Mechanical disc brake caliper
Align a Mechanical Disc Brake Caliper
Cable-disc alignment: barrel adjuster, inner vs outer pad, and the two-bolt wiggle that centers a mechanical caliper. Different job from the hydraulic sheet.
Before you start
- Mechanical calipers usually move only one pad. You set the fixed pad, then the cable pad.
- Do not use the hydraulic squeeze-and-tighten trick here — it will not center a cable caliper.
- A frayed inner cable at the pinch bolt is a new cable, not more alignment.
Tools
- 4 mm or 5 mm hex
- Cable cutters if you are also replacing housing
- Rag
Parts
Caliper · Inner pad adjuster · Cable pinch bolt
- 01
Release cable tension
Back the barrel adjuster in. If the pad still drags, the inner (fixed) pad is too close — not a caliper-angle problem yet.
- 02
Set the inner pad
Most mechanical calipers have a knob or hex for the inner pad. Bring it close to the rotor with a business-card gap, no rub at rest.
- 03
Loosen the caliper bolts
Crack both mount bolts. Hold the caliper so the outer pad is parallel to the rotor, then snug. Spin. Repeat until the outer pad does not kiss the rotor at rest.
- 04
Re-tension the cable
Pull the cable to take slack, pinch-bolt, then use the barrel for fine feel. The lever should engage around a third of its throw.
- 05
Test in the stand, then on the ground
Spin, squeeze, spin. Then a slow ride. Cable stretch after the first few stops — a quarter-turn on the barrel is normal.
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