How To Fix Bike V Brake Pads Rubbing On One Side, by RunBikeMike on YouTube. 3 min 45 s.
- Video length
- 3 min 45 s
- Time to do it
- 10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Lift or flip the bike so the wheel spins freely. Spin it and watch the gap on each side to see which pad touches the rim and where it hits.
Check the wheel is sitting fully in the dropouts and the quick release or axle nut is tight. A wheel that is slightly crooked will rub no matter how you set the brake.
Look at the pad on the rubbing side. The curved washers should sit one on each side of the brake arm, with the pad face flat against the rim, not tilted up into the tyre.
Find the small spring tension screw on the side of the brake arm that rubs. Turn it clockwise a quarter turn at a time to add tension and push that arm away from the rim.
Spin the wheel after each quarter turn. Aim for about 1 to 2 mm of gap between each pad and the rim, with the brake lever released.
If the screw is already fully in and the pad still rubs, loosen the cable clamp bolt on one arm, let the arms close slightly, and retighten the bolt.
Squeeze the brake lever a few times and spin the wheel again. If the rub comes and goes, the rim is probably bent and needs truing.
Clean the rim and pad faces with a rag and isopropyl alcohol, then test the brakes at walking speed before you ride properly.
Tips and common mistakes
Turn the spring screw in small steps, since a full turn usually overshoots and pulls the other pad in.
Worn pads with the grooves worn flat sit closer to the rim, so replace them in pairs rather than adjusting around them.
If the rub only happens when you pedal hard, the wheel is flexing in the frame, so check the quick release tension.
Keep grease and oil off the rim and pads or the brake will grab and squeal.
Questions
Why does one pad rub after I fit new pads?
New pads are thicker, so the arms sit further out and any spring imbalance shows up. Reset both spring screws to the same position, then fine tune the rubbing side.
How much gap should there be between pad and rim?
Roughly 1 to 2 mm on each side. Any wider and the lever feels spongy before the brake bites.
Do I need to replace the cable to fix this?
No. Only replace the cable if it is frayed or sticky inside the housing, since a dragging cable keeps the arms from returning evenly.
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.
