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

Electric bikes are a great way to get around, but they can be heavy and travel at high speeds, so it's important to make sure your brakes are in good working order. If you're having trouble with your electric bike's brakes, you may need to tighten them. This can be done by adjusting the bolts that secure the caliper. You may also need to adjust the cable that runs through the brake lever mechanism at the handlebars.

Adjusting the barrel screw

The barrel screw is the silver screw on the brake lever mechanism at the handlebars that the cable runs through. You can turn this by hand. To tighten the brakes, unscrew the barrel screw and the cable will tighten, moving the brake pads closer to the disk. You can also tighten the brakes by unscrewing the black barrel screw where the cable joins the rear brake mechanism. This will also tighten the cable. If this doesn't work, you can try a slightly more difficult method by using the crimp that attaches the cable to the rear brake mechanism to tighten the cable.

To adjust the barrel screw, you will need a set of allen wrenches, which should be part of any bike tool kit. The mounting bolts are at a right angle to the wheel, while the adjustment bolts are parallel to the wheel.

If you are adjusting the hydraulic brakes, you will need a 5mm Allen/Hex key. On the final spin, hold the brake lever in place and tighten the two bolts. Finish tightening them to a torque rating of 6-8 nm. If the rotor is not centred properly, look directly at the brake caliper from the front so you can see the rotor in between the brake pads. You may need a flashlight to help illuminate the space between them. Take note of which side the rotor is touching or closest to the brake pad. Loosen the top bolt securing the caliper and gently push the caliper in the opposite direction.

Tightening the bolts

To tighten the bolts on your electric bike's brakes, you'll need to use a 5mm Allen/Hex key. First, check that the rotor is centred between the brake pads on the upper section of the caliper. If it is, tighten the top bolt. Repeat this process for the lower bolt. If all goes well, the rotor should now be centred between the brake pads. Give the wheel a spin to check that it's not dragging on either side of the brake pads. It may take a few attempts to get the rotor perfectly centred, so be patient.

If you're tightening the rear brake, you can also adjust the cable tension by turning a silver barrel screw by hand. This is located on the brake lever mechanism at the handlebars, where the cable runs through. Unscrewing this will tighten the cable and bring the brake pads closer to the disk. You can also do this where the cable joins the rear brake mechanism – just unscrew the black barrel screw.

Centering the rotor

First, you'll need to locate the caliper. This is the component that houses the brake pads and sits directly above the rotor. Using a flashlight, carefully inspect the space between the rotor and the brake pads. Take note of which side the rotor is touching or closest to the brake pad. This observation will guide the subsequent adjustments.

Next, you'll need to loosen the top bolt securing the caliper. Be gentle and only loosen it enough to allow for slight movement. Now, gently push the caliper in the opposite direction from where it was touching the rotor. This step helps centre the rotor between the brake pads.

Once the caliper is adjusted, it's time to tighten the bolts. Start with the top bolt and ensure it's securely tightened. Repeat this process for the lower bolt. By tightening both bolts, you're ensuring the caliper is securely in place, and the rotor is centred between the brake pads.

After making these adjustments, it's essential to test the results. Give the wheel a spin and observe if it's dragging on either side of the brake pads. A perfectly centred rotor should not cause any drag or resistance. It may take a few attempts to get the centring just right, so be patient and make small adjustments as needed.

Finally, if you hear the rotor rubbing at a certain spot during its rotation, it may need to be trued. This means that the rotor is not perfectly straight, and you'll need to refer to a guide on rotor truing to address this issue. By following these steps, you can ensure your electric bike's brakes are centred and functioning effectively, providing a safer and smoother riding experience.

Checking the caliper

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. If you hear it rub, but only at a certain spot on the rotor's rotation, then your rotor needs to be trued.

Using the crimp

If the previous methods do not close the brake pads enough, you can use the crimp that attaches the cable to the rear brake mechanism to tighten the cable. This is slightly more difficult than the other methods. First, locate the crimp that attaches the cable to the rear brake mechanism. Then, tighten the crimp. This will pull the cable tighter and bring the brake pads closer to the disk.

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