Reach & Free Stroke Adjustment - Shimano Hydraulic Disc Brake Levers - Road Bike Maintenance, by The Cycle Workshop on YouTube. 11 min 13 s.
- Video length
- 11 min 13 s
- Time to do it
- 15 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Check which adjustments your levers have. Most Shimano drop bar levers from Claris to Dura Ace have reach adjustment, but free stroke is only on Dura Ace, Ultegra and some GRX800 levers.
Sit on the bike or put it in a stand so you can squeeze the lever from the drops and the hoods. Note how far the lever sits from the bar.
Find the reach adjustment screw on the inside of the lever body, usually a small hex screw near the top.
Turn the screw with your hex key to move the lever closer to or further from the bar. Turn a little at a time and check the position by hand.
Set the reach so you can brake comfortably from the drops with your fingers on the lever. Smaller hands usually need the lever closer to the bar.
If your lever has free stroke adjustment, find the small screw on the lever body, often under a cover or plug.
Turn the free stroke screw to change how much the lever travels before the brake fully engages. This changes lever feel, not lever position.
Squeeze the lever firmly several times and check the brake bites before the lever reaches the bar. Adjust again if it still touches the bar.
Spin the wheel and test the brake at walking pace, then at riding speed in a safe area. Make sure both levers feel the same.
Tips and common mistakes
Reach and free stroke affect each other, so set reach first and then fine tune the stroke.
If the lever still pulls to the bar after adjustment, you may have air in the system or low fluid, so bleed the brakes.
Do not overtighten the small adjustment screws, they are easy to damage.
Check the brake pads and rotor wear before blaming the lever setup.
Questions
Can I add free stroke adjustment to any Shimano lever?
No. Free stroke is only built into higher end levers such as Dura Ace, Ultegra and some GRX800 models. Most other Shimano levers only have reach adjustment.
Why does my brake lever still touch the bar?
If the lever reaches the bar even with the reach set close, the hydraulic system likely needs a bleed or the pads are worn. Adjustment screws alone cannot fix a soft brake.
Do I need to remove the lever to adjust it?
No. You can reach the adjustment screws with the lever still on the bar. A short hex key makes it easier to turn the screw in place.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
