque, use the top dial on the handle for fine-tuning. Rotate the dial clockwise to increase the number or counterclockwise to decrease it. Align the number on the dial with the vertical line on the wrench.

Frequently asked questions