Mechanical disc brakes: adjusting Shimano callipers

The most common arrangement for mechanical disc brakes is that used by the Shimano callipers shown in the pictures.

The position of the outer pad is controlled by the cable tension, while the inner pad remains stationary. When you pull the brake lever, the outer pad is pushed onto the rotor, which flexes sideways against the stationary pad and becomes trapped between the two. The distance between the rotor and the pads is adjusted separately on each side. The brake lever barrel-adjuster is used to set the gap between the outer pad and the outer surface of the rotor, while a bolt on the back of the brake calliper allows you to finetune the gap between the stationary pad and the inner rotor surface. The gap on either side is critical – too much space, and you’ll have to pull the brake lever all the way back to the…

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