What Do I Do If My Brakes Are Too Tight?

If you find your brake too tight, then you must check your brake pads and cables. There all you need is to loosen the specific bolt to make new adjustments. 

The reason why they are too tight 

The reason behind tight brakes is the brake pads and the brake cables. Worn-down brake pads that are too low or high on the rim can give a dangerous outcome. Brake cables that are too tight will make it harder to brake.

What Do I Do If My Brakes Are Too Tight

Why adjust the brakes

You might want to replace brake pads and rotors to stop them from squeaking. You can loosen the brake to stop them from pulling and rubbing. If they become tighter you might want to know how to loosen them to get a perfect ride. 

The things we are going to do

Certain things need to check in order to solve the brake tightening problem. Most probably you will find them in the brake pads, cables, calipers, and brake pedals. 

Brake pads

Brake pads are supposed to clamp down on the front tire of your vehicle when you pull the brake lever. If by any chance the pads are worn down past the line, then you will need to replace them before any further adjustments. 

Bike 

Try squeezing the brake lever to see where the pads are hitting on the rim. They should be coming into contact with the rim of the front tire at the same time. There must be an equal amount of space above and below the pad to hit the center of the rim. 

If your bike has a quick-release mechanism then the problem might be they are too tight. While squeezing them you may find them tightly grasping the rim. 

Wrenching 

Use a wrencher to loosen the bolts while holding the brake pads in place. But careful not to loosen the bolts all the way because they might come out of the brake pad holder. 

Now you will find it easy to move up and down because the bolts are now loosened. However, if the pads were too high on the rim then move them down until they are centered. Re-tighten the brake pad bolts with the wrench to get the perfect tightness. 

Car

They have the same process of loosening the tightness of the brake pads. Here you need to use a key instead of a wrencher for the bolts. 

You need to check both brake pads if they are squeezing evenly against the rim of your wheel while pulling the brake lever. Because you want your brakes to achieve maximum surface contact with the rim of your wheel.

Loosening 

Okey, loosen the bolts while holding the brake pads in place. Adjust them forward and backward about 5mm and slightly up and down in the holder. 

Because they were too tight, position them slightly further from the rim than where you had them before. This should be enough to align your brakes properly.

Remember to also align the pads with the arc of the wheel. This will ensure that the brake pads will sit flush. Also, avoid rubbing these against the tire or overlap on the rim’s inner edges.

Tips

There is a possibility of worn-out brake pads causing the tightness of your vehicle. So, if you notice the worn-out signs in your brake pads replace those with new ones and adjust them accordingly. 

However, the ideal position for your pads is a few millimeters out from the rim. Because the shorter the distance between the brake pads and rim, the more responsive your brakes will be when you pull the lever.

Brake cables 

Tightening the barrel adjuster is a quick and easy way to address braking issues with brake cables. 

Bike

If there is no problem with the brake pads then the next option is brake cables. Test the tightness of your cables by pulling each brake lever. They should be about 1 ½ inches away from the grip on the handlebars. But if it is less than 1 ½ inches, then that means the brake cables are too tight. 

Barrel adjuster 

Loosen the barrel adjusters are for minor brake cable adjustments. You will find the barrel adjusters where the brake cables meet the brake levers. For this case, loosening the barrel adjusters might fix the problem. However,  pull the brake lever to see if it fixed the problem.

Car

There are two main points of adjustment on cable-based brakes like mechanical disc brakes. One is at the caliper and the other is the barrel adjuster.

Now, try squeezing the lever but if it is too hard to move it then you need to adjust the barrel adjuster. For the cars, the distance between the lever and the grip should be 3 to 4 cm.

The barrel adjuster is the metal cuff on the brake cable at your brake lever. Find the barrel and loosen the barrel adjuster by turning it clockwise or anti-clockwise. This will decrease tension in the cable.

Tips 

In both cases, you will need an Allen wrench to loosen the barrel adjuster. Also careful not to make bolts too loose too much. 

FAQ

How do I adjust the back brakes? The pads do not close onto the rim at the same time.

Answer: The calipers have an internal recoil spring on each side. The small screw on the side near the pivot mount increases or relieves the tension. A clock-wise turn pulls that side away from the rim, while a counter-clockwise turn on the opposite side will help pull the closer pad away from the rim. Adjust each at the same time in half-turn increments. Now test the brake pull after each adjustment. Usually, the pads can be centered evenly after 2.5 to 3 turns. 

Can you grind down brake pads?

Answer: Yes, grinding down the brake pads is possible if only you do not grind down too much. All you need is a sander. Sand down the front side of the brake pad slowly until it can fit in your vehicle.  

Can i grind down brake pads

How do you fix a stiff disc brake?

Answer: It is very easy. You do not need any special tool for this. First, remove your brake pads and find something to push the pistons back. 

Conclusion 

Follow these steps and you can easily adjust your brake system at home. Always try to be extra careful while loosening the bolts. But if you happen to make them too loose then re-adjust them the way you adjusted them before. 

Leave a Comment